Texas, Michigan's Week 2 opponent, loses key contributor to season-ending injury

Tough news coming out of the Longhorn's fall camp...

Matt Lounsberry | Aug 7, 2024

Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) celebrates a first down during the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semifinals game against the Washington Huskies at the Caesars Superdome on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. / Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Michigan Wolverines

One of Michigan football's opponents on its 2024 schedule has announced some unfortunate news out of fall camp.

Texas' sophomore running back CJ Baxter, who was in line to start for the Longhorns this season, will miss the entirety of the year with an injury to his LCL and PCL in his right knee. The injury will require surgery with a recovery time of six to nine months.

Sources: Texas sophomore tailback CJ Baxter injured the LCL and PCL in his right knee and will require surgery. He will miss the 2024 season after suffering the injury in camp on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/WOyIn8ZZyX
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 7, 2024

Baxter appeared in all 13 games for Texas as a true freshman last year, rushing for 659 yards and five touchdowns on 138 carries (4.8 yards per carry). The tailback was also a factor in the Longhorns' passing attack, with 156 receiving yards on 24 receptions (6.5 yards per catch). His loss is a big one for Texas, who's expected to a top contender for the SEC championship, College Football Playoff and national championship in 2024.

Texas will travel to Ann Arbor on Sept. 7 for a highly-anticipated matchup with reigning national champion Michigan in Week 2 of the season. The showdown between the Longhorns and Wolverines has been included on a plethora of "must-watch games" in college football this fall, with an excellent chance both teams will rank inside the Top 10 when they square off in the Big House.

Surprisingly, considering the cache of the two programs, Michigan and Texas have only met on the gridiron once in their storied histories. Unsurprisingly, the matchup was an instant classic as the Longhorns defeated the Wolverines, 38-37, in the 2005 Rose Bowl game.

After playing in Ann Arbor this fall, Michigan will travel to Austin on Sept. 11, 2027 for the second half of the home-and-home series with Texas. It will truly be a clash of titans when the Wolverines and Longhorns meet this year, as Michigan is No. 1 all-time with 1,004 wins in football while Texas is tied with Notre Dame at No. 4 with 948 victories.

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