One of the most anticipated college football matchups of the season will kick off on Saturday afternoon when the Texas Longhorns make their first-ever visit to the state of Michigan to play the host Wolverines in Ann Arbor. All 32 NFL teams are expected to be in attendance to watch the second-ever meeting between the two powerhouse programs, the only prior one coming in the 2005 Rose Bowl.
This one is a scouting bonanza, with several prominent 2025 NFL Draft prospects set to take the field against one another. Texas has 16 players featured on the preseason Senior Bowl watchlist. Michigan touts 14 on the same list.
Some of those top prospects will face off against one another on Saturday. Here’s some of the key draft scouting matchups to watch when Michigan and Texas get it on.
Isaiah Bond vs. Will Johnson
Two potential first-rounders square off on the outside with Bond, an Alabama transfer, coming off an impressive Texas debut. He caught five passes in the Longhorns’ romp over Colorado State, smartly working the middle of the field and showing off nice short-area quickness on the outside. Bond had no trouble getting open last week, though he did have one drop.
Johnson might be the best coverage corner in the country. His size, physicality and ball skills are all elite. Interestingly, Fresno State went at him a little and found some success early on comeback routes. Johnson made them pay with a game-sealing pick-six that showed his anticipation and closing burst, traits that have Johnson almost universally regarded as a top-15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Bond’s quickness and spritely physicality for a smaller wideout make him a compelling challenge for Johnson.
Quinn Ewers vs. Rod Moore and Makari Page
Ewers is the man throwing the ball to Bond, and he looked very good in the opener. Going into the season, I had concerns about Ewers’ handling pressure and willingness to let it fly with his rifle of a right arm. He didn’t face much pressure, but against the Rams, I thought Ewers saw the field well and showed some chutzpah in staying with his best read.
Moore and Page are a seasoned safety tandem that comfortably works together. Moore is a potential Day 2 pick who considered declaring for the 2024 draft. Page is more of a Day 3 prospect but one with versatility, capable of playing deep coverage or lining up as a slot corner. They’re both smart and sleek in coverage, presenting a difficult test for Ewers as a pocket passer.
Ewers can also run a little, and that puts an onus on the Wolverines safeties to not abandon their responsibilities there, too. The Michigan interior DL tandem of Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, both likely first-round picks in 2025, figure to flush Ewers out of the pocket. Ewers will tuck and run, but he does have the arm strength to unleash a deep throw outside the pocket too.
Kelvin Banks vs. Josaiah Stewart and Derrick Moore
Banks pitched a shutout at left tackle in Texas’ win over Colorado State, but Michigan brings two potential ’25 draftees to the pass rush party. Josaiah Stweart bagged two sacks in Michigan’s win over Fresno State, while Derrick Moore tallied five official QB pressures from PFF’s metrics.
Both Moore and Stewart move around the formation. That means Banks will face different styles and speeds of pass rushers in the game game, a great test for the potential first-rounder. For Moore, it’s an opportunity to show his game is growing by facing off against an accomplished blocker like Banks. Stewart, the better-regarded of the Wolverines prospects, needs to show he can handle Banks’ considerable size in the run game.
It figures to be a great atmosphere and scouting matchup for fans of any team to watch at noon on Saturday.
