Michigan rang in the Bryce Underwood era with a 34-17 victory over New Mexico in the season opener for both teams. In some respects, the game was rather uneventful, as the Wolverines jumped to a 17-0 first-half lead and spent the rest of the game doing just enough to keep the Lobos at arm’s length. But that’s not to say that the game was forgettable – or that there weren’t significant moments.
Underwood wasn’t asked to do too much in his first collegiate start, but he nonetheless showed why he arrived
in Ann Arbor as highly regarded as he was. Another newcomer, running back Justice Haynes, also had a nice game, breaking off a pair of 50-plus yard runs and rushing for three touchdowns. But if you want a particularly significant moment, one that speaks to the state of Michigan’s football program as much as it does to the outcome of Saturday’s game, look to the waning moments of the first half.
After surrendering ten quick points to see its lead cut to 17-10, Michigan faced a third-and-14 from its own 21-yard line. With just under a minute to play in the half, you wouldn’t blame Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore for calling a running play. Play it safe and take a touchdown lead into the halftime locker room.
Rather than playing it safe, Moore called for a pass play. Underwood responded, connecting with Channing Goodwin for a 39-yard gain and a first down. Six plays later, Underwood hit Marlin Klein for a 15-yard touchdown to extend Michigan’s lead to 17 points and take the steam out of any New Mexico comeback.
The play – and the decision – spoke volumes about the trust that Moore has in his freshman quarterback. It also spoke to the degree to which this is not the same Michigan team that struggled so offensively last season. Michigan is still a run-first team, but with Underwood under center, it is no longer a run-only team.
For the game, Underwood completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown and played about as well as could be imagined. Underwood looked composed in the pocket, was decisive, got the ball out quickly and made an assortment of throws that showcased not just his arm strength, but also his touch and pinpoint accuracy.
New offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey also deserves mention. Lindsey’s first game calling plays saw Michigan play with pace and purpose, something that wasn’t often the case last season.
All things considered, it was a successful debut for Underwood, Lindsey and the Wolverine offense. Michigan can hardly rest on its laurels, however, because the Wolverines face a stiff challenge in a week two matchup against Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is, in many ways, a mirror image of Michigan. A team with an elite defense but an offense that’s very much a work-in-progress after having finished the prior season as one of the worst in the nation. Each team has both a new offensive coordinator and a new quarterback in hopes of a bounce-back season on offense. For Oklahoma, that quarterback is former Washington State quarterback John Mateer. Mateer, a gunslinger who some Oklahoma fans and media have compared to former Sooner Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield, played terrifically in his debut for Oklahoma, completing 30 of 37 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-3 victory over Illinois State.
Mateer was rarely bothered by the Illinois State pass rush, and as a result, he ripped the Redbirds defense to shreds. If Michigan hopes to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s performance, it will have to make Mateer uncomfortable in the pocket. The Wolverines have the horses to do so, with a talented and deep defensive line. The degree to which that defensive line can get to Mateer, or at least disrupt his flow, will be one of the keys to the game for Michigan.
And speaking of looking comfortable, part of what made Underwood’s debut so impressive was how comfortable he looked directing the Wolverine offense. Like Mateer, however, Underwood will face a whole different animal when he faces the Oklahoma defense. Under head coach Brent Venables, Oklahoma features an attacking, aggressive defense. The Sooners will undoubtedly throw multiple bodies at Underwood – often from different looks.
One thing that would help Underwood facing such a talented and attacking defense would be staying in front of the chains and staying out of third-and-long situations. And that means Michigan needs to get more out of its running game – a running game that struggled more than expected against New Mexico.
Take away two big runs by Haynes and the Wolverines rushed for just 2.9 yards per carry (86 yards on 30 carries) in their opener. They’ll need to improve upon those numbers in Norman – and will have to do so against a better defensive front. So another key for Michigan will be the play of its offensive line, which will not only have to keep Underwood clean, but create a consistent running attack.
So it is that in a game that will be billed by many as a quarterback battle between Mateer and Underwood, the key to victory may very well may be the play in the trenches.
But isn’t that the key to most games?
