As the clock ticked down in Texas’ dominant 31-12 victory against Michigan Saturday, Wolverine fans made their way to the Michigan Stadium exits, hoping to escape the traffic that comes with a group of 107,000 fans leaving at the same time.
Well, not quite 107,000.
As it turns out, Texas fans were able to gobble up a surprising portion of tickets in the Big House, not only exhausting the visiting fans section, but finding a way into Michigan sections as well. As the final seconds rolled off the clock and Michigan fans hit the parking lots, Texas fans were left to party in the Ann Arbor stands.
The result was a unique rendition of the school’s “Texas Fight” anthem, with players on the field and fans in the stands of Michigan Stadium’s lower bowl combining in a celebratory connection.
.@TexasFootball fans different 😮💨📈 pic.twitter.com/c1GdLDjjY8
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 7, 2024
The scene was different than 2023’s Texas victory at Alabama, also in the season’s opening weeks, simply because Texas had essentially all but wrapped up the victory in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter. Each Texas fourth quarter possession was more a question of how much clock the Longhorns could ran, rather than whether or not they could score.
That’s a very different scenario than the team has faced during most of Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s first three seasons at the helm. The result was not just a victory, but also a growing sense that Texas is ready to assert its dominance against other national powers … often together with a large throng of jubilant fans, whether at home or on the road.