Michigan football vs. Arkansas State

Through two weeks, there are still many more questions than answers for the No. 17 Michigan football team. The Wolverines sit at 1-1 heading into Week 3, kicking off the season with an underwhelming win over Fresno State before getting a thorough beatdown by then-No. 3 Texas. 

Although Michigan’s opening record marks the first departure from 2-0 starts since 2020, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The Longhorns marched into Ann Arbor — and left — as one of the best teams in the country. And the Wolverines, following this offseason’s immense turnover, didn’t draw nearly the same expectations.

What does come as a surprise, however, is just how many uncertainties the reigning national champions are still facing. Besides kicking, there really isn’t another component of this year’s Michigan team that has proved reliable and consistent. Saturday’s matchup against Arkansas State provides a new opportunity to address some of those lingering questions.

While the Red Wolves are nowhere near the caliber of Texas, the game provides a much-needed chance for the Wolverines to bounce back. Arkansas State shouldn’t be completely overlooked, either, especially after Michigan’s mediocre showing as a heavy favorite in Week 1. And while the Wolverines ended a streak of 2-0 starts this season, the Red Wolves started one, winning their opening two games for the first time since 2008.

Given all the challenges Michigan has faced thus far, there are almost too many things to look out for in this weekend’s contest. But a few key storylines stand out among the rest. Let’s break those down:

What is Michigan’s offensive identity? Can the Wolverines stick to it?

Over the last decade, Michigan has built its program on playing smashmouth football. Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore is especially known for pushing a run-first identity. After all, he’s the guy who dialed up 32 consecutive run plays against Penn State last season.

But in his first two games as full-time head coach, Moore and Michigan have strayed from that identity.

Against the Longhorns, the Wolverines rushed the ball 23 times for just 80 total yards while attempting 33 passes and gaining 204 total yards through the air. Graduate running back Kalel Mullings, who led Michigan with 92 yards on 15 carries against the Bulldogs, only touched the ball six times the following weekend.

“The thing that we talked about on offense, we gotta run the ball more,” Moore said Monday. “We gotta run the ball more efficiently and do things to help us and move the chains and get the ball in the end zone, which we’re not doing enough.”

Texas’ talented defensive front was certainly a factor in the Wolverines’ lackluster ground game, as was the fact that Michigan trailed nearly the entire game. Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell seemed to think that mixing up play calls would help the Wolverines gain traction from behind, but it ended up sinking them even further.

On Saturday, watch how much emphasis is put on establishing the run early. Facing a much less lauded opponent, Michigan’s running backs and offensive line should have more opportunities to realign with the physical, run-first identity that has defined the Wolverines in years past.

Is Davis Warren still the guy?

Since beating out junior quarterback Alex Orji for the starting role, senior quarterback Davis Warren has had a shaky start to the season.

Through Michigan’s first two games, Warren has completed 64% of his passes for 322 total yards and two touchdowns. He’s also thrown three interceptions, and his 39.9 total QBR ranks 14th out of 18 Big Ten quarterbacks. So far, he’s shown flashes of playmaking abilities — particularly on the Wolverines’ final and only touchdown drive against the Longhorns — but he hasn’t quite assuaged the nerves of the Michigan faithful.

Although Moore confirmed that the decision came down to Warren or Orji — the latter of whom has made a handful of appearances, mostly on designed runs — graduate quarterback Jack Tuttle returning to full strength could throw a wrinkle into the Wolverines’ play under center. 

Primarily a career backup, Tuttle has five career starts to his name, all at Indiana before he transferred to Michigan in 2023. Until this point, he was working through an injury suffered in fall camp, but coaches have suggested that he’s feeling healthy heading into Week 3.

Moore has maintained confidence in Warren’s abilities, but keep an eye out for potential changes at the quarterback position this weekend, whether that be adjusted plays for Warren, new packages for Orji or Tuttle getting a chance of his own.

Can Michigan’s defense look the part of a high-end unit?

On paper, Michigan has one of the most talented defensive units in the country. Headlined by junior cornerback Will Johnson, arguably one of the best players in college football, the Wolverines lost some key pieces this offseason but returned enough talent to warrant high expectations. 

So far, though, that talent hasn’t shown up consistently on the field. Granted, Texas’ high-flying offense is a difficult Week 2 draw for a Michigan unit reloading under new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. But the Wolverines were supposed to be the best of the best, and the Longhorns simply picked them apart.

Michigan looked frequently out of position, missing open-field tackles and struggling to contain Texas’ loaded receiving corps.

“Defensively, guys just gotta tackle,” Moore said. “Guys got to make plays, and guys are in position or not communicating, so there’s too many wide open things happening, and that’s the big piece for us. We gotta get it fixed.”

Moore emphasized that he believes Michigan’s shortcomings on defense are all fixable. Arkansas State has some potential weapons on offense — particularly in quarterback Jaylen Raynor, a true dual-threat, as well as workhorse running back Zak Wallace and big-play wide receiver Corey Rucker — but none that bring anywhere near the same threat as the Longhorns’ equivalents. Look out for how the Wolverines’ defense fares against the Red Wolves, and whether they can execute at the level they’re expected to.

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Snapping its 23-game home winning streak, Michigan got handed a massive reality check last weekend. 

The Wolverines are yet to prove that their repeat Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff hopes are anything but far-fetched dreams. On Saturday, they have the opportunity to get back on track before taking on another top-15 team the following weekend — and these storylines will be key in how they continue to develop.

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