For just the second time in the storied history of college football, the Michigan Wolverines and Oklahoma Sooners are set to do battle. Norman, Okla. will have the attention of the entire country on Saturday night, as two of the sport’s bluebloods square off under the lights of Memorial Stadium.
No. 13 Michigan (1-0) enters this historic meeting fresh off a 34-17 victory over New Mexico, in which freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood put his talents on display. The former five-star prospect completed 21-of-31 pass attempts to the tune of 251 passing yards and a touchdown against the Lobos. Meanwhile, on the ground, Alabama transfer tailback Justice Haynes had a coming out party of his own, rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries.
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Things get much tougher for the Maize and Blue this weekend, as Washington State transfer quarterback John Mateer and the No. 24 Sooners (1-0) welcome the Wolverines to their home venue. Mateer led Oklahoma to a 35-3 win over FCS-level Illinois State in Week 1, throwing for 392 yards on an impressive 30-for-37 passing, with three touchdowns and an interception.
It’s another major showdown between two of the biggest brands out of the Big Ten and SEC, after Ohio State defeated Texas (14-7) in Week 1. With more conference bragging rights on the line, here are 3 Things To Watch, 2 Bold Predictions and 1 Score Prediction for the game.
3 Things To Watch
1.) Bryce Underwood’s first road start
The freshman phenom made his highly-anticipated debut for Michigan a week ago, and showed why he was considered the No. 1 overall prospect coming out of high school a year ago. Underwood showed poise, confidence and an understanding of the game well beyond his 18 years within the friendly confines of Michigan Stadium, but now we get to see if that will translate on the road for the true freshman.
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Led by one of the top defensive minds in college football in head coach Brent Venables, Oklahoma will present Underwood with challenges he’s never faced before, in one of the sport’s best environments. How the freshman reacts, especially in big moments, will be critical to the outcome of this game. Underwood doesn’t have to win the game for Michigan, but he must limit costly mistakes and turnovers against the Sooners.
2.) Oklahoma’s O-line vs. Michigan’s Front 7
Here’s where the Wolverines could have a game-deciding advantage. After the Sooners struggled to run the ball effectively against Illinois State (3.2 yards per carry), Oklahoma’s offensive line now has to line up against one of the deepest defensive front sevens they’ll face all year.
Michigan will rotate multiple defensive tackles and edge rushers along the D-line, and remain deep at linebacker despite Jaishawn Barham’s first-half suspension following a targeting foul in the third quarter of Week 1. If the Wolverines are able to stone-wall Oklahoma’s run game and make the Sooners one-dimensional, they’ll put themselves in an excellent position to leave Norman with a ‘W’.
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3.) Michigan’s secondary play
The Wolverines’ defense entered the 2025 season with sky-high expectations after coordinator Wink Martindale pitched a pair of gems in wins over Ohio State and Alabama to end last season.
However, Michigan didn’t quite live up to those expectations on that side of the ball against New Mexico. While the Wolverines were stout against the run, the Lobos were able to move up and down the field more consistently than Martindale and Co. would prefer through the air.
Whether or not Oklahoma can run the ball on Michigan will be of little importance if an experienced veteran like Mateer is able to carve up the Wolverines’ secondary on Saturday night. Cornerback depth is a concern for Michigan, and the linebackers have looked stiff in coverage at times during Martindale’s tenure. The effectiveness of Michigan’s pass rush and coverage could be the determining factor in this matchup.
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2 Bold Predictions
1.) Michigan records 3+ sacks on John Mateer
The Wolverines’ biggest edge in the matchup may be their defensive front, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them get after Mateer a bit in this one.
The suspension of Barham for the first half is noteworthy and unfortunate, but Michigan has other guys who can wreak havoc in pass rush. Mateer will find some success as well, and the chess match between Martindale and OU offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle should be fun to watch.
2.) Bryce Underwood throws a touchdown pass, and his first career interception
I was thoroughly impressed with Underwood in his debut last week. It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it lived up to the high expectation that followed the true freshman to Ann Arbor.
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I think we’ll see more positive things from Underwood again this week, but it’s reasonable to expect Venables to get the better of the freshman at least once on Saturday.
1 Score Prediction
It’s hard to know what to expect from either of these teams heading into this titanic meeting of bluebloods. Michigan and Oklahoma each handled overmatched foes in Week 1, but now square off against an opponent with similar talent, resources and aspirations for the first time in 2025.
I expect a tight, low-scoring game in which field position, turnovers and a handful of decisive plays will determine the outcome. With that in mind, Oklahoma has decided advantages in having the more experienced quarterback and the home crowd at their back. Michigan’s defensive front could very well make those two prior advantages moot, but I like the Sooners to pull out a close one here, spoiling Sherrone Moore’s homecoming. Prediction: Oklahoma 27, Michigan 24
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan Football vs. Oklahoma Sooners game preview, predictions
