Inside the Numbers: Texas defense put Michigan in unfamiliar territory

The then-No. 3 Texas Longhorns went into Ann Arbor and dominated the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, putting them and the country on notice that they are legitimate contenders for the title.

While there is still a lot to coach and a lot of work to do, Texas played up to its level of talent on both sides of the ball as they prepare for the grind of SEC play. From quarterback Quinn Ewers already appearing to be in midseason form to red-zone efficiency and everything in between, the Longhorns dominated the Wolverines on their home turf.

Quinn Ewers: 24-36, 246 yards, three TDs (all three came in the first three quarters)

One of the biggest stories on Saturday was the performance of Texas’ senior quarterback in one of the toughest environments in the country. While the final stat line was shy of 2023’s Week Two statement game, Ewers’ offensive performance in Ann Arbor was everything Texas needed him to be to come away with the victory. It has been a feature of the head coach Steve Sarkisian offense to pass the ball on first downs, and Ewers often rewards his coach for his faith in him.

Saturday was no different.

Texas went to the air 12 times on first down, with Ewers completing six of those attempts for 72 yards and resetting the chains three times — an average of six yards per attempt through the air. The air game was more efficient than the ground game for Texas against Michigan, which we knew would likely be the case, but the Longhorns managed to out-gain the Wolverines on the ground and through the air Saturday. Perhaps most impressively, however, was Ewers’ efficiency when Texas had to convert on third downs.

On the money down, Ewers finished the day 6-of-9 for 81 yards, moving the chains five times and scorning two touchdowns, including a 33-yard strike to Isaiah Bond on the opening drive of the game. That drive should have ended with a third-down touchdown and what would have been Texas’s second explosive play of the drive if not for a questionable holding call on Cameron Williams. Despite the referees interfering with that drive, Texas finished with seven explosive passes, one of which went for a touchdown, accounting for 156 of Ewers’ 246 yards.

Red-zone conversions: 4-4, three touchdowns

After a year of abysmal red-zone performance in touchdown rate, Texas has seemingly turned the corner to red-zone success and found its footing in that critical space. Texas turned in back-to-back perfect games in the red zone for the first time since Weeks Two and Three of last year, after going 4-of-4 against Alabama and 3-of-3 against Wyoming. The difference is that in 2023, Texas left more points on the field — converting three of those seven via field goal. The 2024 Longhorns have shown greater consistency from a year ago, with 10 of their 11 trips to the red zone ending in a touchdown; Texas didn’t reach 10 red-zone touchdowns last year until the fifth game against Kansas.

Texas wasn’t perfect from inside the 25 against the Wolverines, with their fourth drive of the first half ending with a Bert Auburn field goal. Texas quickly responded by punching it in from the 5-yard line on their next drive to take a 24-3 lead. Sark and the Texas offense showed it can punch it in using all parts of the offense, with tight end Gunnar Helm scoring the game’s first touchdown from 21 yards out, running back Jerrick Gibson carrying the ball from seven yards out, and running back Jaydon Blue snagging a designed swing pass from Ewers to cap off a long drive.

Texas: Plus-three turnover margin (two INTs, fumble recovery)

When safety Andrew Mukuba intercepted Michigan quarterback Davis Warren in the second quarter, Wolverines fans experienced something they had experienced just once since last September — their quarterback giving up the ball via interception.

The Wolverines lost the turnover battle just twice last year, in Weeks Two and Three as they tried to figure out the quarterback situation before settling in. They responded with five straight weeks without a turnover and seven without an interception. From that point on, Michigan was either even or positive in the turnover battle and went without a multi-turnover game through their national title win. They threw just one interception in the final 12 games of their national championship season.

The pair of interceptions by Mukuba and sophomore Derrick Williams, plus the Jahdae Barron-recovered fumble, put Texas plus-three in the turnover margin for the day. That number is the second-best performance under fourth-year defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, tied with last year’s opener against Rice. Texas currently sits tied at No. 8 in turnover margin, after finishing last year No. 30 and No. 55 two years ago.

Now, Texas has cleared one of the major hurdles in its march back to the College Football Playoff, cementing itself as a legitimate contender for the title. Now, Texas returns home for another non-conference tuneup against the UTSA Roadrunners, with just two more games before officially starting conference play.