Andrew Babalola’s return to Michigan has hit another snag, and the Wolverines won’t have the former five-star offensive lineman back anytime soon.
Babalola, who missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL at the end of fall camp, was already working his way toward a highly anticipated comeback in 2026. Instead, Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham said the setback will keep him out for the near future.
The timing is especially rough for a Michigan offensive line that had been counting on Babalola to be part of the mix. He entered the program as a former five-star 2025 recruit and was expected to be a major piece up front even as a freshman. Now, the Wolverines are left to keep adjusting without him.
Whittingham also provided an update on guard Evan Link, who started at guard in the opener but missed last week. Link could be back for UTEP.
Michigan’s left tackle battle had been one of the more competitive jobs in fall camp, with Babalola and Blake Frazier pushing each other for the spot. Once the setback hit, the decision swung to Frazier.
That isn’t unfamiliar territory for Frazier. In 2025, he logged plenty of snaps in rotation and moved around the line. This season, though, he’s settled into a defined role and now has to hold down left tackle while Michigan waits on Babalola.
The loss matters beyond just the starting five. Michigan had already taken another hit to its depth with Ace Hamilton sidelined for the season because of a lower-leg injury.
There were signs of progress up front against Oklahoma compared with Western Michigan, with quarterback Bryce Underwood getting a little more time to work. But the line still gave up two sacks and allowed six tackles for loss, so there’s plenty left to clean up.
With UTEP next, Michigan gets another chance to build some cohesion before Big Ten play arrives.
In Other News...
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John Mateer came out of Michigans matchup with Oklahoma carrying more than just the usual frustration of a bad night. The Sooners quarterback finished with 189 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, along with 45 rushing yards, and afterward he acknowledged leaving some throws on the field that he normally makes. For a player expected to steady Oklahoma, it was the kind of performance that quickly turns a postgame conversation into a wider one.
Soon after the loss, some Oklahoma fans even took the ribbing to Facebook Marketplace, where they mocked Mateer in a way that reflected just how quickly sentiment can swing after a rough outing. It was a reminder that in a game like this, the reaction doesnt stop at the final whistle. The on-field numbers told part of the story, but the off-field response showed how closely the performance was being watched. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Offense Just Found A New Tension Around Bryce Underwood
After a shaky season opener against Western Michigan, Michigan steadied itself in a 17-10 win over No. 11 Oklahoma, and the biggest offensive shift came from a simple adjustment in how Bryce Underwood was used. The defense did plenty of heavy lifting, but the coaching staff also leaned harder into Underwood as a runner, and that added a different layer to an offense that had looked stuck a week earlier.
Underwood responded by leading the team on the ground with 18 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown, a noticeable jump from his previous outing. It gave Michigan a more dynamic look and helped balance a game plan that needed every available spark, even as the questions around how far this approach can go are only beginning to surface. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Oklahoma Win Revealed Who Really Drove The Offense
Michigans win over Oklahoma offered a useful early snapshot of how the offense is coming together, and the grades from Pro Football Focus helped explain which players were actually driving it. Savion Hiter may not have piled up rushing yards, but he still found ways to help through the passing game, while Bryce Underwood showed a more effective running threat than he had in earlier looks. JJ Buchanan also gave the passing attack a needed boost, adding another option in a game where the offense had to piece together production in different ways.
The deeper takeaway is that Michigans front kept the whole thing steady even while dealing with an injury, and that kind of reliability matters as the season settles in. The snap counts at tight end and wide receiver also painted a clearer picture of who the staff trusted in key moments, but the bigger question is how those usage patterns will evolve once the offense has to keep building on this performance. [Read more 🡒]