Michigan’s quarterback woes were on full display in a narrow 28-18 win over Arkansas State on Saturday. Despite entering as heavy favorites, the 17th-ranked Wolverines couldn’t shake off the resilient Red Wolves, who hung tough for much of the game. Kalel Mullings’ career-high 153 rushing yards and two touchdowns provided the spark Michigan needed, but the shaky play from QB Davis Warren left plenty of questions for the team moving forward.
Warren struggled throughout, tossing three interceptions in as many quarters. His turnovers prevented Michigan from establishing the dominance many expected against their Sun Belt opponents. “Put the ball in harm's way too many times and we made a change,” Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said after the game. Enter Alex Orji.
With Warren faltering, Orji stepped in during the fourth quarter and delivered. His 9-yard touchdown pass to Hogan Hansen gave the Wolverines a commanding 28-3 lead. But as promising as his performance was, Orji’s abilities as a passer remain limited, which leaves Michigan with a dilemma under center as they approach their Big Ten opener.
Arkansas State, despite the loss, showed grit. The Red Wolves trailed just 10-6 in the second quarter after Clune Van Andel’s 27-yard field goal. However, missed opportunities—including two failed field-goal attempts and a key interception in the end zone—kept them from capitalizing on Michigan's miscues. The Red Wolves’ late-game surge, powered by backup QB Timmy McClain, who tossed two touchdown passes in the final minutes, showed the team’s fighting spirit even as time ran out.
“Defensively, we did a great job taking the ball away, but we had zero to show for it on offense,” Arkansas State coach Butch Jones said, reflecting on the missed chances.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s ground game, which had been nonexistent in previous weeks, finally broke through with three rushing touchdowns. But the team's offensive struggles, particularly in the passing game, are hard to ignore. Warren’s conservative 11-for-14 passing for just 122 yards mostly featured short, safe throws when he wasn’t finding defenders. Orji’s dual-threat ability is promising, but Moore has yet to commit to who will lead the offense going forward.
“We’ll figure that out in practice,” Moore said regarding next week’s quarterback decision.
As Michigan prepares for a crucial Big Ten matchup against No. 11 Southern California, the pressure is on to resolve their quarterback situation. The Wolverines, once ranked in the top 10, have already fallen in the polls after losing to Texas and may slide further after Saturday’s underwhelming performance.
Arkansas State, now 2-1, will take the lessons from this near-upset into another tough contest as they face No. 21 Iowa State next weekend. Coach Jones’ squad may not have left with the win, but their resilience shows that they are ready to compete with top-tier competition.
With key injuries, particularly to tight end Colston Loveland, and offensive uncertainty, Michigan's season now faces a pivotal moment. Will they find consistency before facing USC, or will their quarterback carousel continue to spin?
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