Oklahoma Sooners will be tested but too much for Bryce Underwood

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The Oklahoma Sooners have an opportunity in front of them when they go on the road to take on the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2. Sure, Michigan is coming off a dreadful offensive performance, but this team has the talent to create problems. Oklahoma won't overlook the Wolverines.

But the Sooners match up well with what Michigan wants to do. The Sooners also have the talent to disrupt Michigan's young quarterback, Bryce Underwood.

Underwood was a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and won the Michigan job as a true freshman. In year one, he completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,428 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He also ran for 392 yards and six touchdowns.

He's a quarterback that Oklahoma head coach Bryce Underwood has a lot of respect for.

"All of his best days are still in front of him," Venables said at his Tuesday news conference. "Won nine games as a starting quarterback, as a true freshman, a tremendous feat in itself. And we've got a great, great challenge."

Being the starting quarterback at the collegiate level takes some talent. Starting as a true freshman at the University of Michigan is even harder.

"He is in a completely different system this year than what he was a year ago," Venables said. "I don't ever look at it as a life of its own. This guy can run it, he can throw it, he's decisive at making decisions, and he's a rhythmic player. He's really good that way."

Underwood has all of the tools to be really good. He's had some nice moments in his Michigan career. Unfortunately, those positive moments are fewer against the better defenses.

In 2025, Underwood and the Wolverines played three games against teams ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense: Oklahoma, Washington, and Ohio State. Michigan went 1-2, earning a 24-7 win over Washington in a game where Michigan found success on the ground, running for 187 yards. It took a lot of the stress off of the true freshman quarterback.

He had some success against Washington, but against Oklahoma and Ohio State, a pair of top-10 defenses, Underwood struggled. Even as a runner. Against the Sooners and the Buckeyes, Underwood had a combined nine rushing attempts for zero yards.

Underwood may have the tools, but he has yet to show it against a team that's as talented on the defensive side of the ball as the Oklahoma Sooners are. And no, I don't consider a bowl game Texas team in the same light as a regular season defense because we know players opt out of the bowl games.

The Oklahoma Sooners' defense will be a tougher challenge than the Western Michigan one Underwood and the Wolverines faced in Week 1. Underwood completed just 54.5% of his passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and an interception. The touchdown came on the Hail Mary that maybe shouldn't have been allowed. He also ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, showing off the dual-threat ability that makes him a dangerous challenge.

But after facing the athletic E.J. Colson and Raymond Moore III of UTEP in Week 1, the Sooners are better prepared to slow down Underwood's rushing ability. If the Sooners play assignment-sound, disciplined football, they'll be in great shape.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma Sooners will be tested but too much for Bryce Underwood

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