Sherrone Moore breaks down challenges Texas presents

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It was a 20-point win against Fresno State, but Michigan football needs to be much sharper this upcoming weekend when it takes on No. 3 Texas.

The Longhorns, like the Wolverines, participated in the 2023 College Football Playoff but were upended by eventual runner-up Washington, which Michigan defeated 34-13. However, it’s the maize and blue that looks substantially different entering 2024, and Texas mostly reloaded through the transfer portal — still appearing to be an awfully dangerous team.

It will be strength-on-strength in this one, with the Texas offense getting much of the accolades, going up against the vaunted Michigan defense.

“We’re super excited for the challenge,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said. “We know we’ve got a really good football team coming in, in all three phases. Coach Sark has done a really good job with the program. And on offense, they present challenges, because of the way he calls the game and what he does, his creativity, his rhythm. Obviously they have a really great quarterback, skill players are fast everywhere. Running back is really good. I know the other two that got hurt, but the running back they have now is really good, too. And the O-line is as good as you’ll see in the country. So I know our defense is excited for the challenge to go against them.

“And offensively, their defense played very well, sound, not very many mistakes. I think they have four returning starters on defense, and they have guys that have played. So super excited for Saturday.”

Where Texas reloaded was particularly at wide receiver. In the season opener against Colorado State, it was freshman Ryan Wingo who led the team with four catches for 70 yards. Isaiah Bond, the transfer from Alabama, had five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Matthew Golden, the transfer from Houston, had three catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden only had one catch for five yards.

Moore is on high alert for all of the talent that the Longhorns have on offense, noting the receivers and the challenges they present.

“They’re all fast. They’re all playmakers,” Moore said. “Bond we played last year. He’s a great playmaker, so our guys are familiar with him, obviously, in a different scheme, doing different things, but he’s a really good playmaker. They’ve got the transfer from Oregon State and Houston. The big thing that stands out is their speed, their ability to separate. And I think Sark does really good job of just putting them in a position to showcase their talent. So for us, it’s going to be doing everything we can to contain those guys.”

While quarterback Quinn Ewers and the cadre of wideouts garner the headlines for Texas, head coach Steve Sarkisian prefers to run the ball, Moore says.

Despite losing the top two running backs due to injury, Texas still managed to run 41 times for 190 yards in Week 1, with three touchdowns scored on the ground. Michigan allowed just nine yards rushing to Fresno State, so the key will be not only to get the Longhorns out of rhythm running the football, but also protecting against plays off of the run.

“He wants to run the football,” Moore said. “People see the pass game, but ultimately, he wants to run the football and do things to control the clock and creative rhythm. there’s always a there’s a play and there’s a play off of it. So, you’re gonna see the play action, if there’s a play, there’s gonna be a play action off of it and be able to help that. But he wants to keep his quarterback in rhythm, keep him in a clean pocket, and make sure that he’s doing everything he can to be at his highest skill set.”

Michigan and Texas are set to kick off at noon EDT at The Big House with the game being nationally televised on Fox.