There are some tricky matchups on Michigan’s 2025 schedule, and the first one is in Week 2 on the road against Oklahoma. Let’s take a closer look at the matchup:
The college football offseason is one that seems to drag on forever, but the 2025 season is almost upon us. As we get closer and closer to Week 1, we are previewing every matchup for the 2025 Michigan Wolverines season. Today, we’ll discuss the Week 2 game at Oklahoma.
Kick off information
The Wolverines and Sooners is set to start at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Michigan players to watch
Freshman phenom Bryce Underwood is expected to be the starting quarterback for Michigan next season, and if that’s the case, this will be his first big start. Michigan takes on New Mexico in Week 1, and that should be a good warmup game for Underwood to get the jitters out. This game is a totally different beast.
Defensively, the Wolverines will need to be disruptive in the backfield. The defensive line was lethal last season, and it won Michigan a few games. Guys like Derrick Moore, Ernest Hausmann, Jaishawn Barham and more will need to have big performances. It’s hard to imagine Michigan scoring a lot of points in this game, so it might be one that the defense needs to win.
Oklahoma players to watch
If Michigan wants to win this one, it needs to stop quarterback John Mateer and running back Jadyn Ott. The Sooners weren’t a very good team last year, but after these guys transferred in, the entire outlook has changed for this program. Mateer was the best quarterback in the transfer portal after an outstanding season at Washington State, and Ott was one of the top running backs in the portal out of Cal. Both are capable of explosive plays at any moment, and the Wolverines need to slow them down.
Defensively, watch out for defensive lineman R Mason Thomas, who wreaked havoc in the opposition’s backfield last season. He finished with nine sacks a season ago, and he will be a handful once again.
Betting odds
Michigan is the early underdog. According to FanDuel SportsBook, Oklahoma is favored by 2.5 points, with over/under set at 50.5.
Keys to the game
Michigan’s offense should be better in 2025, but going on the road in a hostile environment like this in Week 2 is challenging for any new quarterback. Don’t expect the Wolverines to light up the scoreboard in this one. Because of that, this one will come down to stopping Mateer and what should be a pretty explosive Oklahoma offense.
The Wolverines held Ohio State and Alabama to a combined 23 points in their final two games last season. Both those teams had tremendous offenses, so if Michigan can carry that momentum over to the 2025 season and play that way against Oklahoma, it could end up being another massive victory.