NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 15-ranked Michigan Wolverines hit the road for a showdown with the No. 18-ranked Oklahoma Sooners in a historic battle.
This primetime showdown on Saturday (Sept. 6) will mark Michigan’s first road game of the season against a top-25 opponent, following three such contests last year where the Wolverines went 1-2 at Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State.
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Michigan is riding a 13-game winning streak in night games with a 5 p.m. local kickoff time.
The Wolverines have also won 18 of their last 20 night games, with the last loss coming in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal against Georgia.
Twelve Wolverines made their collegiate debuts in the team’s Week 1 34-17 victory against the New Mexico Lobos, while another nine players made their Michigan debuts after transferring from other programs.
Four players earned their first career starts: wide receiver Channing Goodwin and quarterback Bryce Underwood on offense, defensive back Brandyn Hillman on defense, and Andrew Marsh on special teams as a kick returner.
Underwood set a new Michigan freshman quarterback debut record with 251 passing yards on 21-of-31 attempts, surpassing Tate Forcier’s 179 yards set in 2009.
His total ranks as the sixth-highest for any Michigan quarterback in their first career start.
Oklahoma’s quarterback John Mateer also set a debut record in Week 1, throwing for 392 yards on 30-of-37 attempts with three touchdowns. The performance marked a career high for Mateer.
Tight end Marlin Klein led Michigan’s receivers against the Lobos with career highs in receptions (six), yards (93), and touchdowns (one). His touchdown was the 17th catch of his career and the first of Underwood’s career.
Michigan’s offense showed flashes of explosiveness with six plays of 20 or more yards.
Goodwin’s 39-yard reception was the longest passing play, while Justice Haynes had two long runs of 56 and 59 yards.
Haynes’ 56-yard touchdown came on the seventh play of the game and was the longest offensive touchdown for Michigan in 2024.
Defensively, Michigan limited New Mexico to just two big passing plays of 20 and 25 yards and held the Lobos to 267 total yards.
New Mexico averaged only 1.8 yards per rush and lost 35 yards on sacks and tackles for loss.
Michigan had 25 different players to record at least a share of a tackle or quarterback hurry on defense, excluding several special teams tackles.
Michigan forced three turnovers in the game.
Defensive players TJ Guy, Hillman, and Cole Sullivan each recorded their first career interceptions.
Saturday’s matchup will be Michigan’s first road game against an SEC opponent in program history.
Oklahoma holds a 4-6 record against ranked opponents under head coach Brent Venables.
The Sooners also hold a 1-0 record, as the teams’ last regular-season matchup against one another took place in the 1976 Orange Bowl between Bo Schembechler‘s No. 5-ranked squad and Barry Switzer’s No. 3-ranked team, who took a 14-6 victory.
Barham was called for targeting during the Wolverines’ 34-17 victory over the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, when he laid a big hit on quarterback Jack Layne.
The play looked to regain momentum for Michigan, which was en route to a blowout as Layne fumbled the ball, which was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Barham.
But under further review, officials overturned the call, and Layne was down by contact and ejected Barham for the remainder of the game and for the first half of Saturday’s (Sept. 6) first road test of the season for the men in maize.
Moore broke the news during his press conference on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, that the appeal had been upheld.
Moore said he just learned the appeal was upheld, but expressed strong disagreement with the ruling.
He criticized the current tackling rules in college football, explaining the challenge of teaching players proper tackling techniques when there is a significant size difference between players.
“Tony (Petitti) doesn’t agree with it. A.J. (Edds) doesn’t agree with it,” said Moore.
Moore described a play early in the game where Barham had a clear shot at Layne and avoided contact by taking one step, but the ruling still went against him.
“It’s a rule that we have to get changed, and we have to look at it in college football just for the game in general.
The toughness of the game and how you want to teach tackling and how you want to teach guys that are 6’3” tackling a guy that’s 5’8”. He lowers his head, and it might have been even worse,” Moore said.
It was reported that the Big Ten sent the appeal to the NCAA, which ruled that Barham was rightfully ejected for hitting a defenseless player due to the nature of the hit, which was helmet-to-helmet.
Despite the suspension, Moore expressed confidence in the team’s depth at the linebacker position.
Sherrone Moore
Head coach Sherrone Moore offered an early evaluation of the matchup as the teams prepare to face off under the lights.
Moore described Oklahoma as a “really good football team” with strength in all three phases, including a dangerous return game.
Offensively, Moore highlighted Mateer and the Sooners’ depth at running back, as well as wide receiver Deion Burks, who is a native of Inkster.
Moore noted Oklahoma’s use of tight end Jaren Kanak, who transitioned from linebacker, and praised their ability to spread the field and vary tempo.
Defensively, Moore called the Sooners fast and physical, mentioning his respect for several Oklahoma staff members he knows personally, like head coach Brent Venables, who was Moore’s defensive coordinator, and Kevin Wilson, who was his offensive coordinator.
Joe Jon Finley, who is the tight ends coach, played tight end when Moore was on the offensive line as a player for the Sooners.
Former Dallas Cowboys standout running back DeMarco Murray was the running back on the same team as Moore, who was opening up holes for the 2014 first-team All-Pro.
Although he went down memory lane, Moore, despite his ties to Oklahoma, emphasized that the focus is on Michigan’s players.
“This is about the kids,” said Moore. “It’s not about me. It’s about the players on our football team going to try to win a game.”
When discussing the atmosphere and what he expects to tell his team about how to prepare for the noise, Moore said it would be loud.
“It’s going to be loud,” Moore said. “But we played in loud environments, and we’re going to have to prepare for all of that noise.”
Return to alma mater
Moore reflected on the emotional aspect of returning to Norman, Oklahoma, where he earned his degree.
He said his loyalty is to Michigan’s players, who he described as “my kids,” and noted the challenge of preparing them for a loud, hostile environment.
The Sooners’ matchup will be under the lights in Norman, Oklahoma, as the Wolverines will travel to the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
Although it is a big game as both teams are expected to be ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll, it will be the return of former offensive lineman, alumnus, and current head coach Moore for the first time in his head coaching career.
Moore, an offensive lineman from 2005-2006, helped the Sooners win two Big 12 championships and play in two BCS bowl games.
“Obviously, I got my degree from there, so there’s a love there, but these kids are what’s special to me. So that’s all that I am worrying about. I’m worried about our players and getting our team ready to go play this game,” Moore said.
Moore spoke fondly of his mentor, Bob Stoops, and the lessons he learned from him about coaching with love for the game and the importance of continuous learning.
“He’s one of the biggest mentors that I have, so there’s a lot of respect and love that I have for coach Stoops. I’ll see those guys before the game. There’s like no love lost or anything. I’ll see all of them before the game and say ‘Hi’ to them because there’s memories there,” Moore said.
Moore said Stoops coached players hard, and loving on them is one of the things that he remembers being told to.
“When you stop loving and learning, is when you should stop coaching. Bob was very humble and always wanted to learn, no matter who it’s from. That’s one thing that I’ll take from him. You don’t know as much as you actually think. So you’ve got to continue to learn in this game,” Moore said.
“I think it’s necessary to matchups like this in college football,” Moore said. “Two blue-blood programs going at it on a national stage. It’s College Game Day. It’s why you come to Michigan. It’s why you go to Oklahoma.
Moore said the matchup is the type of game that players want to be a part of and games that you’d remember.
“Playing against an Oklahoma, one of the winningest programs in college football, is huge to us, and to have a Michigan and an Oklahoma helmet on the field at the same time in what would be the second time that we’ve played, it’s going to be a cool matchup to be a part of,” Moore said.
On Mateer, Moore called him an “electric gunslinger” who can make every throw and run effectively.
Moore said Michigan’s defense must keep him off schedule and cover Oklahoma’s speedy receivers.
He emphasized the importance of Michigan’s offensive line in protecting Underwood and setting the tone.
Moore expressed confidence in their progress despite criticism and highlighted a standout 50-yard run by Haynes, who experienced playing inside Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
When asked about preparing Underwood for the noise of a road game, Moore stressed focusing on teammates and executing assignments rather than the crowd.