The No. 9 Michigan Wolverines face a challenging nonconference matchup as the Southeastern Conference’s Texas, currently ranked as the No. 3 team in the nation, heads to Big House on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s game will mark only the second time these two teams have faced each other. They first time came at the 2005 Rose Bowl, a 38-37 Texas victory led by quarterback Vince Young.

The Wolverines are no strangers to SEC opponents. The team holds a 26-12-1 record against the conference. With aspirations to repeat as national champions, Michigan will have to find a way to come up with a strong statement victory against the Longhorns.

Watch Michigan vs. Texas live on Fubo (free trial)

Here’s how to watch the Michigan vs. Texas game today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is Michigan vs. Texas on today?

• TV channel: Fox.
• Livestream: Fox Sports app and Fubo (free trial).
• Radio: WWJ-AM (950) in Detroit (radio affiliates throughout the state of Michigan).

[ Michigan fans: Celebrate the 2023 national title with Free Press commemorative books: “Blue Reign” and “Maize & Grand,” and check out special wall art of our front page from the morning after the championship win. ]

Michigan vs. Texas time today

• Date: Saturday, Sept. 7.
• Time: 12 p.m. ET.
• Where: Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

The Michigan vs. Texas game starts at noon from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor.

THE GAME: Michigan vs. Texas scouting report, prediction for top-10 showdown

Michigan vs. Texas predictions, picks, odds

Michigan vs. Texas pick: The rain looks like it may hold off, but it’s going to feel like a crisp fall day in Ann Arbor with a high around 60 degrees. Derek Jeter will be on hand as honorary captain for Michigan, while Matthew McConaughey is expected to make an appearance and represent Texas. ESPN’s “College GameDay” and Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff” will add to an incredible environment as the defending national champions try to make an early season statement and fall just short. The pick: Texas 23, Michigan 19. — Tony Garcia, Michigan Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press

Odds via BetMGM as of Friday afternoon.

• Spread: Texas by 7.
• Over/under total: 42½ points.
• Moneyline: Michigan +225, Texas -275.

Michigan football schedule 2024

• Week 1: Aug. 31 vs. Fresno State (W, 30-10)
• Week 2: Sept. 7: vs Texas, 12 p.m., Fox
• Week 3: Sept. 14 vs. Arkansas State, 12 p.m., Big Ten Network
• Week 4: Sept. 21 vs. USC, 3:30 p.m., CBS
• Week 5: Sept. 28 vs. Minnesota, TBD
• Week 6: Oct. 5 at Washington, TBD
• Week 7: Oct. 12, Bye
• Week 8: Oct. 19 at Illinois, TBD
• Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Michigan State, TBD
• Week 10: Nov. 2 vs. Oregon, TBD
• Week 11: Nov. 9 at Indiana, TBD
• Week 12: Nov. 16, Bye
• Week 13: Nov. 23 vs. Northwestern, TBD
• Week 14: Nov. 30 at Ohio State, 12 p.m., Fox

Texas football schedule 2024

• Week 1: Aug. 31 vs. Colorado State (W, 52-0)
• Week 2: Sept. 7: at Michigan, 12 p.m., Fox
• Week 3: Sept. 14 vs. University of Texas at San Antonio
• Week 4: Sept. 21 vs. University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Week 5: Sept. 28 vs. Mississippi State
• Week 6: Oct. 5, Bye
• Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
• Week 8: Oct. 19 vs. Georgia
• Week 9: Oct. 26 at Vanderbilt
• Week 10: Nov. 2 Bye
• Week 11: Nov. 9 vs. Florida
• Week 12: Nov. 16 at Arkansas
• Week 13: Nov. 23 vs. Kentucky
• Week 14: Nov. 30 at Texas A&M

In its first true test of the college football season, the Texas Longhorns head to Ann Arbor, Michigan to face the national champion Michigan Wolverines.

Both teams are extremely talented on both sides of the ball. 2025 draft projections have up to six first-rounders between the two teams alone, and one could easily project five or more All-Americans from the two schools.

The two teams will meet on the gridiron in the largest stadium in North America, Michigan Stadium or ‘The Big House’, where nearly 108 thousand fans will be screaming with expectations of a historic matchup between two of the winningest teams in CFB history. Both teams think they’re winning this game, and both fanbases will do their best to populate the stands with Maize and Blue, or Burnt Orange for the visitors.

FanDuel Sportsbook currently has the visiting Longhorns as a 7.5-point favorite, a surprising line given the atmosphere of a Michigan home game, and a testament to the strength of the Longhorns team. But games aren’t decided by betting lines. They are won in a few distinct ways, where each team’s strengths battle to overtake the others.

Given the greatness of this matchup, each team will need to be on their A-game. Here are the keys to the game for both Texas and Michigan.

Texas Wins If…

…. the running game can stay solid

The win conditions of these two powerhouses are clear: Michigan wants to control the tempo, while Texas wants to bring the pace.

The easiest way for each team to do that is by establishing the run game, and it feels like Texas’ running game versus Michigan’s run stuff will be the key matchup of the game.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s pro-style offense succeeds in multiple ways, but many of them come back to the establishment of the run game. Texas utilizes the run-pass option and play action as well as any team in the nation, but these plays can’t be effectively set up without the run game working.

If Michigan’s run defense can hold Texas’ backs to three or fewer yards per carry in the early going, the Wolverines will be able to sit farther back in coverage, daring the Longhorns to throw on top cornerback Will Johnson. If Texas wants to succeed, the Longhorns will need to force Michigan defensive backs closer to the line, which can only be done with the threat of the run.

This comes down to three key elements: the ability of running back Jaydon Blue, the strength of the offensive line, and the creativity of Sarkisian’s playcalling. If Blue is able to step into the lead back role that guys like Brooks and Robinson have done so well in the past, or if the Texas offensive line can push players like Mason Graham forward, or even if Sarkisian is just the right amount of creative to get players into advantageous positions, the Longhorns should be able to score enough to outlast a weaker Michigan offense.

Michigan Wins If…

…They control the clock

Though head coach Jim Harbaugh is no longer with the team, the identity of the Wolverines will likely stay the same. Control the clock with the run game, dominate the trenches, and make big plays on defense. This matchup will be the epitome of the SEC vs Big Ten identities. 

Texas, with its talented roster and high-powered offense. Michigan, with its older team built in the trenches. Both playstyles can work, Michigan proved that last year, but will that success continue against the Longhorns?

Michigan no longer has star quarterback J.J. McCarthy, one of the few quarterbacks in recent history capable of moving the ball downfield. New quarterback Davis Warren is much more of a game manager, which emphasizes the Wolverines’ need for the ground game. Returning running backsDonovan Edwards and Kalel Mullings will combine for most of the Wolverines touches, with a chance of seeing backup quarterback Alex Orji subbed in for option plays

Michigan will try to control the clock and keep the score minimal. They won’t win a shootout against Ewers and Sarkisian, but if the game comes down to three final possessions, the Wolverines will do their best to have two of them. The Wolverines were fifth among power-five teams in time of possession last year and second the year before that. Its identity revolves around winning the line of scrimmage, and with question marks on the Texas d-line it’s possible Edwards and Mullings combine to be too much for the Texas front. 

Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith made a living at Oregon State by recruiting the West Coast heavily, which is no surprise. The state of California alone might just be the deepest of them all when it comes to talent.

While the Sun Belt and the football mecca of Texas boast some of the best of the best, California has the most. Playing football all 12 months does wonders for a player’s development.

It is no surprise that for the 2026 recruiting cycle, California leads the amount of Spartans’ offers with 39 players offered.

One player that the Spartans’ will consider a priority is J Serra Catholic edge rusher Simote Katoanga, one of the best in the entire class. Katoanga is a four-star prospect per 247Sports and the No. 11 edge rusher in the class.

Nationally, Katoanga is the 104th overall player. In the football-rich state of California, he is just the 18th-best player. There is a lot to like about Katoanga. For one, he boasts a grown man’s frame — 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds.

The rest is best described by 247Sports’ Greg Biggins, national recruiting analyst. He recently evaluated Katoanga.

“Katoanga is an intriguing defensive line prospect with a very high ceiling,” Biggins wrote. “He played primarily as an edge rusher as a sophomore but has the frame to bulk up and move inside at the college level. He’s all of 6-5, 250 pounds with an 80-inch wingspan and we can see him packing on another 40 pounds or so with ease and not losing any of his natural athleticism. He’s a high motor player who’s relentless pursuing the football. He shows some pass rush ability coming off the edge or as a tackle and is physical in run support.

“He can take on blocks, hold his ground and still get a push up the field. Right now, he has shown more potential than on-field production but the traits are there and he looks set to have a breakout junior season in the fall.”

I spoke with Katoanga during the summer. He told me he liked the West Coast pipeline that Smith and Co. are working to maintain.

“What stood out to me the most is like, you know, he used to go to Oregon State and he’s from the West Coast,” Katoanga said. “He’s trying to bring the [Polynesian] pipeline to Michigan State.”

Michael France is Sports Illustrated’s Michigan State recruiting beat writer, covering all things Big Ten recruiting for Spartan Nation. Be sure to follow him on Twitter/X@michaelfrancesi for exclusive Spartans recruiting coverage.

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