Wolverines Struggle on the Road Against Better Prepared Sooners, fall 24-13

For only the second time ever, the Michigan Wolverines matched up against the Oklahoma Sooners in Norman, OK this past Saturday. Despite being ranked higher, No. 15 Michigan was an underdog in the game to No. 18 Oklahoma but looked to prove the nation wrong. Unfortunately for the Wolverines, it was the Sooners who would come out on top and claim victory in the end, spoiling a homecoming for Head Coach Sherrone Moore (who played at Oklahoma).

Let’s face it, Michigan’s offense sputtered if you can even say that, mustering up 142 passing yards and 146 rushing yards in the game. Sure that doesn’t sound too bad, but without the one play that resulted in a 75 yard run for a touchdown by Running Back Justice Haynes on the first play of the 3rd quarter, the total rushing yards and the score would have looked worse.

The positive, Freshman and No 1 ranked recruit Bryce Underwood didn’t turn the ball over, but he also went 9 of 24 on completed passes and didn’t have any touchdowns either. His best pass of the game was a 44 yard strike to Donaven McCulley who had an incredible catch pinned on a Sooners defender’s helmet. A lot of his short passes that were caught were defended well and the receivers gained little yards after their catch.

In his second collegiate game, it wasn’t necessarily Underwood’s decision making that was an issue, but his accuracy and going up against an SEC defense that was better prepared. Let’s also note that the very boisterous crowd and atmosphere that Underwood faced on his first road game was enough to rattle any first year Quarterback. So performing well was certainly a tall task to ask of the true freshman. The result, a first half shutout!

The defense of the Wolverines wasn’t great either. Not only was Michigan without one of their best defenders in Jaishawn Barham (suspended for the first half of the game due to a targeting penalty the week before), but it was promptly felt that it would be a tough night ahead as Oklahoma took the game’s opening drive 75 yards and scored. Seven to nothing Sooners and they made it look pretty easy. Momentum was behind OU from the start.

Michigan’s “D” did get a turnover in the form of an interception by TJ Metcalf in the first quarter.  But the team defense allowed 408 total yards, 270 in the air. Needless to say, you can’t win many games if you give up that type of yardage.

The Sooners offense was just better on the night. It wasn’t until the third quarter that Michigan’s defense was finally able to force a three and out. The Sooners offense was able to pick up 22 first downs in the game (compared to Michigan’s 12).

Credit goes to Sooner QB John Mateer who made some great plays using his legs to scramble and buy time to find his receivers downfield or pick up yards for those first downs. He scored Oklahoma’s second touchdown himself, running the ball into the end zone right before halftime. Then scored the team’s third touchdown midway through the third quarter on a ten yard run.

Michigan needs to figure some key things out and do so quickly before entering Big Ten play in two weeks on the road at Nebraska. They have one game between that date, against the Central Michigan Chippewas at home in Ann Arbor to their advantage, to work on things. But to their disadvantage, they will be without Head Coach Sherrone Moore who will be serving the first of a two game suspension from the sign stealing scandal that has plagued the team the last two years.

Next week, Michigan (1-1) will host Central Michigan (1-1) at The Big House and look to bounce back from this past weekend’s loss. Oklahoma (2-0) will go on the road and try to avoid an upset by Temple (2-0).

Final Score: Michigan 13 – Oklahoma 24