Blatant Homerism: 3 keys to the Oklahoma-Michigan matchup
The Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan Wolverines have the national stage to themselves in week two’s only matchup between ranked squads. A year ago, these two storied programs might have preferred the spotlight shine elsewhere.
Both trudged through regrettable seasons in 2024 filled with dispiriting football, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Both are aiming now to prove they deserve spots back in the upper echelon of the sport, hoping new quarterbacks can provide a spark they missed desperately last year. And both teams started off 2025 by dispatching outmatched opponents in a fashion that was neither awe-inspiring nor anxiety-inducing.
The two squads are riding similar tracks at the moment, but the winner of the OU-Michigan slugfest this weekend will likely feel better about its path forward. Here are a few keys that should play significant roles in the outcome.
Are the Sooners ready to rumble?
Former head coach Jim Harbaugh reoriented the identity of the Michigan program around physical domination: The goal is to pulverize opponents on every play. Nothing has changed in Ann Arbor since Harbaugh skipped off to the NFL and turned the program over to successor Sherrone Moore. The Wolverines still pride themselves on pushing teams around.
In application, that means Michigan has an affinity for offensive formations featuring multiple tight ends. No. 1 TE Marlin Klein was on the field for 52 of 64 offensive plays last week against the New Mexico Lobos, and the second option, Max Bredeson, got 31 snaps. A third TE, Zack Marshall, played 11 downs. (Keep an eye on Bredeson, who is a tremendous lead blocker – the ball tends to follow him.)
With so much beef on the field at any given time, the Wolverines marched through the New Mexico defense for an average of seven yards on 29 rushing attempts. Running back Justice Haynes pounded out nearly 10 yards per carry as the Alabama transfer ran 16 times for 159 yards and three touchdowns.
But Michigan also ran all over teams like Fresno State and Arkansas State last year before its ground attack wilted against the meat of the schedule. Blocking OU’s front seven should provide a far greater challenge for the Wolverines than contending with UNM’s tiny group, which included a three-tech defensive tackle who tipped the scales at 246 pounds.
This kind of situation seemingly calls for a liberal use of Kendal Daniels (6-5, 239 pounds) playing the equivalent of a Sam linebacker in a 4-3 alignment, but we’ll see if OU head coach and defensive coordinator Brent Venables has something else in mind.
Letting Underwood loose
The irony is that despite Michigan’s taste for bully ball, Moore’s best hope for a win may rest on the shoulders of freshman phenom Bryce Underwood.
Michigan’s deep-pocketed boosters apparently got their money’s worth in landing the rookie quarterback. Underwood dazzled in his debut last week, completing 21 of his 31 pass attempts for 251 yards and a touchdown. He appeared comfortable making an array of throws to different areas of the field, and his ability to throw on the move should help the Wolverines mitigate pressure from opposing pass rushers. Bear in mind that Michigan didn’t feature Underwood in the running game last week, either.
Even though it plays against type, the Wolverines would likely find more success letting Underwood cook than they would trying to hammer the OU defense on the ground. Unfortunately, as special as Underwood appears to be, his targets at receiver are that ordinary.
Sure, Klein’s size can create matchup issues in secondaries. And transfer Donaven McCulley caught 48 balls for 688 yards and six touchdowns in one of his seasons at Indiana. And Semaj Morgan has some burst. And Channing Goodwin and Underwood flashed a little chemistry on a couple of occasions versus the Lobos.
Put them all together, though, and we’re not talking about a formidable bunch of pass catchers. If Venables schemes to take away the Big Blue rushing attack, can Underwood and his wideouts make OU pay?
Less of the same from the OU offensive line
OU fans holding out hope that the team’s offensive line had taken a step forward in the offseason didn’t like what they saw from the unit in week one against the Illinois State Redbirds.
OU’s OL just seemed to play tentatively relative to what we used to expect from the Sooners. Quarterback John Mateer got good enough pass protection, which was a nice change from last season’s disaster. The run blocking from the big uglies versus ISU, on the other hand, won’t cut it if that’s what we’re getting from them every week. It didn’t help that LB-turned-TE Jaren Kanak blocked like someone just learning the skill.
OL coach Bill Bedenbaugh is undoubtedly moving around some of the pieces in the first-string group this week. Jake Maikkula probably supplanted Troy Everett at center, for instance. Also, tackles Michael Fasusi and Derek Simmons could be back in action after sitting out the opener.
Whatever the fixes may be – assuming they actually exist – OU doesn’t have the luxury of waiting any longer for them to emerge.
Other games on my radar
Not many after a high-octane week one.
Baylor at SMU
Baylor’s inability to keep Auburn and quarterback Jackson Arnold from running in between the tackles was eye-opening. Bears coach Dave Aranda needs to get that ship righted quickly.
South Florida at Florida
USF’s thrashing of Boise State would have commanded more attention nationally but for a tidal wave of speculation about President Donald Trump’s vital signs and an abundance of high-profile matchups across the country. Meanwhile, the Gators mercilessly stomped Long Island the way a heavy favorite should. We’ll find out what the Bulls have left in the tank when they visit The Swamp.
Allen’s Kitchen Nonconfidential: Brine your potatoes
I usually get good feedback whenever I make potatoes as a side dish. I finish them off in different ways, but the secret lies in how I start every time.
You’ve probably heard of brining a chicken or turkey to keep it juicy as it cooks. I do the same with potatoes – doesn’t matter what type. Start by dissolving salt in a big bowl of water at a ratio of roughly five parts of water to one part of salt (e.g., five cups of water and one cup of salt). Now you’ve got your brine.
Submerge the potatoes in the solution a few hours ahead of the time when you plan to cook them. When you’re ready to cook them, get the potatoes out of the water and pat them dry. (Do not puncture them.) At this point, I usually brush the potatoes with olive oil and cover them with seasoning salt before:
Throwing them in the oven on a wire rack over a sheet pan at 400 degrees for 45 minutes; or
Grilling them until I can tell they’re soft.
Obviously, this method takes some advance preparation. I’ve found it’s worth the minimal effort.