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Free Press writer Jared Ramsey looks back at Michigan football’s 31-12 loss to Texas and looks ahead to next week’s matchup against Arkansas State.
Next up for Michigan: Arkansas State
Matchup: No. 9 Michigan (1-1) vs. Arkansas State (1-0).
Kickoff: Noon Saturday; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: Big Ten Network; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Line: TBD.
Know the foe
Arkansas State Red Wolves quarterback Jaylen Raynor (1) warms up before Arkansas State Red Wolves take on the Northern Illinois Huskies during the Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Michigan has a week to recover after a loss for the first time since November 2021 and have a 2-0 Arkansas State team coming to Ann Arbor on Saturday.
“A lot of those guys in that locker room have high-end personalities and they’ve got a lot of eagerness to go out and fix the wrong,” defensive back Quinten Johnson said. “The biggest thing is going out there next week and doing what you got to do.”
Arkansas State won two nailbiters to start the season — by three points over Central Arkansas and by four over Tulsa — to get off to a perfect start. This will be the first time Michigan will play Arkansas State in school history. Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada transferred from Arkansas State to Michigan in the offseason and will face off against his former team for the first time.
Arkansas State averages 31 points and 426.5 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jaylen Raynor has been the catalyst and leads the team in passing and rushing. The second-year starter, a second-team All-Sun Belt pick, averages 286 yards through the air and 61 on the ground this season. Arkansas State’s defense is giving up an average of 400 yards per game, evenly split between run and pass, and has one takeaway through two games.
