An ugly brawl could be in store for the maize and blue this weekend. Luckily, they are built to do just that. We'll find out where team 146 stands in an unwelcoming environment. To win, Michigan football has to do at least three critical things that will seize the momentum in an early playoff-like exam.
1. Control the clock
Run Justice Haynes on first down, then rotate Jordan Marshall on second down and vice versa. Make life easy for Bryce Underwood and use every ounce of that clock. It will tire out Oklahoma's defense as the game progresses. If Illinois State can rush for 117 yards, then Michigan shouldn't have a problem going for 200 or more.
Wenkers Wright of Illinois State went for seven yards a crack, while Tommy Rittenhouse only carried it twice for 13.5 a carry. Justice Haynes had 18 yards in the loss to OU for Alabama a year ago, but averaged six yards per attempt. A potent run game travels, and Oklahoma failed to establish that in their win over Illinois State. Jadyn Ott rushed just one time for negative yardage. Take the edge in that aspect, and the crowd becomes a non-factor too.
2. Make John Mateer uncomfortable
Mateer pitched in more then 400 yards of total offense and was able to do what he wanted against a lower tier defense. Wink Martindale will not let him off the hook so easy this time. Sadly Coach Martindale will be without his best blitzer in the first half, but other guys stepped up in his absence when he got ejected.
Ernest Hausmann, Cole Sullivan, Jimmy Rolder and Troy Bowles all made their impacts felt on New Mexico. It makes the loss of Barham sting less. You can make the argument that Oklahoma's offensive line underwhelmed in the run game, but excelled in pass protection for Mateer. This is the type of trench fighting where Derrick Moore and TJ Guy have to live in the backfield. The last quarterback to surpass 300 yards passing on a Michigan defense was C.J. Stroud in 2022.
3. Dictate the field position
Special teams will be crucial in a showdown like this. Hudson Hollenbeck netted 42.5 yards a punt on Saturday, but none were inside the 20. Semaj Morgan and Andrew Marsh muffed their returns, and if they do that in Norman twice, Michigan football will lose. Oklahoma's starting field position cannot be beyond the 30-yard line in my opinion, and can't be given short fields to work with.
Jacob Ulrich faired better punting the ball for the Sooners, but Tate Sandell didn't get any reps in game action on field goal attempts. This game is an example of whomever makes the first mistake on special teams, weather it be in the return game or kicking side of things, could be the deciding factor. Oklahoma lost its last two games by seven points or less.