Michigan’s trip into a bigger test comes fast, and the Wolverines are carrying more questions than answers after surviving Western Michigan on a Hail Mary they needed two cracks to finish.
Now comes Oklahoma, the team that beat Michigan in Norman a season ago. If the Wolverines want any shot at flipping that result, they’ll need a cleaner performance in several spots, starting with Bryce Underwood and a run game that has to give him real support.
Underwood is the name under the brightest spotlight here. He may not be in danger of losing his job just yet, but there’s no hiding the fact that Michigan needs more from him.
The bigger issue is not just production - it’s usage. The Wolverines have to lean into what he does best, and that means getting him out of the pocket more often instead of letting him live there.
The idea that Underwood is only comfortable staying inside the pocket doesn’t really match the way he can hurt a defense. His legs matter.
Michigan can create that threat in more ways than just QB power, and moving him outside the pocket could force Oklahoma’s defense to react and open a door for a play. Using more spread looks could help, too, especially if Jaime Ffrench and Salesi Moa are on the field with Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan.
However Michigan lines up, the point is the same: let Underwood use his legs.
That same theme applies up front. Western Michigan was able to push Michigan’s offensive line around, and the Wolverines never got the kind of movement they needed in the run game.
Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter may not have run with enough force, but the holes weren’t exactly there in the first place. Oklahoma’s front could be one of the best Michigan sees all season, so Jim Harding’s group has to answer a simple question: were they really built to be a strength, or not?
Michigan’s defense also has to be ready for a much different challenge. Against Western Michigan, the interior held up well enough and the edge rushers stood out.
The Broncos had a long, 20-play drive and controlled the ball for 40 minutes, but they still managed just 3.3 yards per play. That defense was good enough.
It was solid. But Oklahoma will ask for more, and the Wolverines’ line needs to be the group that sets the tone.
That’s because John Mateer is a different kind of problem. In 2025, he threw for nearly 2,900 yards and added over 400 on the ground, even while dealing with some injury issues.
He’s healthy now, and he can beat defenses in both directions. Load the box, and he can go over the top.
Lose contain, and he can take off.
Michigan can’t let him run the show. The Sooners’ run-pass option game has to be contained, and Mateer needs to be spied.
Michigan is expected to have one of the best secondaries in the country, and Jay Hill should trust that group to win its matchups. Troy Bowles or Chase Taylor could fill the spy role, while Jyaire Hill, Zeke Berry, and Smith Snowden handle their assignments with safety help behind them to cut down the big play.
In Other News...
Baker Mayfield Just Reached A New Level In Tampa Bay
Baker Mayfield arrived at Tampa Bay already carrying plenty of expectations, and the Buccaneers moved to make the relationship a long-term one just before their season opener. NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension, a deal that puts him among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league and underscores how far his career has come since leaving Oklahoma.
For a player whose path has been defined by resets and second chances, the timing matters as much as the money. Tampa Bay clearly believes Mayfield gives them stability at the most important position, but the extension also raises the bar for what comes next, with the pressure now shifting from proving he belongs to showing he can keep the Bucs on that level. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Adds Late Veteran Help Before A Massive Early Test
Oklahoma has quietly strengthened its roster late in the buildup to a major early-season test, with general manager Jim Nagy confirming four additions for the current season. Danny Saili and Braxton Fely are already in place, while DYoni Hill and Jaydon Southard are expected to join soon, giving the Sooners some extra veteran depth at a time when every practice rep matters.
The moves came after eligibility extensions opened the door for a few more experienced bodies, and Oklahoma made sure everything was handled within the rules before proceeding. Now the focus shifts to getting the newcomers acclimated and physically ready, a process the staff is working through as the Sooners prepare for a demanding early stretch that will put the roster under an immediate spotlight. [Read more 🡒]
Hayden Hansen Just Gave Oklahoma A Needed Answer Before Michigan
Hayden Hansen gave Oklahoma a useful glimpse of what the passing game can look like when the Sooners need somebody dependable in a tough spot. During the win over UTEP, the tight end turned a third-down throw into a 15-yard gain, moved the chains and reinforced why he can matter as a steady outlet when the offense needs a safe answer.
John Mateer spread the ball around to multiple receivers, and that balance was part of the encouraging takeaway for Oklahoma. But Hansens catch may have been just as important in the bigger picture, because it showed the Sooners have another option they can trust when Michigan starts squeezing the field and every possession gets more valuable. [Read more 🡒]