Kyle Whittingham will be able to ease into his first season at Michigan, but not for long. The Wolverines open the season against Western Michigan, but it will be a quick turnaround for Whittingham and his guys to get ready for what could be a Top 15 matchup against Oklahoma in Week 2.
After dropping the game to the Sooners last season in Norman, Michigan will have revenge on its mind as Oklahoma travels to Ann Arbor this season. It feels like a "Welcome to Michigan" moment for Whittingham and his staff, but a bit of injury news out of Norman might have just made this matchup a little easier for the Wolverines.
During Oklahoma's first scrimmage over the weekend, fifth-year starting center Jake Maikkula was rolled up on, and while initially it looked like his season would come to an end, an MRI on Monday revealed it was just a sprained MCL, but it would sideline him for 4-6 weeks, meaning he will be out when Oklahoma comes to Ann Arbor.
After a weekend of worry, the Sooners at least avoided the worst-case scenario with the latest Jake Maikkula injury update.
— Stormin In Norman (@StorminInNorman) August 17, 2026
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Oklahoma's lack of depth at the center position could be a problem vs. Michigan
It is never good news to hear a player is out with an injury, whether they play for Michigan or the opposing team. Maikkula's absence is a big factor in this game being played in the trenches. Maikkula is Oklahoma's top offensive lineman, anchoring the center of the line, so his being out for this game could give Michigan's defensive line a huge leg up.
The Sooners are returning four of five starters on the line, which on paper looks great, but three of those starters were freshmen, so leadership on the line could be lacking. There is also the issue of depth at center for Oklahoma, which showed last season when Maikkula was out for the final two games and right guard Febechi Nwaiwu slid over to make his first start at the center position.
There is no telling who will take over for Maikkula now that he is out for at least the first couple of weeks of the season, but now, Michigan likely doesn't have to factor him into its game plan.
Michigan's defensive line will be key in beating Oklahoma with Jake Maikkula injury
The defensive line will be key now in getting to the Oklahoma quarterback, John Mateer. Last season, in the first game without Maikkula against Missouri, Mateer threw for just 173 yards and was the leading rusher with 60 rushing yards. The protection fell apart a lot, which isn't surprising with a short amount of time to prepare with a new center.
The Sooners will have more time to prepare with a new center, with still a few weeks until the 2026 season begins. So, while the line may not be as strong without Maikkula, there won't be total discontinuity.
That means that the play of Michigan's defensive line will be crucial in this matchup. The Sooners themselves have a solid defense, which will put Brayce Underwood and his weapons to work, but Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill will have his line ready to attack OU's weakened offensive line.
There has been a lot of talk about John Henry Daley's return to the field in fall camp and his ability to really crash the offensive line and get to the quarterback with his quick step. Cameron Brandt is most likely to start opposite Daley, with Trey Pierce and Enow Etta anchoring the interior, and will be lining up primarily against the Sooners' backup center.
If Michigan's defense can play up to the hype they have garnered in camp, it could be a tough day for Mateer, constantly having to evade pressure.
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