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Matthew McConaughey to join FOX Big Noon Kickoff ahead of Texas vs. Michigan

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz09/04/24

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Texas HC Steve Sarkisian and actor Matthew McConaughey
© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

When FOX Big Noon Kickoff heads to Ann Arbor for this week’s Texas vs. Michigan showdown, a special Longhorns fan will be on set. Matthew McConaughey is expected to join the crew, FOX announced Wednesday.

A Uvalde native and UT alum, McConaughey is the program’s “Minister of Culture” and is a staple at games. He’s one of the many big names expected at The Big House for the highly anticipated Week 2 showdown.

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FOX Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN College GameDay will both be in attendance for the Top-10 matchup. Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will be on the call for FOX, as well, for what Texas fans hope will be an alright, alright, alright day.

It’s only Week 2, but Texas vs. Michigan is shaping up to be one of the season’s biggest games. Both teams were in the College Football Playoff a season ago, and the Wolverines went on to bring home a national championship. That added to the anticipation of Saturday’s matchup, and Big Noon Kickoff will run a special three-hour show as the excitement builds. McConaughey’s appearance is sure to add to it for Longhorns fans.

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It’s officially a new era in Ann Arbor after last year’s national title. Jim Harbaugh is off to the NFL, and Sherrone Moore is now in as head coach. Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter also left to join Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers, meaning Don “Wink” Martindale is now taking over.

Michigan is likely to take on a different look on defense. As Steve Sarkisian gets his Texas team ready, he knows the Wolverines are going to try to generate pressure.

“I think naturally, Wink’s trademark and the wrinkle that you see in it is the pressure packages,” Sarkisian said on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. “He’s — and he’ll be the first one to tell you. I worked with Wink, I know, he’ll be the first one to tell you: He’s going to pressure you. He likes to cut it up and send DBs and send linebackers and attack protections and things of that nature, so he’s not afraid to do it.

“The thing that makes them unique is that they’re still very sound in the backend,” Sarkisian said. “He’s got his coverage bases really well organized and just because he’s pressuring doesn’t mean they’re playing man coverage. They’re a lot of variation to the coverages, zone coverages, droppers, things of that nature. But I would just say the amount of blitzers and the consistent fashion in which they’ll bring people, the percentages of that is definitely up from the last couple of years.”