Michigan was completely outplayed.

Ranked No. 3, Texas cruised to a 31-12 victory over the No. 9 Wolverines, thanks to quarterback Quinn Ewers who threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns. This performance both highlighted Texas’s impressive talent and showcased how much the reigning national champions have regressed since January.

A key issue for Michigan lies in their quarterback performance. While Ewers bolstered his Heisman Trophy candidacy, Michigan’s former walk-on Davis Warren completed 22 of 33 passes for 204 yards with two interceptions. The Wolverines have struggled offensively, failing to exceed 300 total yards in both games this season.

It is surprising that Michigan has opted to start Warren, especially considering how accessible skilled quarterbacks have become via the transfer portal. So far this season, Warren averages a modest 5.5 yards per pass attempt, throwing three interceptions compared to only two touchdowns. Most of his yardage against Texas was accumulated after the game was already decided.

This defeat ends Michigan’s impressive streak of 29 consecutive regular-season wins and marks the end of their 16-game winning streak, which was the longest in the nation. The last time they lost was to TCU in the 2022 College Football Playoff, a setback that catalyzed their remarkable unbeaten run last year. This latest result raises important questions about the future trajectory under coach Sherrone Moore in his inaugural season.

Michigan’s offense is in disarray and likely headed for prolonged challenges, particularly with critical matches against No. 14 Southern California, No. 6 Oregon, and No. 3 Ohio State on the horizon. It is likely that backup quarterback Alex Orji will get an opportunity to take over for Warren, but it’s uncertain how much that will change the current situation.

While a strong defense could keep the Wolverines competitive in the Big Ten and playoff standings, Texas exposed vulnerabilities in their defense. The Longhorns became the first regular-season opponent since Ohio State in November 2021 to throw for multiple touchdowns without an interception against Michigan, and the first non-conference team to achieve this since Colorado in 2016. Texas also demonstrated a solid ground game, rushing for 143 yards at 4.5 yards per carry with a touchdown, aided significantly by freshman receiver Ryan Wingo’s 55-yard catch.

Texas appears to be among the nation’s elite teams, while Michigan finds itself in a state of transition. The Longhorns and Wolverines perfectly illustrate this week’s biggest winners and losers:

Winners

Nebraska

There was no doubt that Matt Rhule would find success at Nebraska; the real question was to what extent. The 28-10 victory over Colorado doesn’t necessarily indicate that the Cornhuskers are ready to consistently feature in the YSL News Sports US LBM Coaches Poll, as Colorado struggled significantly, and Nebraska’s offense had its sloppy moments in the second half. However, the progress made from last season is evident. Just last September, Nebraska suffered a heavy 36-14 defeat to Colorado at their own home. Now, the Cornhuskers have surpassed the Buffaloes and left them behind. Unlike Deion Sanders’ rapid roster overhaul, Rhule aims to establish a long-lasting program. Overall, Nebraska is in a much better position than Colorado currently, and this gap is likely to widen in the future.

Quinn Ewers

Following his standout game in Ann Arbor, Ewers has emerged as the leading contender for the Heisman Trophy. The race is competitive early on, with Miami’s Cam Ward excelling, Georgia’s Carson Beck performing well, and Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart starting strong. Currently, Ewers has amassed 506 passing yards and six touchdowns over two games, and attention will remain on him with upcoming games against No. 13 Oklahoma on Oct. 12 and No. 1 Georgia on Oct. 19.

Tennessee

If the fairness of rankings held true, Tennessee’s resounding 51-10 win over No. 23 North Carolina State at a neutral venue should guarantee them a spot in the top 10. While their final ranking in the upcoming Top 25 is uncertain, the performance against one of the ACC’s stronger teams illustrates that Tennessee deserves recognition among the premier teams in the FBS. Josh Heupel’s squad has started strong, led by new quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who threw for 211 yards and rushed for 65 yards with three total touchdowns against the Wolfpack. However, it was the defense that truly shone, stifling North Carolina State to only 143 total yards and 1.4 yards per carry. After a slight decline to nine wins last season, Tennessee has the opportunity to craft a remarkable season.

Kansas State

Ranked No. 16, the Wildcats clinched a hard-fought 34-27 victory at Tulane, largely thanks to their defense, which delivered an impressive performance in the fourth quarter. They took the lead after a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown with eight minutes remaining, followed by an interception in the end zone to secure the win just 12 seconds before the game ended. This victory is significant considering Tulane’s standing in the Group of Five; it could enhance Kansas State’s standing with the playoff selection committee for having a quality road win. Running back DJ Giddens contributed significantly with 114 yards rushing.

On the field, a standout player recorded a team-leading 63 yards in receiving while safety VJ Payne contributed significantly with seven tackles, one of which was a tackle for loss, along with a decisive interception that secured the game.

Syracuse

The Orange improved to 2-0 under first-year coach Fran Brown after a narrow 31-28 victory over Georgia Tech. The win was highlighted by Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord, who achieved 381 passing yards and threw four touchdowns. McCord, who scored 24 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season but left due to competition for the starting position, has now thrown eight touchdowns in just two games this season. This victory also keeps Syracuse in contention for a third consecutive bowl game, which would make Brown the third new coach in the school’s history to lead the team to the postseason. However, the question remains about the significance of beating the Yellow Jackets, particularly after Tech’s early-season victory against Florida State lost some of its value when the Seminoles suffered a significant loss to Boston College on Labor Day.

Losers

Deion Sanders

It may be time to look beyond the excitement surrounding the Colorado program under Deion Sanders. Following another busy offseason with player changes, the Buffaloes are still struggling with blocking, have no effective running game, fail to protect their quarterback, and struggle defensively. In their recent match, simply preventing Nebraska from scoring in the second half felt like a small victory. The defeat leaves Sanders with a 5-9 record overall and just 3-9 against Power Five teams, raising concerns about the potential for a turnaround before they step into Big 12 competition. The upcoming schedule includes five teams currently ranked in the Top 25, indicating that the situation might worsen.

Notre Dame

Northern Illinois 16, No. 7 Notre Dame 14. After a confidence-boosting win against Texas A&M last week and the accompanying hype suggesting a playoff berth was a near certainty for the Fighting Irish, this disappointing defeat stands as one of the worst losses in the program’s history. The loss has significant implications for their postseason aspirations, as Notre Dame’s schedule is less challenging than usual, meaning they must win all remaining games to secure a playoff spot. Additionally, there is increasing pressure on coach Marcus Freeman, who has endured losses to teams like Marshall and the Huskies at home during his tenure. Frequently, the Irish have failed to meet expectations against lesser opponents, and this loss may jeopardize their chances at a national championship.

Hugh Freeze

After what he inherited, Freeze was somewhat excused for finishing 6-7 last year. However, we will see if patience remains in 2024 after Auburn’s 21-14 home loss to California, a new member of the ACC, who had opened the season with an unimpressive 31-13 victory against UC Davis. How did Auburn lose at home to a team projected to be near the bottom of the ACC? The answer lies in their five turnovers, including four interceptions by quarterback Payton Thorne, who has thrown at least one interception in each of his five games against Power Four competition. Is a change necessary for Freeze to guide Auburn back to bowl eligibility?

Arkansas

Arkansas’s latest baffling loss represents serious trouble for struggling head coach Sam Pittman. Leading 21-7 at halftime against No. 17 Oklahoma State, with the Cowboys scoring via a second-quarter pick-six, the Razorbacks faltered in the second half, resulting in a 39-31 loss in double overtime. This defeat is particularly hard to fathom given their offensive performance: Arkansas amassed 648 yards and 33 first downs but was hindered by three turnovers and two missed field goals. With tough SEC games ahead, this was a crucial win they needed to have in order to aim for bowl eligibility; failing to secure six wins could mean the end of Pittman’s tenure as head coach.

Cincinnati

Another coach facing tough times is Cincinnati’s Scott Satterfield, who ended his first season with a record of 3-9 and now finds the Bearcats at 1-1 after a dramatic fourth-quarter collapse against Pittsburgh. Holding a 27-6 lead with under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, UC allowed the Panthers to score three touchdowns and a field goal down the stretch, losing 28-27, marking a disappointing 2-7 home record for Satterfield so far. His predecessor, Luke Fickell, boasted a commendable 41-10 record at home between 2015 and 2022.

Kent State

There’s no doubt that Kent State is currently the weakest team in the FBS. Listed at No. 134 in YSL News Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134, they will likely remain at the bottom after a 23-17 loss to Saint Francis from the Championship Subdivision. With only one winning season since 2017, Saint Francis is certainly not an FCS powerhouse, yet they proved too strong for the Golden Flashes, who have lost 13 of their last 14 games under second-year coach Kenni Burnes.

Alabama-Birmingham

The 32-6 defeat to Louisiana-Monroe had a certain irony for UAB and coach Bryant Vincent, who spent several years as Bill Clark’s offensive coordinator and had a 7-6 record as interim coach in 2022, only to lose the permanent job to former NFL quarterback, TV analyst, and high school coach Trent Dilfer. Unfortunately, it’s been a struggling start for Dilfer, now at 5-9 with the Blazers after taking over a program that had enjoyed a five-year streak of winning seasons. Dilfer’s inexperience before assuming control has put the progress made since UAB’s reinstatement in 2017 at risk.