NORMAN, Okla. – The No. 15-ranked Michigan Wolverines fell to the No. 18-ranked Oklahoma Sooners 24-13 inside Memorial Stadium, behind the stellar play of John Mateer and Deion Burks, dropping to 1-1 on the season.
The battle featured blue bloods in the college football world, with both schools boasting Heisman Trophy winners, national championships, and aspirations of making it to the College Football Playoff in their Week 2 matchup, where John Mateer put up a Patrick Mahomes-like performance.
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Mateer made throw after throw, play after play, as he accounted for all three of the Sooners’ touchdowns in the top-20 matchup.
Mateer went 21-34 for 270 yards passing, one touchdown, and one interception, while carrying the ball 19 times for 74 yards and two touchdowns.
Inkster native Burks was Mateer’s favorite target as he finished with seven receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown.
The atmosphere was electric from lining up and entering Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to kickoff, as fans chanted out “Boomer.”
In contrast, other fans answered “Sooner” ahead of the nighttime primetime showdown under the lights.
1st quarter
The Wolverines won the toss and deferred to the second half, as the high-powered Sooners’ offense, led by Heisman candidate John Mateer, took the field first.
Mateer took the snap on a quarterback keeper for a one-yard gain, but was stopped by Derrick Moore at the 26-yard line.
Mateer then threw an incomplete pass to Burks.
On third down and nine, Mateer connected to former linebacker turned tight end Jared Kanak for a massive catch and run.
On third and nine at the 42-yard line, Burks ran deep down the sideline for a catch and run to the 21 line.
Mateer put on the wheels and juked multiple Wolveirnes for eight yards to the Michigan 14-yard line.
On third down and three, Mateer ran another keeper for a gain of two yards.
On fourth and one on the Michigan 12-yard line, Matter ran another quarterback keeper for a first down.
After a first down and nine-yard incompletion, Mateer threw a touchdown touch pass to Burks, taking a 7-0 lead.
Michigan’s defense gave up 75 total yards, with 13 on the ground and 62 through the air.
It wasn’t ideal as Michigan had ample opportunities to get off the field, but Mateer’s magic arrived early as the fans shook the stadium with cheers during the opening drive touchdown in the first five minutes of the game.
The new-look Wolverines, led by superstar quarterback Bryce Underwood, handed the first snap off to running back Justice Haynes for four yards.
Underwood ran play-action and hit wide receiver Semaj Morgan for a 19-yard catch and run.
Haynes gained one yard on his second attempt of the game, followed by a tough five-yard run.
On third down and four on the Oklahoma 46-yard line, Michigan ran a running back spread out to the right, where Underwood made the catch for a negative one yard, forcing the first punt of the game for either team down to the six-yard line.
After the punt, Sooners fans started chanting “overrated” to heckle Underwood.
The atmosphere started to pick up on the Sooners’ second drive from their own six-yard line with 6:33 remaining in the first quarter.
On first and 10 from the six, Mateer called an audible as the blitz was on, which drew a false start for the first penalty of the game.
Burks didn’t let that penalty get in the way as Mateer connected with him for a 34-yard catch and run out of bounds near midfield.
After cornerback Zeke Berry broke up a pass from Burks, forcing third down and six to go, Mateer threw to a wide-open Isaiah Sategna III, who dropped it, forcing an Oklahoma punt.
With the ball started on their 12-yard line, Underwood threw an errant pass to wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who was double-covered and nearly intercepted.
Michigan drew a facemask penalty on second down, for an automatic first down.
Haynes then carried the rock for seven yards, nearly breaking one for a touchdown, but got tripped up.
Michigan got tricky and ran a wide receiver run for a loss of six yards.
On third down and 10, Underwood connected with McCulley for 38 yards.
He looked to use his legs and drew two defenders, setting up the deep pass and run.
Underwood threw a hospital ball to Haynes, who got blasted. Underwood threw an incomplete pass to Morgan on the 38-yard line, setting up their second punt of the game.
Mateer started picking Michigan apart as Brandyn Hillman got his first tackle of the game.
Moving the ball, Mateer threw an overthrown ball that was intercepted at the 38-yard line by TJ Metcalf, who had room to run but fell, but was able to stop the bleeding as Oklahoma was on the move down the field once again.
Jordan Marshall ended the quarter with a two-yard run, setting up second down and eight from their 40-yard line.
Michigan escaped the first quarter only trailing by seven as their defense gave up 117 yards passing and 17 yards rushing while their offense had a total of 65 yards with 14 on the ground and 51 through the air.
2nd quarter
Marshall carried the ball for three yards, setting up a third down and five from their 43-yard line.
Underwood threw an incomplete pass to Morgan, as the interception didn’t cost Mateer and the Sooners.
Michigan’s third punt of the game nearly got blocked.
The Wolverines, up to that point, led in time of possession, 9:10 to 6:48, but their lack of playmakers at corner was exposed as Jyaire Hill and Berry’s names were shown on camera early and often, as Burks was gashing them.
With first down and 10 yards to go from the 23-yard line, Mateer handed the ball off to running back Torry Blaylock for no gain.
Mateer completed a seven-yard pass to set up third down and three, which Blaylock picked up, moving the ball to the 34-yard line.
Mateer ran another quarterback keeper for six yards, setting up second down and four at their own 40-yard line.
Hillman got injured trying to tackle Blaylock on an option play by Mateer. The play gained eight yards, advancing the ball to the 46-yard line.
Hillman ran off the field under his own power.
Mateer handed the ball off to Blaylock, followed by a reception by Burks to set up a third and six, which got blown up as Cole Sullivan got the first Michigan sack of the game for negative two yards.
Michigan got the ball back following a punt on its 14-yard line with 9:35 to play.
They were in need of offense fast, but Marshall gained one yard on the first down carry.
Marshall gained two more yards, setting up a third down and six to go at their own 18-yard line.
Looking to make a play, Michigan went conservative and handed the ball off to Haynes, who lost two yards on the play.
The Wolverines in desperate need of a spark, got one as the Oklahoma defender ran into punter Hudsen Hollenbeck for a 15-yard penalty.
Underwood threw an incomplete pass while getting blasted by the Sooners’ defender.
On second down and 10, Michigan drew a 10-yard penalty for holding on the defense.
Michigan started catching breaks, setting up Haynes for a seven-yard dash to the outside hash to the dismay of the fans.
At the Oklahoma 49, Haynes gained one yard, setting up third down and one at the 48-yard line for one yard before
Giovanni El-Hadi seemed to get rolled up on, on the play.
El-Hadi needed help going back to the sideline, which wasn’t a good sign as the clock was stopped at 5:24 in the quarter.
From the 47-yard line, Underwood and the Wolverines connected on a Channing Goodwin speed out right catch and run for 25 yards to the Sooners’ 22-yard line.
Haynes carried the rock for two yards, followed by Haynes picking up six yards on a running back toss.
On third down and two, Underwood threw an incomplete pass on an apparent run-pass option to McCulley, but there was no foul on the play as he was blocking down the field and never looked up for the ball.
Kicker Dominic Zvada missed a 32-yard field goal to get their first points of the game. The kick was missed to the left.
Hillman returned to the game and laid the wood on Mateer, setting up a second-and-seven with 2:34 remaining in the quarter.
A hands-to-the-face and offside penalty were called, setting up a first down with 2:01 to play.
TJ Guy made a stop as Oklahoma gained three yards as Mateer completed a pass to Burks once again.
Michigan had the ball for 15:18 and gained a total of 113 yards, with 76 through the air and 37 on the ground.
Mateer and Burks were on one accord all night, except for their second down play, which went incomplete.
Mateer connected on the third down to Keontez Lewis before taking another quarterback run.
Burks is on a tear, setting up a first down and goal to Jovantae Burks with 26 seconds to play in the half.
On second and two from the two-yard line, Oklahoma ran another Mateer keeper to take a 14-0 lead before the half.
He and Burks were dismanteling the Wolerines through the air and on the ground.
Michigan was getting thoroughly dismantled and needed a more effective offense.
There was a reason why Sooner head coach Brent Venables was 21-5 against freshmen quarterbacks in his career, as he had Underwood and Haynes in each other’s faces before the half.
3rd quarter
Michigan came out in the second half and ran a house call by Haynes after his heated exchange for a 75-yard touchdown.
With Jaishawn Barham’s reemergence into the defense to open the quarter, Michigan was able to force a three-and-out, trailing 14-7.
Michigan went three-and-out as the Michigan fans started to come alive.
Hill nearly came down with a pick twice but bobbled it, leading to a Mateer Heisman-type escape and an inflated throw down the right sideline to Sategna, who was down to the Michigan 14-yard line.
Blaylock ran the ball for a three-yard gain when Berry went down with an injury.
For some reason, the Oklahoma fans started booing him as he needed help getting off the field.
On second and six with the ball on the 10-yard line, Mateer ran in another quarterback keeper to extend the lead back to 14.
Mateer was having an exceptional game as he accounted for all 21 points with two on the ground and one through the air with one interception.
After a penalty and two incomplete passes, on third down and 23 from their own endzone, Underwood handed the ball off to Haynes for eight yards, setting up another punt.
Michigan’s Sullivan recorded the muffed punt, setting up his offense on the Sooners’ 31-yard line.
Haynes carried the ball for four yards, setting up second and six at the 27-yard line.
Underwood missed McCulley on a quick slant, which was way out of his reach.
Haynes ran the ball for three yards, setting up Zvada for another field goal attempt, which was good, cutting into the lead, trailing 21-10.
Mateer got sacked by Jaden Mangham, setting up a punt with 4:44 to play in the quarter.
Underwood hit McCulley for a 59-yard catch and run to the Oklahoma 33-yard line.
Marshall toted the first down carry for four yards, setting up a second and six.
He then gained three yards on the play, moving the ball to the 27 with third down and three to go.
Marshall gained five yards on the play to move the sticks.
Underwood threw an incomplete pass to McCulley, who ran a slant, while a fade ball went out of bounds.
An incomplete pass set up another Zvada field goal, cutting the deficit to 21-13 with 1:24 to play in the quarter.
Mateer ran another keeper for five yards, setting up a second down and five at the 30-yard line.
Blaylock got blown up by Barham to set up a third down and three to end the quarter.
4th quarter
Michigan forced Mateer to throw consecutive incompletions, setting up a field goal attempt, which was missed wide right.
The Wolverines are hanging around as they trail by eight with 12:32 to play.
Underwood had the chance to lead his Wolverines from the 24-yard line to get them back into the game.
On first down and 10, Underwood ran his own quarterback keeper for nine yards.
Sherrone Moore called a timeout, their first in the half, before Haynes gained a first down.
Underwood took a five-yard sack on a play-action pass.
On second down and 15 from their 32-yard line, Michigan called another timeout, burning two in a matter of minutes in the fourth quarter.
They were left with one remaining for the remainder of the game with 10:28 to play, trailing 21-13.
Underwood tried to connect with Goodwin, but the ball went through his hands, setting up a third down and 15, which fell incomplete.
Michigan ended up punting the ball once again, which was their last hope, as Mateer led the Sooners down the field again to put the nail in the coffin, capping off a 16-play 78-yard drive with a 21-yard field goal to take a 24-13 lead with 1:44 to play.
History
The primetime showdown on Sept. 6, 2025, marked Michigan’s first road game of the season against a top-25 opponent, following three such contests in 2024 where the Wolverines went 1-2 at Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio State.
Michigan rode a 13-game winning streak in night games with a 5 p.m. local kickoff time before the Sooners game.
The Wolverines had also won 18 of their last 20 night games, with the last loss coming in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Saturday’s matchup was Michigan’s first regular-season road game against an SEC opponent in program history.
Oklahoma holds a 5-6 record against ranked opponents under coach Venables.
The Sooners are 2-0 vs. Michigan, 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.
Both teams have entered the game ranked in the AP poll: No.3 Oklahoma 14, No. 5 Michigan 6 (1976 Orange Bowl), and No.15 Michigan at No.18 Oklahoma. Michigan is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference and will face an SEC school for the 42nd time in school history.
With the defeat, Michigan has a 27-14-1 all-time record against schools from the SEC.