The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2 at 11 a.m. CT in Ann Arbor. It's the Sooners' first big test of the season, taking on a Michigan team that was considered a top-15 team entering the year before an underwhelming offensive performance in their 13-12 win over Western Michigan in Week 1.
The Oklahoma Sooners won't take Michigan lightly. The Wolverines are well-coached, with talented players on both sides of the ball. And the Sooners will be playing in front of a raucous Michigan Stadium crowd.
If the Sooners want to leave Ann Arbor 2-0, they'll have to play a clean game and win the turnover battle. Here are three ways the Sooners can secure a win.
1. Get the Ground Game Going
The Oklahoma Sooners put an emphasis on improving a rushing attack that
was one of the worst in the nation in 2025. They did so by bulking up their offensive line, by adding a veteran in E'Marion Harris, and by retooling a tight end group that features experienced and talented veterans like Hayden Hansen and Rocky Beers.
In Week 1 vs. UTEP, the Sooners averaged 4.35 yards per carry, running for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. Lloyd Avant led the way with 15 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
But that was against UTEP. Now they have to do it against a Michigan Wolverines defense that is talented in the front seven and will be looking to slow down the Sooners' rushing attack.
What we didn't see in Week 1 was a lot of John Mateer quarterback run game. That was a weapon for the Sooners in the matchup last season. In the win over the Wolverines in Norman, Mateer carried the ball 19 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Oklahoma will find success when Mateer runs the ball, but they need Avant and the rest of the running back group to find some success this week as well.
Getting the ground game going will make everything so much easier for Mateer, the Sooners offense, and Oklahoma's defense.
2. Force Bryce Underwood to Beat You
Brent Venables was complimentary of former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood when he met with the media this week, but Oklahoma's best path to victory is to take away the running game and make Underwood beat you with his arm.
Last year, the Sooners' defense won the early downs and kept Michigan from staying ahead of the chains. Michigan's offense had a success rate of just 33% last year. If the Sooners can win on early downs and force Underwood to throw in third-and-long situations, that'll play right into the Sooners' hands.
3. Take the Crowd Out Early
The Oklahoma Sooners are walking into hostile territory on Saturday. Oklahoma vs. Michigan will also be a part of Fox's Big Noon Kickoff, which will have the fans in attendance energized long before kickoff.
The Michigan faithful will play a role when Oklahoma's offense is on the field. If the Sooners offense can find some success in the early going and score on their first couple of possessions and the defense can get some stops, it'll make for a more manageable environment for the final three quarters. If the Sooners are trailing entering the fourth or only ahead by a score, closing out a tough Michigan team will be even tougher.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 Keys to an Oklahoma Sooners win over the Michigan Wolverines
