The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1523593
THE WOLVERINE 2024 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 123 BY CLAYTON SAYFIE Texas hadn't won a Big 12 foot- ball championship since 2009 until standing atop the league in 2023 — the school's final season in the conference. The Longhorns, along with archrival Oklahoma, are the newest members of the Southeast- ern Conference. Winning the SEC — particularly with the high level of competition expected for the 2024 season — would be quite the feat, but head coach Steve Sarki- sian and Co. enter with their own high hopes coming off the pro- gram's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. They were one touchdown drive shy of meeting Michigan in the national title game, losing 37-31 to Washington in the CFP semifinal at the Sugar Bowl. Heading into this fall, Texas is proven in some areas and not so much in others, but the conversa- tion surrounding the Longhorns begins with one of the nation's best quarter- backs, redshirt junior Quinn Ewers. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder opted to return to school following a breakout season that saw him complete 69 per- cent of his passes for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns versus 6 interceptions. He threw for 300-plus yards in each of the team's five games against ranked oppo- nents, including 349 and 3 scores in an early-season, signature victory at Ala- bama (34-24), a team that also made the CFP. Ewers has the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, per DraftKings Sportsbook (+900), behind only Georgia signal-caller Carson Beck (+800). While the Texas offensive line returns four starters, highlighted by junior left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., a second-team All-American in 2023, the top playmakers around Ewers all departed. Texas, which averaged 35.8 points per game (15th nationally), lost its five leading re- ceivers and top rusher in Jonathon Brooks. Seven of the Longhorns' 11 NFL Draft picks this spring were offensive players, including wide- outs Xavier Worthy (first round) and Adonai Mitchell (second), Brooks (second) and tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (fourth). Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, who caught the game-winning pass on fourth-and-31 against Au- burn and faced U-M in the Rose Bowl, highlights the group of re- ceivers Sarkisian brought in through the transfer portal. He's lightning fast and led Alabama with 48 catches, accumulating 668 yards and 4 scores. Texas' defense was stellar last season, allowing only 18.9 points per game. How- ever, stopping prolific passing attacks like Washington's proved to be a struggle. The Longhorns gave up 254.4 passing yards per game for the year (a lowly 116th in the country), including 430 yards and 2 touchdowns to the Huskies. Three of five starters in the defensive backfield must be replaced, and there are massive holes to fill — literally and figu- ratively — on the interior of the defen- sive line. Tackles Byron Murphy II (No. 16 overall NFL Draft pick) and T'Vondre Sweat (No. 38) combined to record 16.5 tackles for loss last season. Sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. broke out with 2 sacks against Alabama and eventually won a starting job. He's a versatile player who can get after the passer, recording 19 pressures to go along with his 67 tackles, 8 stops for loss and 5 sacks a year ago. He was named Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Generating more of a pass rush will be key, after averaging 2.3 sacks per game last season (54th in the country). Junior Ethan Burke (5.5 sacks) and senior Barryn Sorrell will lead the charge as the Long- horns' starting edge rushers. ❑ Texas Is Back Among Nation's Elite As It Joins SEC Texas redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers tallied 3,479 pass- ing yards in 2023, the fifth-best season in program history. PHOTO COURTESY TEXAS ATHLETICS REASONS FOR OPTIMISM • QB Quinn Ewers • Offensive line continuity • Pass rushers return Ewers provides a great starting point for the Texas offense, while explosive linebacker An- thony Hill Jr. and edge Ethan Burke stand out as front-seven stalwarts on defense. REASONS FOR CONCERN • Pass defense • DT replacements • Life in the SEC The Longhorns have very few question marks, but they'll have to bring their "A" game weekly to compete at the top of the SEC. 2024 SCHEDULE Date Opponent 2023 Result Aug. 31 Colorado State — Sept. 7 at Michigan — Sept. 14 UTSA — Sept. 21 ULM — Sept. 28 Mississippi State — Oct. 12 Oklahoma* L, 34-30 Oct. 19 Georgia — Oct. 26 at Vanderbilt — Nov. 9 Florida — Nov. 16 at Arkansas — Nov. 23 Kentucky — Nov. 30 at Texas A&M — * at Cotton Bowl in Dallas GAME 2 • TEXAS LONGHORNS • SEPT. 7 QUICK FACTS All-Time Series: Texas leads 1-0 First Meeting: Texas 38, U-M 37 (Jan. 1, 2005 in Pasadena, Calif.) Last Meeting: Texas 38, U-M 37 (Jan. 1, 2005 in Pasadena, Calif.) Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian, 25-14 (fourth year) at Texas, 71-49 overall (11th year) 2023 In Review: 12-2, 8-1 Big 12 (1st Big 12) Final 2023 Ranking: 3rd by Associated Press, 4th by coaches Returning Starters: 12 (5 offense, 6 defense, 1 specialist) Last Bowl Appearance: 2023 (Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal vs. Washington, L 37-31) RETURNING LEADERS Passing: Quinn Ewers (3,479 yards, 22 TD) Rushing: CJ Baxter (659 yards, 5 TD) Receiving: Gunnar Helm (192 yards, 2 TD) Tackles: Anthony Hill Jr. (67) Sacks: Ethan Burke (5.5) Interceptions: Michael Taaffe (3)