NORMAN — Oklahoma will be the center of the college football world when Michigan visits during Week 2 this season.
The Sooners and Wolverines are two iconic brands in the sport’s history and both schools rank in the top 10 in all-time wins. It’s expected ESPN’s “College Gameday” will make its way to OU’s South Oval for the second consecutive season for the highly anticipated matchup.
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If the schools meeting for only the second time ever wasn’t enough to create excitement, Michigan coach Sherrone Moore will make his return to his alma mater, where he played offensive line from 2006-07. Sooners general manager Jim Nagy is also a Wolverine alum.
“That game is coming quick and obviously Michigan has a long history and storied tradition, very much like Oklahoma,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said Thursday at the OU coaches luncheon. “They won the national championship just a couple of years ago, and they might have been one of the hottest teams in college football the last four games of (last) season.
“They’ve recruited really well. Got a great foundation. They’ve got culture. They’ve got some experience coming back. And I know that the mindset, what that looks like from their standpoint will be a tough, physical challenge.”
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After losing five of their first 10 games, the Wolverines finished Moore’s first season at the helm on a high note. Michigan defeated eventual national champion Ohio State for the fourth consecutive season and knocked off Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl despite missing a plethora of players.
Michigan returns a stacked defense, which includes four-time letterwinning defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny, two-time All-Big Ten selection edge rusher Derrick Moore, as well as team captain and safety Rod Moore. Sherrone Moore declined to name a starting quarterback at Big Ten media days but most expect former five-star and true freshman Bryce Underwood to earn the role.
OU quarterback John Mateer against Underwood could be one of the more exciting battles early in the college football calendar. In fact, Mateer is already circling Sept. 6 on his calendar.
“What an opportunity,” said Sooners offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. “John Mateer, for instance, was sitting in my office and he said, ‘This is why you come play at Oklahoma. You’re on the biggest stage. You want to play the best.’ He said, ‘We’ll get to see Week 2.’ And that’s how I see it. Just what an opportunity. You come here for those opportunities, and our guys have been locked in all summer with it.”
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Perhaps the most significant task for any team preparing to face the Wolverines in recent years is matching their physicality. Michigan ranked 10th in total defense last season and is known for its powerful run game.
The Wolverines also boast a talented offensive line.
“We’ve got to be looking forward to that,” said OU defensive tackles coach Todd Bates. “Defensive tackles, I coach one of the most physical positions on the field at all times. That’s always our goal is to be the most physical, and that’s what we got to do. That’s in practice. That’s in games. And Michigan, they play the same type of ball. They want to run the ball downhill, and so we’ll have our hands full and we’ll look forward to it.”
The Sooners aren’t overlooking Illinois State in their season opener on Aug. 30, but it’s hard not to think about the Michigan game — where the crimson and cream and the maize and blue will share one field — being over a month away. It’s a game, for both schools, that could shape their seasons.
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The Wolverines and Moore need to prove they fixed their offense and Venables and OU — coming off a disappointing 6-7 season — need as many wins as they can get at the start of another brutally tough schedule.
All eyes will be on Norman in early September.
“They’ve got great skill guys everywhere,” Venables said. “It’s going to be a great litmus test for us, too, getting us ready for the SEC. Great challenge to be on the biggest stage that weekend in college football, and our guys have been talking about the season and what’s in front of us, the work that it requires.
“Certainly, that game is grabbing our attention, the excitement for our guys, they’re really looking forward to that and the many other big-time games that we play all year long.”
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Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why OU football is looking ahead to Week 2 vs. Michigan in 2025 season
