AUSTIN (KXAN) — A top 10 tilt is going down at The Big House on Saturday between No. 3 Texas and No. 10 Michigan in college football’s biggest game in Week 2.
ESPN’s College GameDay is broadcasting from Ann Arbor ahead of the game and it’s the main event for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show. It’s the only game featuring two teams inside the top 10 of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.
BIG GAME AT THE BIG HOUSE
No. 3 Texas at No. 10 Michigan, Michigan Stadium, 11 a.m. CDT, FOX
Both teams enter the game after season-opening wins against Mountain West Conference opponents. Texas certainly looked better in a 52-0 romp over Colorado State while Michigan got a late interception return for a touchdown from All-American defensive back Will Johnson to get by Fresno State 30-10. Johnson’s pick-six came with 3:57 left in the game as the Bulldogs drove down the field looking to make it a one-score game.
The Wolverines hang their hat on defense, and for good reason. They allowed just nine rushing yards against Fresno State and have been one of FBS’ best defensive teams each of the past four seasons. It will be a big test for the retooled Longhorns offense around third-year quarterback Quinn Ewers.
MORE THAN THE SCORE: Stay up to date on sports stories like these, and sign up for our More than the Score sports newsletter at kxan.com/newsletters
On the offensive side of the ball, expect Michigan to run it and then run it some more. Donovan Edwards, Kalel Mullings and backup quarterback Alex Orji all should figure into the Wolverines’ running attack. Michigan’s starting quarterback Davis Warren managed just 118 passing yards on 25 attempts against Fresno State.
Texas opened as a 3.5-point favorite and then it ballooned to more than a touchdown as the week went on. As of Friday night, you could get a line anywhere from 6.5 to 7.5 points in favor of the Longhorns.
The one time the programs have faced off was the 2005 Rose Bowl, a 38-37 Texas victory on a Dusty Mangum 37-yard field goal with 0:02 remaining.
Be sure to tune in to KBVO at 10 a.m. for Texas Gameday, the official Texas Longhorns pregame show with Alex Okafor, Dan Neil and host Jonathan Thomas.