Cole Sullivan's new role with Oklahoma is a painful reminder of his departure from Michigan

Michigan will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline when No. 11 Oklahoma comes to town. Former Wolverines linebacker Cole Sullivan, who spent the first two years of his college career in Ann Arbor, will now don a new uniform in the Big House.

Sullivan hit the transfer portal not long after Kyle Whittingham was hired at Michigan, and quickly committed to the Sooners just five days later. Instead of the Big House being his home this weekend, he will be seen as an opponent, but he sees this game as a special one, even though he isn't giving Michigan an identity on the field.

"We say it’s always just a nameless, faceless opponent, so that’s what I’m going to do my best to treat it," Sullivan said earlier in the week. "Nothing’s going to change in my preparation. Obviously, it’s a special one, but nothing’s going to change in my preparation as far as how I handle myself before the game or during the game."

Sullivan isn't making this game a big deal, throwing shade at Michigan, or anything. He is excited to be back in The Big House, but his ultimate goal is to get a win for his new team.

Cole Sullivan could have had a big role at Michigan but instead chose Oklahoma

When a player transfers after a new coach is hired, it can mean many things. Maybe Sullivan didn't mesh well with Whittingham and defensive coordinator Jay Hill. Maybe Sullivan felt his goals didn't align with the new coaching staff. Either way, Sullivan chose to move on from the Wolverines and has taken on a bigger role for the Sooners in the linebacker room.

To see Sullivan having success with the linebackers is a bit of a hard pill to swallow for Michigan, especially with a very young and new linebacker group on the field. Michigan's defense was really the only bright spot of the game vs. Western Michigan, and while the linebackers held it down for the most part pretty well, Sullivan could have been the star of that group.

Michigan landed North Dakota State transfer Nathaniel Staehling, which helped with the experience of the linebacker room, but returners Troy Bowles and Chase Taylor did not see the field much last season. Sullivan could have easily carved out a role on the defense, but instead chose to head to the transfer portal.

Even though Sullivan isn't the starter he was expected to be at Oklahoma, with the return of Owen Heinecke for one more season, Sullivan will definitely be on the field a lot for the Sooners.

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