Oklahoma suffered a tough Week 2 loss against Michigan in Ann Arbor, falling 17-10 on September 12. This harrowing early-season defeat for the Sooners, a team that always starts with College Football Playoff aspirations, immediately put their offensive struggles from last season front and center. Despite dispatching UTEP with ease in Week 1, they just couldn’t find any momentum against the Wolverines, revealing that those offensive woes are far from scarred over.
The Sooner Offense Is Still Struggling
Seriously, it was rough. Oklahoma, ranked No. 10 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the AP Top 25 before this game, didn’t even clear 300 yards for the game. And here’s the kicker: they still outgained Michigan! That’s a loss that perfectly encapsulates the Brent Venables era so far, right? We’re talking a staunch defense paired with an offense that just can’t get it together. This isn’t just a bad loss, it’s a statement about their biggest weakness, and you have to wonder how much the polls are going to punish them for it.
Where Do the Sooners Go From Here in the Polls?
You can bet a few SEC teams are already salivating at this result. Ole Miss, if they handle business against Charlotte, and Alabama, if they knock off Kentucky, are almost locks to jump the Sooners in the Coaches Poll. Texas Tech, playing Oregon State, and Southern California, against Louisiana, also have a real shot to climb. BYU and Tennessee, facing Power Four opponents, are in the mix too. While it’s hard to see both jumping, especially with the possibility of some over-corrective mea culpas for Michigan, the Sooners are looking at a drop. The Coaches Poll prediction has them falling to No. 14, down four spots. In the AP, Ole Miss is already ahead, so Alabama winning over Kentucky makes that jump clear. Texas Tech, USC, and BYU are all possible movers here too. The fall might stop at Penn State, who didn’t look inspiring against Temple, but other teams will definitely close ground. Expect Oklahoma to drop to No. 15 in the AP Poll, another four-spot slide.
Michigan’s Unexpected Climb Back
And what about Michigan? They’re an interesting case, man. After a Week 1 win over Western Michigan that turned into a “loss-turned-win,” they got absolutely hammered in the polls, dropping eight spots to No. 24 in the Coaches Poll and entirely out of the AP Top 25. But this gritty 17-10 victory over a ranked Oklahoma team? That’s going to change things. Michigan is now knocking on the door of the Coaches Poll top 20, if not jumping right in. And they should definitely get back into the AP rankings after voters completely tossed them out after the Western Michigan debacle. It’s a crowded field, but Michigan just showed they’ve got the mettle to hang.
This Week 2 shake-up is just getting started, and the fallout from this Oklahoma-Michigan game is going to echo through the rankings. The Sooners have a lot to figure out on offense, and quick, if those College Football Playoff dreams aren’t going to turn into a nightmare before October even hits.
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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