Orji, known for his running ability, was 7-of-12 for 32 yards, the lowest output by a Michigan quarterback since 1987, and he gained 43 yards on 13 carries. But the only numbers he cared about after the game was the final score, as Michigan won its Big Ten opener against USC, 27-24, on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

While Michigan’s change at quarterback was a move that many expected, the formal announcement caught some on the team by surprise. Players were left in the dark ahead of head coach Sherrone Moore’s public declaration Monday that Alex Orji would take the reins and start Saturday’s Big Ten opener vs.