Cam Brown’s elite punting performance helped Michigan Football beat Oklahoma

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It would not be a repeat of the Western Michigan escape on Saturday in the Big House.

The Michigan Football mantra this past week was “do more,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said on the Inside Michigan Football Radio Show.

All last week, Whittingham stressed the need for physicality and violence. While the offensive line and running game still have work to do (only 38 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries combined for Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter, though Bryce Underwood did rush 18 times for 87 yards and a score), the defensive line was a major plus against the Sooners:

“It was a phenomenal week of preparation… It was physical. You know, we got after it on Tuesday. We didn’t scrimmage or anything like that, but it was a physical practice,” Whittingham said.

Getting Marshall going should be a focal point in the ensuing contests, Whittingham mentioned.

“We haven’t really been able to get him in a groove yet and he appears to me, based on last year’s film, to be the type of back that the more carries he gets… he gets stronger as the game goes on. And so, we’ve got to do a little better job of trying to get them (the running backs) more involved, particularly Jordan,” Whittingham said.

Whittingham also seemed particularly pleased with Underwood’s outing, knowing there is still room to grow but there are certain intangibles that never waver:

“Bryce is an ultra-competitive young man,” Whittingham said, “… and he knew that, you know, there was more that he could bring to the football team.”

Underwood completed just two passes on four attempts in the second half. Yes, the positive game script and his legs lessened the need to air it out. But it will be interesting to see if Whittingham and the staff trust him to throw in big situations more in the coming weeks.

One of the biggest strengths — perhaps the biggest — for the Wolverines was special teams. Punter Cam Brown hit seven kicks for 296 yards, pinning Oklahoma inside its own 20 on six occasions and a couple of times within its five-yard line.

Special teams coordinator Kerry Coombs emphasized the importance of this facet of the game:

“What we tell our kids and show our kids, demonstrate to our kids, is starting field position differential is one of the biggest statistics in football that people never talk about,” he said.

Coombs acknowledged that roughing the kicker penalty, and another which was called back, but he also said that when the defense is playing as well as it was, setting up the opposing offense so deep in its territory makes life that much easier for the team.

Coombs also talked about how special teams is often an avenue to playing time. Not everybody can be the All-American linebacker or 1,000-yard receiver. Sometimes, it is about doing extra film, meeting with coaches and proving yourself an invaluable asset to the program.

True freshman defensive end Tariq Boney is one of those guys, and a 40-yard head start downhill is no treat for those in different colored jerseys:

“We found out in camp this was a dynamic kid who can do some things,” Coombs said.

As for Brown, Coombs believes the Australian is “just scratching the surface” and praised his ball placement — part of the 45-yard, 4.5-second hang time goals he aims for his punters.

Brown explained that Aussie kids, unlike how Americans toss the ball around, prefer to kick it around. There was an adjustment to the different-sized ball; Australian footballs are a little thicker and less pointy.

However, Brown’s on-field production has spoken for itself:

“In Australia, we kind of kick more end-over-end punts. So, kind of the adjustment for training for American football was the spiral, which, I love it. No better feeling in the world than hitting a big spiral,” Brown said.

Hopefully, we do not have to see too much of Brown this year with the offense already showing improvement in Week 2. But this weakness from 2025 appears to have done a 180º in 2026.

Did Michigan’s performance convince you this can be a successful season? Or do you still have worries? Let us know down below.

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