After the questions that followed the Western Michigan game, Bryce Underwood answered in the loudest way possible against Oklahoma.
The concerns were understandable. Underwood went 12-of-22 in that earlier outing, and for long stretches it looked like getting a completion was a grind. That kind of performance invites doubt, especially when people are trying to figure out whether a young quarterback can really steer a team.
But Saturday in Oklahoma told a different story. Michigan didn’t ask Underwood to light it up in the second half so much as it asked him to keep the machine moving while the defense handled its business and the Wolverines protected a lead. There was no reason to force unnecessary risks.
It would have been nice to see another couple of deep chances to Andrew Marsh or JJ Buchanan. Still, Underwood finished with 198 total yards, one touchdown and no turnovers, the kind of line that can win a lot of games if it shows up again and again.
What stood out most was how often Michigan leaned on him as a runner. Underwood carried it 17 times, which is not something you see every week from a quarterback.
John Mateer ran it 19 times last season for the Sooners in the win over Michigan, and earlier this week I wrote about how Michigan needed to use Underwood in that same kind of role. That approach paid off with a 38-yard touchdown run and some important third-down conversions.
It wasn’t flawless. Underwood still has plenty to clean up. But the sophomore showed he can help win a game against a really good opponent, even if some people want to wave away the Sooners.
Afterward, Underwood made his approach plain.
"I'm willing to do whatever it is for us to win a football game. My number got called 18 times to run the football. Blessed..."
That line fit what happened on the field. After his press conference this week, some people wondered whether he cared about Michigan or wanted to be in Ann Arbor. Saturday made that hard to believe.
He took on a heavy rushing load against one of the SEC’s toughest defenses. He absorbed several big hits, including one straight to the head, and kept going.
He didn’t complain about the passing volume. He didn’t back away from contact.
Whatever else gets said about him, Underwood put his body on the line and helped Michigan win by any means necessary.
In Other News...
Michigan Controlled Oklahoma With One Weapon Fans Rarely Celebrate
Special teams usually show up at Michigan as the phase everyone notices only when something goes wrong, but through the first two games Cam Brown has made the punt unit look like a real edge. The punter has consistently driven opponents back into tough field position, and that hidden yardage has helped Michigan control games in ways that do not always show up in the flashiest box-score numbers.
Zeke Berry and other defensive players have added to the effort by closing space and limiting return yards, giving the Wolverines a steadier field-position game than opponents would like. It is the kind of detail that can get buried under the bigger headlines, but it also fits the larger point Kyle Whittingham stressed in his preseason remarks: special teams matter, and Michigan is getting real value from that part of the field. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Made Another Push For A Five-Star Local Receiver
Michigan kept pressing on one of its top in-state targets over the weekend, with five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant in Ann Arbor for the game against Oklahoma. Guerrant committed to Oregon in June, but the Wolverines have not let up, continuing to recruit the Michigan native and leaning into the appeal of staying close to home as they try to keep the local ties from fading.
The challenge, of course, is that Oregon has built a strong pitch of its own, especially when it comes to developing NFL-caliber receivers. That gives Michigan a real fight here, even with the benefit of familiarity and proximity, and it leaves the Wolverines still working to persuade Guerrant to reconsider a commitment that looked solid just a few months ago. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Defense Is Making A Statement Fans Can't Ignore
Michigans win over Oklahoma at the Big House did more than add a quality result to the resume. It gave the Wolverines another showcase for a defense that kept the Sooners to 10 points and 289 yards, forced key turnovers and stayed tight in coverage whenever Oklahoma tried to find a rhythm. Bryce Underwood did enough on the other side of the ball with his passing and rushing to keep Michigan in control without giving the game away.
The bigger message was the one coming from across the sideline. Brent Venables left impressed by what he saw from Michigans defense, and his comments only added to the feeling that this group is already making a name for itself early in the season. With Underwood also handling the moment cleanly, Michigan has a balance that makes the team harder to play against, and the defense is starting to look like the part opponents will have to solve first. [Read more 🡒]