Michigan football made the switch at the most important position before Big Ten play begins, after a slow start out of the gates.

Alex Orji is stepping in at quarterback for the Wolverines to start against USC in U-M’s first Big Ten game of the season. He is replacing Davis Warren, who won the job out of training camp but struggled through the first three weeks.

Head coach Sherrone Moore announced the switch Monday, two days after Warren threw three interceptions and was subsequently benched in the Wolverines’ 28-18 win over Arkansas State. He had emerged as the top option in the battle to replace J.J. McCarthy which started in spring practices and lasted all the way through training camp over Orji and an injured Jack Tuttle.

Orji came in and was 2-for-4 for 12 yards and one touchdown vs. Arkansas State in a quarter of action. On the season, the junior has completed three of six passes for 15 yards and two touchdowns. He had a consistent set of packages through the first two weeks, taking Warren off the field and using his legs as an option as a dual-threat quarterback to rush 10 times for 58 yards.