Key position groups to watch in #3 Texas’ game versus #10 Michigan

On Saturday, ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan for the matchup between the third-ranked Texas Longhorns and the tenth-ranked Michigan Wolverines. Of course, it is no surprise that Saturday’s game is a marquee matchup, with both football teams being involved in the College Football Playoff last season (which Michigan won).

Today, watch our Devon Messinger and Dylan DeRaud discuss their scouting report of the Michigan Wolverines by clicking on the YouTube video above.

Messinger’s Key Groups to Watch:

My first focus group is Texas’ defensive front seven. Of course, they will need to be able to slow down Donovan Edwards and the Michigan ground game but also keep an eye on Texas’ defensive coverage of Wolverines star tight end Colston Loveland. The Longhorns have the big bodies to plug up Michigan’s running game, with Bill Norton, Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton leading the charge, but this will be their first real challenge on the season. Meanwhile, Texas linebackers Anthony Hill Jr. & David Gbenda will be the ones to watch in regards to covering Loveland.

Next, pay attention to the battle between the Texas wideouts and the Michigan defensive backs. While Texas had no problems moving the ball in the air last weekend, Michigan’s secondary is much more talented. Led by Will Johnson, I will be curious to see how Michigan fares against the Texas passing attack.

Lastly, the battle of the trenches will be one to watch offensively for the Longhorns. Although Texas was able to sail to a 52-0 win against Colorado State, I am sure that Texas offensive line coach Kyle Flood would be the first one to say that his group did not quite play as well as they could have. Furthermore, the Michigan front seven is the real deal. As a result, keeping Quinn Ewers untouched will be a real challenge for Texas. Thankfully for Ewers, his offensive line is still one of the best units in the country.

DeRaud’s Key Groups to Watch:

In the upcoming game against Texas, Michigan’s offensive line will be a key area to watch. They struggled to create running lanes in their last game against Fresno State, with Donovan Edwards managing only 27 yards on 11 carries. While Kalel Mullings found plenty of success with 92 yards on 15 carries, the line needs to find some chemistry and move the Texas D-line backwards. This improvement is critical if Michigan wants to keep the pressure off quarterback Davis Warren.

Warren, a walk-on redshirt junior, will also be a major focus. He started the game against Fresno State but didn’t have a standout performance. Michigan might stick to a run-heavy game plan, but Warren will need to make smart decisions and accurate throws, especially on third downs and during play-action plays. His performance will be vital to keep the offense moving and balance the attack.

On defense, Michigan’s line, featuring Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, will be crucial in this matchup. They were dominant against Fresno State, allowing only 9 yards on 22 attempts, and they’ll need to bring that same level of disruption against Texas. If they can consistently pressure Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who can get rattled under pressure, Michigan will have a much better chance of controlling the game and keeping things close.