Alright, so here we go: Bryce Underwood, Michigan’s young quarterback, completed a brutal 37.5% of his passes against Oklahoma last year. Now, the Sooners are heading on the road for a Week 2 showdown, and this defense is ready to cause some serious headaches for him again. Yeah, Michigan had a dreadful offensive performance last week, but Oklahoma isn’t overlooking anyone. They just match up way too well with what Michigan wants to do, and they’ve got the talent to mess with Underwood big time.
Underwood’s Tools Are There, But So Are the Struggles
Look, Underwood was a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting class for a reason. He won the Michigan job as a true freshman, which is a wild feat. In his first year, he completed 60.3% of his passes for 2,428 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Plus, he ran for 392 yards and six touchdowns. He even led them to nine wins as a starter! Oklahoma head coach Venables respects him, saying “All of his best days are still in front of him” and that starting as a true freshman at Michigan is a “tremendous feat.” Venables also noted he’s in a “completely different system” this year, adding that Underwood “can run it, he can throw it, he’s decisive at making decisions, and he’s a rhythmic player.” The guy has tools.
But here’s the kicker: those “nice moments” get way fewer against top defenses. In 2025, Underwood faced three teams ranked in the top 20 for scoring defense: Oklahoma, Washington, and Ohio State. Michigan went 1-2 in those games. They did beat Washington 24-7, where they piled up 187 rushing yards, taking a ton of pressure off the young QB. He actually looked good against Washington, completing 77.8% for 230 yards and two touchdowns. But against Oklahoma and Ohio State, both top-10 defenses? It was a nightmare.
Elite Defenses Have Underwood’s Number
Seriously, those numbers against top-tier defenses are tough to look at. Against Oklahoma last season, Underwood threw for just 144 yards with zero touchdowns. Against Ohio State, it was an even worse 63 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception, completing just 44.4% of his passes. And forget about his dual-threat ability when facing those teams: he had a combined nine rushing attempts for a grand total of zero yards against the Sooners and the Buckeyes. He may have the tools, but he hasn’t shown he can use them against a defense as talented as Oklahoma’s. We’re not even counting some random bowl game Texas team, because players opt out, you know?
Oklahoma’s defense will be a much tougher challenge than Western Michigan, who Underwood and the Wolverines faced in Week 1. He completed just 54.5% of his passes for 170 yards, one touchdown, and an interception in that game. That touchdown? It was a Hail Mary that “maybe shouldn’t have been allowed.” He did run for 47 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, showing that dual-threat still exists. But the Sooners just faced the athletic E.J. Colson and Raymond Moore III of UTEP in Week 1, and they are now better prepared to slow down Underwood’s rushing. If Oklahoma plays assignment-sound, disciplined football this weekend, they’re going to be in excellent shape. This game is a true test for the young Michigan QB and a statement opportunity for the Sooners.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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