Michigan’s opening week left plenty of noise behind it, but former coach Biff Poggi is looking past all of that and straight to Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma.
The Wolverines needed a second Hail Mary attempt to get by Western Michigan in Week 1, and the performance on offense raised more questions than answers. Still, Poggi, now a Big Ten analyst, isn’t buying into the idea that last week tells the whole story.
On X, he made his stance clear: "WMU is over. No excuses.
Film doesn’t lie. WMU result is rat poison for Oklahoma.
They will not get what they are seeing on tape. I predict an extremely close game and a Michigan win," Poggi wrote.
That sets up a huge Week 2 test for Michigan, which now faces Oklahoma after the Sooners beat the Wolverines in Norman last season. Michigan won’t be favored at home, but Poggi thinks the Western Michigan scare won’t carry over.
For that to happen, though, Michigan needs a much better version of Bryce Underwood. His first drive against Western Michigan was sharp and efficient, ending in a touchdown. After that, the production dropped off, and Underwood looked far too much like the quarterback fans were trying to leave behind.
The issues weren’t limited to the quarterback. The offensive line wasn’t good, even if Kyle Whittingham said otherwise, and the run game never really found its footing. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter both struggled, with too much east-west movement and not enough going downhill.
Michigan also has to clean up the details up front. Better finishing on blocks and a stronger run game would take pressure off Underwood and give the offense a chance to settle in.
There’s also the possibility that Michigan had one eye on Oklahoma and didn’t bring the right level of focus against WMU. That would help explain the flat showing, though it’s not the kind of discipline usually associated with a Kyle Whittingham team.
Now the challenge gets much steeper. Oklahoma brings one of the country’s best defenses under Brent Venebales, and the Sooners’ offense becomes even tougher to handle with a healthy John Mateer.
Poggi may see a Michigan win coming, but the Wolverines still have to go out and earn it. Week 2 will tell whether that Week 1 mess was a warning sign or just a bad night.
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Oklahomas Backfield Picture Changed Faster Than Sooners Fans Expected
Oklahomas backfield has already taken on a different shape after the season opener against UTEP, with transfer Lloyd Avant quickly moving into the lead role. The Colorado State import gave the Sooners a steadier presence than many expected heading into the year, while Xavier Robinson and freshman Jonathan Hatton Jr. were used sparingly as the staff sorted through options behind him.
Brent Venables also said Tory Blaylock could be back soon after sitting out Week 1 with a hamstring issue, which adds another layer to a rotation that still looks unsettled. For Oklahoma, the early takeaway is not just who carried the load in the opener, but how quickly that depth chart could keep shifting once the rest of the backs are fully available. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Gets O-Line Boost But One Worry Looms At Michigan
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The one concern hanging over the group is left tackle Michael Fasusi, whose shoulder injury left his status uncertain after he did not practice fully. Oklahoma is even weighing the possibility of holding him out not just for this game, but for the next one as well, a sign the staff is thinking beyond one matchup and toward the conference stretch that follows. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Nagys Latest OU Adds Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
Jim Nagys latest work for Oklahoma has been a little different from the usual transfer-hunt hustle. The Sooners landed four additions in Danny Saili, Braxton Fely, DYoni Hill and Jaydon Southard after each gained eligibility through temporary restraining orders against the NCAA, and the common thread in all four cases is that they were part of legal efforts seeking a fifth year on the field. For Oklahoma, the move was less about chasing headlines than identifying players who could fit what the program needs while adding depth in spots the staff had already kept open.
Nagy said the evaluation went beyond talent, with cultural fit part of the equation and the roster construction done with intent rather than impulse. The bigger question now is how quickly, or even whether, those newcomers will be pushed into action once they settle in with the Sooners. For a team that has been willing to be patient with its approach, the next step is seeing which of these late additions becomes more than just a name on the summer board. [Read more 🡒]