Saturday's contest between Michigan and Texas kicked off with an on-field standoff between Pro Football Hall of Famer Charles Woodson and actor Matthew McConaughey. Woodson, who played for the Wolverines from 1995 to 1997, waved the Michigan flag while Texas alum McConaughey represented the Longhorns. The blueblood showdown between the No. 3 Texas Longhorns and No. 10 Michigan Wolverines started with a bang Saturday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. As both teams walked out of the locker rooms in front of a sellout crowd filled with two passionate fanbases, former Michigan star Charles Woodson and famous actor Matthew McConaughey—a Longhorns superfan—strolled onto the field with flags representing their allegiances. Woodson walked over to McConaughey for a UFC-esque standoff on the field. Both Woodson and McConaughey broke into big smiles. The Week 2 matchup marked just the second time in history that Michigan and Texas faced off on the gridiron. The only other clash was nearly 20 years ago in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2005, a game in which Texas won 38–27.
First Half Domination
Through two quarters, McConaughey's Longhorns have the upper hand on Woodson's Wolverines, as they entered halftime with a 24–3 lead. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-26 passing in the first half, and the Longhorns' defense held Michigan to 88 total yards. To use a classic McConaughey line, it is fair to say Texas is playing better than just alright, alright, alright.
McConaughey's Halftime Analysis
Actor Matthew McConaughey had rave reviews for the Texas Longhorns’ first-half performance against defending champion Michigan. As Texas took a 24-3 lead into the halftime break in Ann Arbor, McConaughey joined the Fox broadcast’s halftime show to breakdown what he saw from the Longhorns in the first half. “There’s a lot to be happy about in this first half, on both sides of the ball,” McConaughey said while wearing a cowboy hat and a burnt orange suit. “I think we can easily say No. 3 [Quinn Ewers] is pretty talented, isn’t he?”
Ewers's Poise and Running Backs' Success
Quarterback Quinn Ewers picked up right where he left off from last week’s 52-0 win over Colorado State, completing 18-of-26 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. The Fox crew had McConaughey break down some of Ewers’ highlights from the first half. “The pressure’s getting there, but [Ewers]’s still stepping up in the pocket and he’s still making plays before he’s crossing the line of scrimmage,” McConaughey said. “And he’s done it quite a few times. The poise back there, he looks great.”
McConaughey also had high praise for Longhorns running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue, who had to sit out some of the first half because of an injury. They are both in the lineup this season after Texas lost running backs C.J. Baxter and Christian Clark for the season during training camp. “They taped [Blue] up, he’s back in. ... [Wisner] looked great. The running backs are catching the ball really well out of the backfield too,” McConaughey said. “We are not in any position to be forced to pass the ball. We’re passing the ball well, but thankfully our running backs are keeping us to where we can run a balanced offense.”
McConaughey's Analyst Debut a Success
McConaughey impressed during his brief analyst role, even earning an invite back for next week. “I’ve heard enough, you’re hired,” Brady Quinn said.
A Bit of History
This is not the first time McConaughey has attempted to inspire the Longhorns to win an important game. Former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who played for the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009, said in January on The Pat McAfee Show that McConaughey gave a pep talk to the Texas locker room ahead of the Rose Bowl during his redshirt freshman season. Texas went on to beat USC and claim the national title. McConaughey earned an official title with UT in December 2018 when the school named him its “Minister of Culture.”
A Look at Woodson's Impact
Woodson has reached a similarly important status with Michigan after becoming the program's third Heisman winner in 1997. The cornerback and wide receiver was the first player in modern college football to win the trophy for his accomplishments on both sides of the ball. He went on to play 18 NFL campaigns for the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers before retiring following his ninth Pro Bowl season in 2015. Now the former two-way Wolverines star and the Texas Minister of Culture will look to see who can serve as the better good-luck charm for their team in Saturday's top-ten battle.
