(Photo: Fox One)
Campus Clash
(10) Oklahoma Sooners at Michigan Wolverines
Oklahoma (1-0):
The SEC is absolutely jam-packed if you do an overview of the entire conference. Let’s start at the top with the Georgia Bulldogs, and they have dominated this conference since 2021 and will continue to do so until they are dethroned. Alabama will keep themselves relevant, LSU could be special under Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss was a game away from playing in the national championship, and then there’s the wild card in Austin that is the Texas Longhorns. It’s understandable as to why this team would be overlooked because those are some heavy hitters I listed, and it just comes with the game to sometimes be under the radar. Last season, a total of four teams from the SEC made the College Football Playoff, and these Oklahoma Sooners were one of them. Truthfully speaking, I feel they can get back to the playoff again and potentially win a game as well. Two key weapons from their offense a year ago decided to return for another year in John Mateer and Isaiah Sategna III, who are one of the more underrated Quarterback/Receiver tandems in the nation, but I feel they have a chance to win each week as long as this tandem is on the field. Another key return for them was four starters electing to come back on the offensive line, which is a positive. Under Brent Venables, this is a stronger team on both sides of the football, especially on the defensive side, which was a struggle during the Lincoln Riley tenure in Norman because you knew what the offense was going to do: they were going to strike and score from anywhere on the field at any time and hang 30 points on any defense, but their defense would give up north of 27 or even more points per game. With Brent, I see a defense that gets the ball back to their offense and gets off the field. This Saturday afternoon, the Sooners make their way to the Big House in Ann Arbor.
Michigan (1-0):
I have so much to say, and let me get this out of the way. First, it was all good just three years ago, remember? This was by far the best team in the country, and with Jim Harbaugh, they won the national championship, and Jim left Ann Arbor to become the Head Coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. That was a group that was stacked all around. Sherrone Moore became the next Head Coach, and it was a struggle for this program. Sherrone ends up getting fired, and I feel that set this program back some. I will say that I did like the hire of Kyle Whittingham. He’s an experienced, no-nonsense coach with a solid track record, and for years, I’ve been saying he’s one of the more underrated coaches in our game. Okay. I got that out of the way. Now let me get down to what else needs to be said, and that’s Week One. What do I always say with this sport, no matter the level? Focus on what’s in front of you in that moment, and for 59 minutes, the Michigan Wolverines didn’t do that in their opener against Western Michigan on Saturday night. It took a Hail Mary for them to survive and win that football game, but I wasn’t impressed with them, especially Bryce Underwood. I do feel this kid has what it takes to be a solid Quarterback, but he’s too inconsistent for my liking, and I feel he’s yet to develop as a Quarterback simply because he can’t scan the entire field, which is a problem, and he’s too locked in on his first read, which then allows defenses to take that first option of his, and you pretty much neutralize their passing attack. The last few years, this hasn’t been their style of offense, which has been fast-paced. Instead, stick to the brand, which is running the football and winning the trenches. It’s Week Two, and Michigan will welcome the Oklahoma Sooners to the Big House.
Oklahoma X-Factor: David Stone
This is one of the central pieces of the Oklahoma defense! David is a tackling machine who knows how to collapse lanes, stuff the run, and maneuver himself into the pocket in pass-rushing situations. On Saturday, Michigan will look to make this a physical football game and win with their ground attack. I’ll be watching David against the interior linemen of this Michigan offensive line, and can he, along with this defensive front, make their stops early and put Michigan into long-yardage situations where they’re forced to throw the football? Also, if David can push and collapse the pocket, life will be much easier for the Oklahoma edge rushers.
Michigan X-Factor: JJ Buchanan
He had a monster game against Western Michigan in Week One, recording six receptions for 126 yards receiving, and was also on the receiving end of the Hail Mary that allowed Michigan to come back and win the game! For Michigan to stand a chance in this game, they will need explosive plays offensively to create down the field, and against this Oklahoma defensive front that will more than likely load the box, JJ could be that piece that could prevent the Sooners from stuffing the Michigan offense. This receiver gives Bryce Underwood a safety valve, and if Oklahoma brings pressure, JJ must win his battles underneath and in the intermediate.
Final Thoughts:
It’s truly déjà vu all over again with these two teams as they meet again for the second consecutive season in Week Two. When they met last season, Oklahoma dominated Michigan from the first whistle until the final whistle, and the Wolverines could never recover. Over a year later, they meet again, this time in Ann Arbor, and although it’s only Week Two, this is a big game for both teams with some early College Football Playoff implications. It’s key for Oklahoma to hit on their explosive plays. I’m not saying they need 10-12 play drives all game long; Mateer and the Sooners’ receivers must connect on some pass plays, and if they can get the Michigan Safeties to play deep, this opens the field up for the rushing attack. Next, the Sooners’ defense must win the battle up front and force the Michigan offense into long-yardage situations, which is evident because Michigan will struggle when the offense fails to stay on schedule, and the final key is to make Underwood win the game for them. Don’t allow Michigan to run their offense through the Running Backs. For Michigan, they turned the ball over three times in Week One, so winning the turnover battle is crucial in this game, as this is a much better defense than they will see this week. Make Mateer and the Sooners’ offense drive down the field, force them to put together those long drives, and see if the defense can force them into a mistake, and JJ Buchanan must get involved early! Force Oklahoma to account for him.
