If CJ Baxter were to have become a college football star this fall, like some predicted he would, Saturday could have figured prominently in the rise.

No. 3 Texas faces its first test on the road back to the College Football Playoff when it plays at No. 9 Michigan in the marquee matchup during Week 2 of the 2024 college football season. ESPN's "College Gameday" and FOX's "Big Noon Kickoff" shows will be in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It's two of the sports most storied programs, with one previous meeting all-time, and the spotlight is huge.

So this is also a bittersweet experience for Baxter, the intriguing Longhorns running back who had a promising freshman season at Texas. The former No. 1 running back recruit in the country was supposed to take over for Jonathon Brooks as the backfield leader. But he suffered an injury in August that paused Baxter's career and gave the Longhorns an unexpected early speed bump to navigate in their first year in the SEC.

Here's what you should know about CJ Baxter's situation, including an injury update, his status for Saturday's Texas-Michigan game and career stats:

WEEK 2 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREDICTIONS: Expert picks for Michigan-Texas and every Top 25 game

Is CJ Baxter playing in Texas vs Michigan today?

No. Baxter will not play in Saturday's game between Texas and Michigan. The Orlando, Florida native is out for the season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the preseason.

Junior Jaydon Blue started at running back and finished with 57 yards on 11 carries in the Longhorns' 52-0 win over Colorado State to open the 2024 season. Freshman Jerrick Gibson also had 67 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in the game.

CJ Baxter injury update

Texas announced Baxter would miss the entire 2024 college football season on Aug. 7 after the sophomore suffered a knee injury in the first full-pads practice of the preseason the day before. The school said in its release Baxter required surgery. Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com reported last month that Baxter underwent a successful procedure to repair a torn ACL and LCL.

CJ Baxter Texas Longhorns stats

2023 season

• 659 rushing yards

• 156 receiving yards

• 5 touchdowns

• 4.8 yards per carry

CJ Baxter recruiting

Baxter, an Orlando, Florida native, was part of the 2023 recruiting class. He committed to Texas in August 2022. Here's a roundup of how major recruiting services ranked him:

• 247 Sports: 5 stars (No. 30 overall, No. 1 RB)

• 247 Composite: 5 stars (No. 22 overall, No. 1 RB)

• Rivals: 4 stars (No. 36 overall, No. 2 RB)

• ESPN: 4 stars (No. 30 overall, No. 3 RB)

• On3: 5 stars (No. 30 overall, No. 1 RB)

Michigan vs Texas: Time, TV, streaming information

• Date: Saturday, September 7

• Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

• TV: FOX

• Streaming: Fubo

Watch Texas-Michigan with Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)

Texas football schedule 2024

• Aug. 31: Colorado State (W, 52-0)

• Sept. 7: at Michigan

• Sept. 14: UTSA

• Sept. 21: Louisiana-Monroe

• Sept. 28: Mississippi State*

• Oct. 5: BYE

• Oct. 12: Oklahoma (Dallas)*

• Oct. 19: Georgia*

• Oct. 26: at Vanderbilt*

• Nov. 2: BYE

• Nov. 9: Florida*

• Nov. 16: at Arkansas*

• Nov. 23: Kentucky*

• Nov. 30: at Texas A&M*

• Dec. 7: SEC Championship Game*

*- SEC game

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: CJ Baxter injury update: Is Longhorns RB playing in Texas vs Michigan?