Michigan’s frantic finish against Western Michigan on Saturday may have stirred up old memories for fans in Ann Arbor and Norman, but it also brought a practical reminder of how college football now handles these high-stakes nonconference games.
When Oklahoma visits Michigan on Saturday, the officials will come from the SEC.
That setup is baked into the contract for the two-game series, which was signed in 2014 and obtained by Sooners on SI through an open records request. The agreement spells out that the home conference provides the officiating crew and replay system for each matchup: Michigan’s conference for the Sept. 6, 2025 game, and Oklahoma’s conference for the Sept. 12, 2026 game.
The clause is written plainly in the deal: "The officials, including replay officials and the replay system to be utilized, for the game on September 6, 2025, shall be appointed by the athletics conference of which the University of Michigan is a member, and the officials, including replay officials, and the replay system to be utilized, for the game on September 12, 2026, shall be appointed by the athletics conference of which the University of Oklahoma is a member,"
That practice traces back to a change in college athletics after Oklahoma’s 2006 finish at Oregon, when replay review officials helped spark a broader push for more control over officiating in nonconference road games. The Big 12 started contracting for its own officials in those situations, and the idea eventually became standard across power-conference matchups.
The contract also includes payment language for both games. The visiting team is set to receive $750,000 by March 1 after each contest, and either side would owe a $1 million buyout if the game were canceled without mutual agreement, except in cases such as weather.
None of that appears likely to matter here.
Oklahoma already beat Michigan 24-13 in Norman last season, and the Sooners opened this year with a 51-0 win over UTEP on Friday.
Michigan, meanwhile, needed a review to survive against Western Michigan. The Wolverines trailed by five with 35 seconds left after a Broncos field goal and touchback. Then, with nine seconds left and the ball at the Western Michigan 47, Bryce Underwood launched a Hail Mary that fell incomplete, and Western Michigan celebrated what looked like a win.
After the review, one second was restored to the clock, giving Michigan one more chance. Underwood made it count, finding JJ Buchanan at the front of the end zone for a 13-12 victory.
According to MLive, Michigan paid Western Michigan $1.5 million for the game.
The Wolverines’ game with Western Michigan used Big Ten officiating crews and replay officials. Afterward, the Big Ten issued a statement and released audio and video from the replay booth, saying one second remained when Western Michigan safety Micah Davis touched the ball after launching into the air from out of bounds.
Oklahoma and Michigan will meet at 11 a.m. Saturday at The Big House, with the game set for Fox.
In Other News...
Oklahoma May Have Found Something Real In Its Backfield
Oklahoma got a useful early look at its backfield in the season-opening rout of UTEP, and Lloyd Avant made the strongest case for a bigger role. The Colorado State transfer led the Sooners with 79 rushing yards and a touchdown, and he did a lot of the heavy lifting after first contact, piling up 56 of those yards the hard way. For a team trying to settle into a new offensive rhythm, that kind of production offered a promising sign.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle singled out Avants consistency and toughness, the sort of traits that tend to travel well once the schedule stiffens. The Sooners still know there is plenty to clean up before Michigan arrives, but Avants debut gave them something concrete to build on in the backfield. Whether that opening night burst turns into a lasting role will be one of the quieter but more important questions to follow. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Gave Oklahoma Fans A Reason To Feel Better
Oklahomas opener could hardly have gone much better, with the Sooners rolling past UTEP 51-0 while Brent Venables still made clear there was plenty to clean up before the next step up in competition. The timing matters because Michigan was supposed to arrive as the early measuring stick, and the Wolverines did not exactly look like a team bringing crisp answers on offense.
Michigan had to sweat its way past Western Michigan, and for Oklahoma fans that kind of ugly finish offers at least a little comfort heading into a marquee matchup. Even in a win, the Wolverines left behind enough questions about how consistently they can move the ball that the Sooners have reason to believe their own strong start may travel well into next week. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Just Gave Oklahoma Fans A Bigger Reason To Watch
Bryce Underwoods debut for Michigan had a little of everything, including a reminder of why his name has already started carrying extra weight beyond Ann Arbor. The Wolverines spent most of the afternoon grinding through an offense that never quite got comfortable against Western Michigan, but the game still turned into the kind of season opener people remember because of one wild finish and the quarterback who helped create it.
For Oklahoma fans keeping tabs on the ripple effects around the sport, the bigger takeaway is the spotlight Underwood can bring whenever he takes the field. Michigan needed a dramatic ending to escape with a win, and the rookie quarterback showed enough arm talent and late-game poise to make the finish matter. There were also rough patches along the way, which only adds to the intrigue the next time he lines up and the stakes get a little higher. [Read more 🡒]