Texas dominates Michigan in Wolverines' first home loss in four years

It was close after one quarter. It was all Texas from there.

Texas went into halftime with a 24-3 lead over Michigan and cruised the rest of the way to deal the Wolverines their first loss in the Big House in four years, 31-12 Saturday at Michigan Stadium. It was even more lopsided than the score would suggest.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers was in control behind the Longhorns' experienced offensive line, and Michigan struggled to move the ball from the jump. Ewers threw for more yards than the Wolverines mustered in offense through three quarters. He also threw three touchdowns. Michigan quarterback Davis Warren threw two picks.

"It was on us," Warren said. "They’re a good football team, they played well today, but we shot ourselves in the foot and let them win that football game. We knew it was going to be a tight game and we let them off too easy. It’s a really crappy feeling, because I know this team, this offense has what it takes to win that game and we didn’t do it."

No. 3 Texas looked like a national contender that brought back several key pieces from last year's team that made the College Football Playoff. No. 10 Michigan looked like a team that lost most of it starters from its national title winner, along with its head coach.

The Wolverines tried to play their typical style of bully ball. The Longhorns just played it better. They controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, a lot like Michigan became known for under Jim Harbaugh. The separator was on third down: Texas went 10 for 16, Michigan 3 for 12.

The loss is a cold dose of reality for rookie head coach Sherrone Moore and his program, which was 40-3 over the last three seasons. Moore stuck with his in-house options at quarterback this offseason after JJ McCarty left for the NFL. It's a decision that could doom his first season on the job. Warren, a former walk-on, looked overwhelmed Saturday against an elite defense and behind a new offensive line.

"My message to the team was that it’s going to take resolve," said Moore. "We haven’t lost here in a while, we don’t like losing, so what are we going to do to get better? That’s all I’m thinking about right now and my message to them was, we gotta do it together."

Ewers, meanwhile, had no trouble picking apart Michigan. He used his legs when he needed to against an aggressive front seven and made several strong throws on the run, many of them to extend drives. Tight end Gunnar Helm caught seven passes for 98 yards and the first touchdown of the game. The Longhorns never looked back.

"We’re going to look adversity right in the face," Warren said. "We’re better than what we showed today, and the only way to prove that is go show it next Saturday."