Last Week at The Wolverine Den

Oklahoma 24 - Michigan 13

Gaylord Family - Memorial Stadium

September 6, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. CT

Tailgate Pictures

Click a picture to open, then use the left and right arrows to navigate.

Game Preview

The Michigan Wolverines are travelling to Norman, Oklahoma to battle the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. This is the highest profile game of the week and will be attended by ESPN's College Gameday.

Oklahoma is coming off a 6-7 season while winning just two games in their first year in the SEC. They ranked 97th in the nation last year in scoring offense, although they had a good defense. To improve the offense, OU brought in a new offensive coordinator - from Washington State, Ben Arbuckle. He brought along the Washington St QB John Mateer. Mateer was one of the best quarterbacks in the nation last year, throwing for 3319 yards and 44 total TDs. In the playoff era (since 1998), 14 players have posted a line of 4000 yards, 40 TDs and no more than 10 turnovers. All 14 were Heisman finalists (6 winners) and all 14 were selected in the top 15 picks of the NFL draft. Mateer missed that club by 36 yards. He is a dual threat, topping all FBS quarterbacks last year with 53 broken or evaded tackles with the lowest off-target rate in the nation. In Oklahoma's opening game, he threw for 392 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for another TD. He is really good. O-line is a weakness that they failed to shore up in the off season. A new corps of receivers is led by Deion Burks, from Belleville and he used to receive passes from Bryce Underwood.

The Sooners defense suffered some attrition but was the strength of the team last year. They are athletic and tackle well.

This is a pivotal game for the Wolverines. Road wins over ranked opponents, especially one from the SEC, are highly considered by the playoff committee. Michigan will need to tighten up a few areas with the biggest improvement needed to contain Mateer both passing and running. The defensive line must stay in their lanes and still apply pressure. Game 2 for Bryce Underwood and it's time to shine. Bryce showed his talent with a limited playbook. Now we need to open the playbook and let Bryce win the game.

This is only the 2nd meeting ever between Michigan and Oklahoma, with OU winning the 1976 Orange Bowl over the Freshman Rick Leach and company. While Michigan is #1 in most wins in college football history, Oklahoma is tied for 5th in overall wins. It should be quite a game!

Michigan is 27-13-1 all-time against the SEC, including two wins over Alabama in 2024. The Wolverines are ranked 13/15 in the two polls while OU is 18/24. Michigan has won its last 13 straight night games.

The Wolverines are a 5½-point underdog.

Post-Game Summary

The Michigan Wolverines lost to the Oklahoma Sooners 24-13 on Saturday night in Norman, Oklahoma. It was our first trip to Norman, and the Oklahoma fans were surprisingly nice, unless you were from Texas. The campus, the stadium, and the atmosphere was all incredible. The game was not. Michigan struggled to finish drives and trailed at the half 14-0. Then on the 1st play of the 3rd quarter, Bryce handed off to Justice Haynes on a counter trey. He cut back to the left and 75 yards later the Wolverines were only down 14-7. On the ensuing drive, Oklahoma reached midfield and threw a 2nd down pass that was deflected and almost intercepted by Jyaire Hill. Then on 3rd and 8, the Wolverine pass rush got to Oklahoma QB John Mateer for a would-be sack. Except he squirmed away and then threw deep pass down to the Michigan 14-yard line. Two plays later the Sooners scored and restored their 14-point lead. Michigan was able to put together two more drives in the 3rd quarter, but both ended with field goals. OU put together a 16-play drive that ate up 8:27 of the clock in the 4th quarter and kicked a short field goal for the final margin.

It was a disappointing game after so much hope and expectation. But you learn more from losses than you do from wins. The offensive line needs to play better and, frankly, every position group needs improvement. The Wolverines will be back, but they need to get some areas tightened up if they want to achieve any of their goals for the year.

Steve's Prediction

24-21

Brown's Prediction

25-20

Craig's Prediction

26-21

Tim's Prediction

28-21

Brown 6½, Steve 6, Craig 4½, Tim 3

 © 2025 Maize & Blue LLC