The Michigan Wolverines takes the field to play the East Carolina Pirates at Michigan Stadium on September 02, 2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Michigan football is not Michigan football anymore. The 2023 Wolverines undefeated national championship team was the most dominating Michigan football team I have ever seen. Since then their head coach Jim Harbaugh moved on to the NFL and so did a majority of its starting players. But Wolverines fans thought there was so much talent waiting in the wings that Michigan football would be better than most people thought in 2024.
Then they played Texas.
The Longhorns came into Ann Arbor, rode into the Big House and spanked the Wolverines Saturday in front of 107,000 fans. Michigan and Texas were two of the final four teams in the college football playoff last season. Texas is still at that level. Michigan is not.
Matthew McConaughey celebrates with Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns after a 31-12 victory against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
MICHIGAN FOOTBALL IS NOT MICHIGAN FOOTBALL!
Texas beat Michigan on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. When is the last time somebody did that? The Longhorns knifed through the Wolverines once dominant defense. And the Texas defense stymied the Wolverines passing game and shut down their once powerful running game and held them to 80 yards. When is the last time somebody did that?
Michigan has a lot of work to do and thankfully for them they face Arkansas State next. That could be a "get-well" game where they can work on their short comings. But a quick reassessment of the season schedule shows that Michigan may lose more games to competitive opponents than many originally thought.
Davis Warren #16 of the Michigan Wolverines throws a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Michigan Stadium on September 07, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The Wolverines are not the Wolverines anymore. At least, not like they were in 2023. For all the latest college football talk tune in each weekday to Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida from Monday through Friday from 2-6.
