‘How Much Did Michigan Pay These Refs?’ — Fans Left Unimpressed With Officiating Crew During Wolverines vs Sooners Showdown in Week 2
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Michigan and Oklahoma entered Week 2 expecting the attention to fall on Bryce Underwood and John Mateer. It did not take long for the officiating crew to join them under the microscope.
The Wolverines carried a 10-0 lead over No. 11 Oklahoma into halftime at Michigan Stadium, but several early calls had Sooners fans furious. The frustration included complaints about flags that extended Michigan possessions and a special teams sequence that some viewers believed officials handled incorrectly.
Fans Rip Officiating During Michigan-Oklahoma
One fan did not sound surprised by the controversy,writing, “Refs already propping up Michigan is the least shocking development of the day so far.”
Another viewer blamed the crew more broadly,writing, “SEC has the worst refs in sports. They are walking Michigan down the field with crazy bogus calls.”
The reaction soon reached the accusation captured in the headline: “How much did Michigan pay these refs?”
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON:PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
Another fan went even further in a profanity-filledreaction, writing, “Michigan has once again paid the [expletive] refs. Gonna be a long day I’m afraid.”
There is no evidence Michigan paid or improperly influenced officials. Those posts reflected fan frustration with specific calls, not substantiated allegations of misconduct.
Another fan kept the same sarcastic theme going,writing, “So Michigan refs for real just on payroll.”
The complaints intensified after a punt sequence. Another fan disputed the officials’ interpretation of contact with the punter,writing, “Absolutely NOT blocked into the punter. That should 100% be another flag, but the refs love Michigan.”
The actual penalty totals offered important context. Michigan was flagged five times for 35 yards in the first half, while Oklahoma committed three penalties for 37 yards. The Wolverines were hardly playing a flag-free game themselves.
Michigan Takes Control While Oklahoma Offense Stalls
Officiating complaints were only part of Oklahoma’s problem.
Underwood provided the biggest play of the first half with a 38-yard touchdown run late in the opening quarter. Michigan later added a 40-yard field goal to build its 10-point advantage.
Oklahoma managed only 115 total yards before halftime. Mateer completed 6 of 16 passes for 52 yards, while the Sooners also lost a fumble.
Michigan produced 188 total yards, and Underwood added 96 passing yards to his team-high 52 rushing yards. PFN’s current 2026 quarterback rankings place Underwood No. 54, with his 2025QB Impact grade listed at 78.0.
DIVE IN:PFN’s Free CFB HQ — Team and Player Stats, Info, and More
Fans can debate individual flags frame by frame. The first-half numbers made one thing harder to blame entirely on the officials: Oklahoma’s offense had yet to put a point on the board.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos