Faculty soccer powers No. 10 Michigan and No. 3 Texas will play for simply the second time ever on Saturday in a blockbuster Massive Ten vs. SEC showdown. The one different assembly was a Rose Bowl thriller on Jan. 1, 2005, when the Longhorns outlasted the Wolverines 38-37 on a area purpose as time expired.
Now, practically 20 years later, they’ll tangle in an on-campus venue for the primary time because the Longhorns tackle the problem of taking part in the Wolverines inside Michigan Stadium. Each have been a part of final 12 months’s four-team Faculty Soccer Playoff, gained by Michigan, and so they narrowly missed taking part in one another when Texas fell to Washington in a good semifinal contest.
Though the Wolverines are the reigning nationwide champions and taking part in on their dwelling area, they enter Saturday’s showdown as underdogs following an offseason of change. Coach Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers, and 13 gamers from the workforce’s 15-0 run have been chosen within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Although the Wolverines maintained some continuity by selling offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, there are new faces all over the place for this system. In the meantime, Texas returned its coach, each coordinators and a star quarterback from final 12 months’s 12-2 workforce. That kind of continuity typically pays championship dividends. However will it make a distinction for the Longhorns in a hostile setting?
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Date: Saturday, Sept. 7 | Time: 12 p.m. ET
Location: Michigan Stadium — Ann Arbor, Michigan
TV: Fox | Reside stream: fubo (Strive without spending a dime)
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Texas vs. Michigan: Have to know
Quarterback distinction: Each packages have recruited and developed high quality expertise over the previous a number of recruiting cycles. Nevertheless, they range vastly at quarterback. The Longhorns tout a pair of former No. 1 total prospects on the place in starter Quinn Ewers and backup Arch Manning. In the meantime, the Michigan quarterback competitors ran all through preseason between a bunch of understated rivals with significantly much less spectacular credentials. Davis Warren, a former walk-on, gained the job and acquired his first profession star in Michigan’s 30-10 Week 1 win over Fresno State. His 15 of 25 passing efficiency was adequate for a win however not adequate to settle the questions over how Michigan ended up able with no higher choices.
Can Michigan maintain the run? A few of the personnel has modified, however Michigan’s id stays the identical: the Wolverines wish to run the soccer. The query is whether or not or not they’re going to have the ability to do it efficiently sufficient in opposition to Texas to maintain drives. Lead operating backs Kalel Mullins and Donovan Edwards mixed to common 4.6 yards per carry in Michigan’s season-opening win over Fresno State. However eight of their 26 makes an attempt went for two yards or much less in opposition to a workforce not recognized for taking part in stout run protection. Operating on Texas needs to be much more of a problem. The Longhorns have been wonderful defensively in opposition to Colorado State, however additionally they have one thing to show. Going through Michigan might be a litmus check for a defensive entrance that misplaced inside defenders Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat — each first-round draft picks — from one of many nation’s finest run defenses.
Convention bragging rights: There’s already been one battle this season between ranked groups from the Massive Ten and SEC. It went the Massive Ten’s means as USC downed LSU to cap a 17-1 begin to the season for the league’s 18 groups. In the meantime, the SEC began out simply 2-3 in opposition to groups from different energy conferences in Week 1. The SEC might use a robust week, and this sport is clearly the league’s finest alternative to make an announcement. However a Michigan win would additional strengthen the Massive Ten’s early declare for convention superiority.
Texas vs. Michigan prediction, picks
Nothing Michigan confirmed in its Week 1 victory over Fresno State instructed the Wolverines are going to be making many offensive outbursts in 2024. The Wolverines went eight straight possessions and not using a landing at one level in opposition to a Mountain West workforce. However Michigan nonetheless seems to have a fairly good protection. Texas quarterback’s Quinn Ewers’ chemistry with a brand new group of pass-catchers might be examined in one of many sport’s most hostile environments. Touchdowns might be uncommon for each groups. Choose: Beneath 43
Which faculty soccer picks are you able to make with confidence in Week 2? Go to SportsLine to see which groups will win and canopy the unfold — all from a confirmed laptop mannequin that has returned over $2,000 in revenue since its inception — and discover out.