The hype around Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer needs to end, and the Michigan Wolverines are just the team to make that happen.
Yes, Mateer had an impressive performance in Week 1, but the Oklahoma Sooners were playing the Illinois State Redbirds, not exactly a powerhouse program. And yes, the Wolverines started their season against the New Mexico Lobos, but the defense showed signs of dominance.
In Michigan's season opener, the defensive unit held New Mexico to a minimal 50 yards on the ground, including taking down quarterback Jack Layne for a loss of 12 yards. The Wolverines had nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and four pass deflections.
Not to mention, in the 34-17 win, Michigan racked up a monumental 67 total tackles, led by senior linebacker Ernest Hausmann, who earned five solo tackles (eight total).
John Mateer was good in Week 1 but it was Illinois State
You cannot deny that Mateer had a great performance in his debut for the Sooners. He earned 392 passing yards for three touchdowns, running for an additional 24 yards and one TD on the ground.
However, he also threw an interception against a secondary that didn't look like it had found its footing quite yet. Not to mention, his QBR was just 79.9 against a team that finished 10-4 in FCS play, including a 6-2 record against Missouri Valley Conference opponents
Simply put, Mateer's performance wasn't as great as people are making it out to be when you account for Oklahoma's opponent.
Lastly, Mateer didn't become a true starting quarterback at the collegiate level until last season, while still playing for Washington State in a Pac-12 conference that consisted of just two teams: the Washington State Cougars and the Oregon State Beavers.
Sure, Mateer earned over 3,100 passing yards and 29 touchdowns through the air, but he also had seven interceptions and completed just 64.6 percent of his pass attempts while playing against teams that were a far cry from Power Conference programs.
When it comes down to it, Michigan's defense should overwhelm Mateer and his offense, even with the Wolverines coming into the Sooners' home.
Michigan and Oklahoma are scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 6, from Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK. The game will be broadcast on ABC.