ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Quinn Ewers took a look up in the pocket and noticed plenty of open field ahead. He had the option to run for a first down, but instead, he wanted to go bigger.

Why settle for a run when the Texas QB could unleash a powerful throw?

His tight end, Gunnar Helm, found an open spot behind the linebackers and right in front of the defensive backs. He was wide open in the end zone.

Swish.

Touchdown.

Ewers made it look straightforward. All afternoon long.

Quinn Ewers and his Longhorns controlled the game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. The defending national champions seemed to crumble under the pressure.

No. 3 Texas 31, No. 9 Michigan 12.

The 111,170 spectators who invested in their tickets likely anticipated a thrilling contest.

Instead, Michigan disappointed its fans with a lackluster performance. The game felt one-sided.

A matchup between top-10 teams turned into a one-sided affair.

Texas (2-0) dominated the Wolverines (1-1). They decimated their opponents, leaving them in disarray.

Texas football avoids karma, decisively beats Michigan

Some may view this as justice for Michigan, which was accused of sign-stealing and breaking NCAA rules during its undefeated 2023 season. However, there was no need for karma this time; Texas took care of business on its own.

Texas dominated at the line of scrimmage, while Ewers excelled, racking up 246 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Michigan appeared to have lost the edge that made them competitive under Jim Harbaugh.

Though accusations of cheating hung over the Wolverines, it would be oversimplified to blame their fall on a single scheme. Under Harbaugh, they were equipped with a solid quarterback, a robust offensive line, and a fierce defense.

This year’s team lacks those critical components. With first-time starting QB Davis Warren at the helm, the offense struggles to make an impact.

Unless Michigan can develop better offensive plays – and find a reliable quarterback – in the coming months, they might face losses even from opponents like Ryan Day.

During much of the game, the clocks on the scoreboards showed a significant time disparity in possession. Texas’s clock seemed to run faster as they executed long drives, whereas Michigan struggled to keep up.

A telling moment came late in the first half when Michigan’s Semaj Morgan found himself open for what looked to be a major gain, but Warren’s throw went over his head. The next play saw Warren finally connect with Colston Loveland, who had no defenders nearby, yet he fumbled the ball before reaching the first-down marker.

The Longhorns capitalized on Loveland’s mistake, recovering the fumble.

Texas’s defense created three turnovers, including two interceptions of Warren. While one might argue there was a bit of luck involved, it was mostly Texas’s hard work.

Despite Loveland’s promising future as a top NFL draft pick, Texas’s Helm stood out with 98 receiving yards.

Having Ewers as quarterback certainly helps.

Quinn Ewers shows off his quarterback skills against Michigan

Ewers excelled early in the game, and by third down, he was nearly unstoppable.

Despite windy conditions more suitable for kites than football passes, Ewers performed exceptionally well.

This was the Ewers we witnessed leading Texas to victory over Alabama last September. He’s also the quarterback ensuring Arch Manning stays on the bench.

It’s clear that Steve Sarkisian has honed Ewers from a top recruit into a standout player.

Sark returned to Austin with a solid reputation as an excellent recruiter and a skilled quarterback coach. He also brought a necessary toughness to Texas.

During Texas’s years of underperformance, the team was criticized for not meeting expectations. But that narrative is changing. This Texas squad is a force to be reckoned with.

The experienced offensive line from Texas overwhelmed Michigan like rarely seen in the Harbaugh era.

As the game continued to tilt in Texas’s favor, a Texas fan proudly displayed the “Hook ‘em Horns” gesture, encouraging fellow supporters in burnt orange to join the celebration.

Meanwhile, Michigan fans looked on in disbelief.

Horns up. Maize down.

Blake Toppmeyer is the national college football columnist for the YSL News Network. You can   follow him on Twitter @btoppmeyer.