There are plenty of important games on the schedule for Michigan football this season, at least in regards to have a shot at making the College Football Playoff.
Outside of knocking off a team like Oregon, Ohio State, or Indiana, the best thing the Wolverines can do for their playoff hopes is knock off the Oklahoma Sooners in Week 2 of the college football season.
It will be a marquee matchup. It's the Big Ten against the SEC, and the win by Oklahoma last season propelled the Sooners into the College Football Playoff.
Maize Out
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) August 9, 2026
September 12
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The Wolverines will be focused on beating the Sooners, and the Wolverines are doing everything possible, even from an off-the-field perspective to knock off the Sooners. The latest report confirms that as Michigan football announced that the game will be a Maize Out.
That's when all the fans are directed to wear Maize. It makes for a cool atmosphere, and one that Michigan usually has success during games where it has worn all maize dating back to 2021.
Michigan football has had success with the Maize out in the past
Michigan did the Maize out in 2021, which turned into a huge win over Washington. That catapulted the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship after an 11-1 regular season. The Wolverines did another Maize out in 2022. Michigan football beat Penn State in the game.
The Wolverines also beat Wisconsin last season in a Maize Out. Texas, the last SEC team to come to the Big House, won in Ann Arbor during a Maize Out, so it doesn't guarantee a win.
This will be viewed as a 50/50 matchup. Michigan might even be a slight favorite, according to Vegas oddsmakers, sort of like Oklahoma last season. With Kyle Whittingham now in charge, Michigan should be better against the best teams in college football than they have been last season.
Bryce Underwood struggled against Oklahoma last season, throwing for under 150 yards and completing just 37 percent of his passes. It was his second career starter and Brent Venables was prepared to make life hell on him.
With Jason Beck calling the plays, and after an offseason of development, Underwood should be more prepared for that, but the Michigan defense better have a stellar day. If the Wolverines can hold the Sooners under 20, they have a great chance of getting a major win early in the 2026 season.
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