Since opening the season ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press' Top 25 poll, Michigan had dropped for three consecutive weeks following unimpressive victories over Fresno State and Arkansas State, and a 31-12 loss to Texas.

However, the Michigan football coaches did just that. Sherrone Moore installed Alex Orji as the starting quarterback, deciding that running (and protecting) the football was much more important than having someone who could make throws downfield — which occasionally ended up in the hands of someone wearing the wrong uniform.