The initial whiff of “game over” was Jerrick Gibson dashing into the endzone.
There was still 8:24 left in the second quarter and the score just 14-3.
But one has a certain sense about these things.
The suspicions were confirmed as Michigan proceeded to turn the ball over on their next two possessions.
Texas would score off both turnovers and this one was over before it started.
This was a complete team loss. An utter failure from front to back.
Offense. Defense. Special Teams Players Not Named Dominic Zvada.
Even the Michigan Stadium sound guy whiffed – and badly. As dejected fans exited, the stadium speakers blasted Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” at oppressive volumes. There are no “good times” right now, DJ Man. Joy is an emotion of the bygone era that was 2021-2023 Michigan Football.
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So where does this team go from here?
Here are three (3) thoughts:
1. Michigan Must Find an Identity (And Stick to It)
Sherrone Moore wants the identity of this offense to be run-first. Well and good. Then Kalel Mullings is going to need more than six (!) touches in the game. I get that you played from behind and had to adjust the gameplan and all that. So maybe, uh, don’t do that anymore? Because the reality is this team is simply not built to play from behind.
When they do find themselves there – and *checks schedule* they will – they can’t panic and abandon their identity. Despite themselves, Michigan was staring at worst going into the half down 17-3. Not insurmountable. But they abandoned ship – and basic ball-carrying technique – and found themselves buried by halftime.
2. Michigan Must Make a QB Change (Or Suffer the Consequences )
The second factor in Michigan moving forward is the quarterback position. And yeah – I’ve seen the charts and commentary that Davis Warren maybe played kinda good, actually. But I would ask those people to look me in the eyes and tell me that they feel confident starting Davis Warren against USC. Or Oregon. Or Illinois (!). Or Ohio State.
And fine: maybe there’s no quarterback on the roster you feel confident in as a starter. But if the coaching staff doesn’t trust Davis Warren to throw more than dink-and-dunk – and they shouldn’t – why not at least threaten in the run game with Orji? If you have to run RPO every single snap, do it. Insert the poking-thing-with-a-stick-meme because I need this offense to “do stuff.”
That’s where an interesting wrinkle comes in: Jack Tuttle. Tuttle started last season as the backup to JJ McCarthy and has been dealing with an off-season injury. Sherrone Moore and Kirk Campbell both confirmed that they expect Tuttle to be able to suit up this weekend, which is great news for the seventh-year quarterback. While neither Moore nor any of his staff have indicated a quarterback change . . . it’s got to be on the table, right?
Jack Tuttle may not be JJ McCarthy but Jack Tuttle is Cade McNamara and Cade McNamara beat Ohio State and won you a Big Ten Championship. An offense replacing nearly every position desperately needs a steady-handed, veteran game manager. Tuttle offers that. And I’m firmly convinced that if Michigan wants to avoid going 8-4 (or even 7-5), then – health permitting – this needs to be Tuttle’s team moving forward.
3. Michigan Must Play Sound Football (Big, if True)
I almost didn’t even write this one, but I felt like the defense was getting off easy. This is as talented a group as there is in college football. But if talent doesn’t execute when it matters (see also: Ohio State’s NFL-loaded rosters in 2021, 2022, and 2023) then the talent is wasted. Sound football means tackling in space. It means not blitzing for no reason, Wink. It means, I dunno, following the halfback on a wheel route?
Here’s the dirty truth: I’m not an Xs and Os guy. It’s a bit like when Andy Bernard talks about becoming a food critic: “These muffins taste bad.” There are other writers and podcasters you can go to for the deep dive schemes. So when yours truly can watch a defense and alert those around me that “these muffins taste bad” . . . you know something’s off.
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Conclusion: There is much football left to be played.
Unsurprisingly, Arkansas State will be a get-right game.
It’s an opportunity to see all three of these must-haves come to fruition.
In particular, I’m interested to see how quarterback reps play out in a game where Michigan are heavy favorites. If Michigan does indeed refuse to move on from Warren, then give him as many live reps as you can. If the competition remains open – as it should – I want to see full-drives from Orji and Tuttle. And – as stated ad. nauseum – I’m a firm believer that the latter should be handed the keys.
The season isn’t over yet – but it will be if you don’t adjust.
USC is going to be a Top 10 team when they ride into Ann Arbor.
A win and you’re right back in it. A loss and it’s going to be a long fall.
You have roughly a week to decide which it is.
MICHIGAN 38
ARKANSAS STATE 0
