Oklahoma Stuns Michigan in Early Season Showdown
It was billed as one of the marquee matchups of college football’s Week 2, and it lived up to the hype. Under the bright lights in Norman, the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners handed the 15th-ranked Michigan Wolverines a 24-13 loss, a game that felt like a statement for coach Brent Venables and his program.
From the start, momentum leaned heavily in Oklahoma’s direction. Quarterback John Mateer, a transfer from Washington State, showed why the Sooners were excited to bring him in. He passed for 270 yards and ran for 74 more, accounting for all three of Oklahoma’s touchdowns—two with his legs and one through the air. His composure against a traditionally tough Michigan defense was impressive, and it gave Oklahoma an offensive rhythm Michigan never quite matched.
One of the biggest plays came just before halftime. With only seconds remaining in the second quarter, Mateer scrambled into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown run that stretched the Sooners’ lead to 14-0. It was a backbreaker for the Wolverines, who had already been struggling to find consistency on offense.
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But Michigan came out swinging to start the second half. On the very first play, junior running back Justice Haynes broke free for a 75-yard touchdown, slicing Oklahoma’s lead to 14-7 and injecting life into the Wolverines’ sideline. Haynes, a transfer from Alabama, finished with 125 rushing yards and was easily Michigan’s brightest spot.
Unfortunately for the Wolverines, their passing attack never found traction. Highly touted freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, making his first big road start, was under pressure all night. The Oklahoma defense forced him into hurried throws and kept him uncomfortable in the pocket. Underwood completed just nine of 24 passes for 142 yards, and while his talent was obvious, the environment and the Sooners’ pressure clearly rattled him.
Michigan cut the deficit to 21-13 late in the third quarter, but Oklahoma’s defense clamped down from there. The Sooners sealed the win with a grinding 16-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up more than eight minutes of the fourth quarter. It ended with a field goal by Tate Sandell, pushing the lead to 24-13 and leaving Michigan without enough time or firepower to respond.
For Oklahoma, the win carried more weight than just an early-season victory. After a 6-7 record last year, this kind of performance provided a much-needed confidence boost and likely a climb in the national rankings. For Michigan, it was a reality check. The Wolverines showed flashes of promise, especially in the run game, but trust in their young quarterback will need to grow quickly if they’re going to contend in the Big Ten.
Next week, Michigan will try to regroup at home against Central Michigan, while Oklahoma takes its momentum on the road to face Temple. Week 2 may not have had a full slate of blockbusters, but in Norman, fans witnessed a game that could shape both teams’ seasons moving forward.
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