Critiquing What Went Wrong for Wolverines in Loss to Longhorns

Quarterback tops the list of many problems that were evident in 31-12 loss to Texas that ended 16-game winning streak for defending national champions

Photo by Derek Kornacki

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren rarely overcame the challenges posed by the Texas defense in Saturday’s dominant win by the Longhorns.

By Steve Kornacki

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Well, where do we start in critiquing what went wrong for Michigan in Saturday’s 31-12 loss to Texas?

Is it how the Wolverines were manhandled in the trenches on both sides of the ball?

Is it how All-America cornerback Will Johnson didn’t factor into the outcome because Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (246 yards passing for three touchdowns) simply opted to pick on the rest of the secondary and shred it?

Is it All-America tight end Colston Loveland dropping the ball with nobody nearby for a fumble to hand No. 3 Texas the ball deep in Michigan territory – setting up its third touchdown of the first half?

Is it the running game’s inability to provide more than 80 yards on 23 carries (3.5-yard average) with no run longer than 12 yards from Donovan Edwards?

For me, the numerous problems the No. 10 Wolverines had in their first regular season loss after 29 consecutive wins began with the play at quarterback.

Teams need top-flight quarterbacks to compete for Big Ten and national championships, and Michigan had been spoiled in that department with J.J. McCarthy the past three years.

Davis Warren is not that QB.

Neither is Alex Orji.

And it’s telling that I’m wondering how Jack Tuttle, once a solid starter at Indiana, is progressing in recovering from his injury. He was upgraded to questionable in this week’s report, and so he could be in the mix soon.

Warren is a tremendous story – having recovered from leukemia during high school in Los Angeles – and a wonderful young man who gives back to the community. But he just hasn’t shown signs of being a difference-maker.

On a third-and-two play midway through the second quarter, with Michigan already trailing by 11 points and desperately needing to answer a Texas touchdown, Warren forced a pass to Tyler Morris and into double-coverage that was intercepted by Andrew Mukuba. Only a quick tackle by receiver Peyton O’Leary prevented a pick six.

It was a play that ended up being the beginning of the end.

And after the next Longhorn drive resulted in a made field goal, Warren had a chance to complete a pass for at least 25 yards to a wide-open Semaj Morgan. He missed him badly.

And that drive ended when Loveland turned the ball over.

Now, Warren did have one really nice play in the third quarter. He ran to the right when pressured, stopped on a dime near the sideline, and fired a 24-yard completion to Loveland. But that kind of play was a rarity.

Then Warren was picked off late in the third quarter with Loveland running a deeper route and the quarterback throwing well behind him. He ended up completing 22 of 33 for 204 yards with those two interceptions and a 31-yard touchdown pass to Morgan with two minutes remaining in the game.

And the way Orji is being used is failure waiting to happen.

He entered on a third-and-three in the second quarter and was stuffed running up the middle for no gain.

He came on for third-and-four in the third quarter, and lost one yard.

Jon Jansen, the former Wolverine All-America offensive tackle and now the radio network analyst, was shaking his head in the press box booth.

“Tell me if you’re surprised?” Jansen asked listeners after the lost yardage play. “Alex Orji is in there, and they run the ball.”

He completed a three-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Edwards in the opening win over Fresno State, and then fired a ground ball to an open receiver in that game. He didn’t attempt a pass against Texas.

Orji, despite an impressive high school career in Sachse, Texas, hasn’t shown he can complete passes in college.

So, where does that leave Michigan at quarterback?

In a bad spot. Vast improvement is required very quickly, and that almost never happens.

Tuttle, a graduate student, could soon get his chance.

And so might four-star freshman quarterback Jadyn Davis from Fort Mill, S.C. I’m guessing that if Davis -- who has been part of the team since January as an early enrollee -- were ready, we’d have already seen him higher on the depth chart.

However, he’s the only quarterback on the roster who looks to be part of the program in 2025 and beyond. When he has a decent grasp, Davis provides the most potential.

Michigan should handle Arkansas State next Saturday before hosting No. 13 USC, and can in no way afford to get waxed again at home. But it could happen.

The defending national champions have a long way to go before sniffing the College Football Playoff.