Oklahoma and Michigan meet again with both teams sitting at 1-0, but the path to Saturday’s showdown couldn’t have looked more different.
The Sooners took care of business in their opener, rolling past UTEP 51-0 while cleaning up enough of the rough edges to leave Week 1 with a shutout. Michigan, on the other hand, survived a far shakier night. The Wolverines barely got by Western Michigan after Bryce Underwood heaved a 47-yard pass to JJ Buchanan, who came down with a spectacular catch as time expired to preserve the win.
That finish became the biggest talking point of college football’s opening weekend, and it left Michigan with plenty to sort through despite the victory. The defense kept Western Michigan out of the end zone, but the Wolverines managed only 276 total yards and coughed the ball up three times. Underwood’s 2026 debut included a pick and a lost fumble, not the kind of start Michigan wanted from its young quarterback.
The run game didn’t offer much help, either. Jordan Marshall carried 11 times for 44 yards, while Underwood added 47 rushing yards. Buchanan was the clear bright spot on offense, catching six passes for 126 yards and emerging as Michigan’s top threat.
Defensively, edge rusher Dom Nichols set the tone with nine total tackles, 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. He returns with Troy Bowles, Saturday’s leading tackler, giving the unit an experienced core, and Jyaire Hill is back on the backend as well.
Oklahoma’s opener had a different feel. John Mateer was efficient and didn’t stay on the field long, but offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle still showed some new wrinkles, including more tight end usage and Mateer working from under center. The Sooners did have a few sloppy moments on defense, but the result never really felt in doubt.
The teams already met once last season, when Oklahoma beat Michigan 24-13 in Week 2. In that game, Mateer completed 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while also running for 74 yards and two scores on 19 carries. Deion Burks led the Sooners with seven catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, Jaren Kanak added five receptions for 69 yards, and Isaiah Sategna finished with four catches for 44 yards.
On the other side, Oklahoma held Underwood to 9-of-24 passing for 142 yards. Justice Haynes, who transferred to Georgia Tech, rushed 19 times for 125 yards and broke free for a 75-yard touchdown. Owen Heinecke led OU with seven total tackles, and Kendal Daniels finished with 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Sooners have won both meetings in the all-time series. The first came on Jan. 1, 1976, in the Orange Bowl, a 14-6 Oklahoma victory.
In Other News...
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
Oklahoma is trending toward getting some needed help up front just in time for a marquee trip to Michigan, with injured starters Jake Maikkula and Ryan Fodje both taking full reps in practice. For a team still trying to settle in along the offensive line, that kind of reinforcement matters, especially with a nonconference test that will demand cleaner protection and more stability than the Sooners have had at times early.
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 🡒]