If Michigan football fans were confident in the Wolverines ability to beat Oklahoma in Week 2, that confidence has to be wavering, if not lost altogether after the 13-12 win over Western Michigan.
Michigan needed a miracle to win the game. The Wolverines turned the ball over three times, were out-rushed, and allowed Western Michigan to possess the ball for 40 minutes of game time.
Bryce Underwood struggled, much more than anyone expected. Even the vaunted Michigan running game, which produced three different backs, who had 100 yards and three touchdowns in a single game last season, found tough sledding. Underwood was Michigan's leading rusher with 47 yards.
The Sooners didn't have any trouble with UTEP, knocking off the Miners 51-0. Oklahoma propelled itself to the College Football Playoff last season, in part due to a win over Michigan.
OU will be looking to do the same thing in Ann Arbor, and here are five things that make this matchup frightening for the Wolverines.
John Mateer
Last season, Mateer accounted for 344 total yards against the Wolverines, throwing for 270 yards and 74 rushing yards on 19 carries. That doesn't sound like a great average, but he controlled the game with his legs, until the passing game got going.
Mateer had a long run of 19 yards. He also completed passes of 30 yards or more to three different wide receivers. Wink Martindale didn't really have an answer, although Michigan only allowed 24 points.
Yet, it's hard to see the Wolverines winning if they allow 20 points or more, so the defensive effort will need to be better, and it starts with slowing down Mateer, which was a nightmare for Michigan in 2025.
Brent Venables
The long-time defensive coordinator and third-year Oklahoma head coach has always been known as a defensive guru. He forced Underwood into a 37-percent completion rate last season, and outside of the 75-yard touchdown run, Michigan didn't muster much.
Underwood did have completions of 44 yards and 25 yards. If Venables gets hyper aggressive, leaving his defensive backs on an insland, Michigan needs to take some shots at J.J. Buchanan. They have also to get the ball to Andrew Marsh, but you can bet Venables will make that difficult to do.
Oklahoma will try to confuse Underwood. There will be exotic packages and pressures, and if Bryce doesn't handle it well, the offense might look even worse than it did in Week 1.
An elite pass rush
Oklahoma had one of the most distruptive defensive lines in college football last season with 45 sacks and 122 tackles for loss. So far in 2026, the Sooners have picked up where they left off, notching 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in Week 1.
David Stone was preseason Second-Team All-SEC along the defensive line, as was teamamte Taylor Wein, who had 15 tackles for loss last season and seven sacks in 2025. Stone had 8.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the interior.
Both are big-time players. After watching the Michigan offensive line struggle last week, blocking those two is a major concern heading into Saturday.
Ball-hawking defensive backs
Peyton Bowen and Eli Bowen, also Second-Team All-SEC in the preseason combined for four intercpetions and 11 pass breakups last season. With that tandem playing cornerback and safety for the Sooners, it feels like there could be some baiting that happens. Venables will have some tricks up his sleeves, one that veteran defensive backs will make easier to execute.
We have seen Underwood get baited into interceptions before. He has a tough time getting past his first read and locks onto his receivers too much. Be wary of the Bowens being able to take advantage of that.
A stellar offensive line
Michigan's defensive line held up alright against Western Michigan, outside of allowing a 20-play drive. The Broncos had 132 rushing yards, and while they were held under 300, it's worrisome to think about what the Sooners can do with one of the most talented O-line groups in the country.
Michael Fasusi is a future first-round pick at left tackle. He only played 17 snaps last week, but if he can neutralize John Henry Daley, it could be a long day for the Wolverines. Dominic Nichols had a strong game last week. Nate Marshall is coming on, too.
But Michigan's defensive line needs to raise its level of play. The linebackers, too, or Michigan is going to be on the field a lot, just like last Saturday, and last season in the 24-13 loss to Oklahoma.
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