If this were a year ago, a matchup between Oregon and Michigan would have been a headliner.
It's still an important game for both squads in 2024, but the matchup between No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten), and unranked Michigan (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) just doesn't hit the same.
Yes, Michigan is the defending national champion but this is far from Jim Harbaugh's title team. That's not to say Sherrone Moore can't eventually build Michigan back to contender status, but they're the heavy underdogs against Lanning's Ducks, who are legitimately the best team in the nation after beating Ohio State a few weekends ago.
Give credit to Lanning, though, because it doesn't sound like he's overlooking the Wolverines. Specifically, he seems worried about Michigan's two available quarterbacks, who both play: Senior Davis Warren and junior Alex Orji.
“It’s different based on who’s in the game. They’re both capable and they can win in different ways," Lanning recently explained to the media (h/t On3). "But I think he (Warren) played well in the last game and I think getting in a rhythm and finding some consistency is probably important for them. But they both can beat you in different ways.”
To Lanning's point, Warren got going with his arm a bit in last weekend's Michigan win over the Michigan State Spartans, completing 13-of-19 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. For his part, Orji is a tremendous athlete and a threat to run the ball when he's in the game. Michigan used him on six rushes against MSU and he paid those touches off with 64 yards and a touchdown.
Oregon has to believe that the key to stopping Michigan's offense is stopping any rushing threat via Orji and forcing Warren to beat them (he's thrown just three touchdowns compared to six interceptions this season), but Lanning does know that Moore and Michigan's offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell can scheme up plays for both players.
“They can throw the ball, obviously they do a great job of establishing the run game and that’s something that 10 (Orji) will bring in a little bit more as he comes in. But he’s also proven to have the ability to pass. So you have to prepare for a little bit more when you have to go against a team like this,” Lanning explained.
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