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Underwood Tested: Can Michigan QB Beat Elite Sooners Defense?
10 Sep
Summary
- Bryce Underwood, a true freshman, won Michigan's starting QB job.
- Underwood struggled against top-20 defenses like Oklahoma and Ohio State.
- Oklahoma's defense is better prepared for Underwood's dual-threat ability.
The Oklahoma Sooners are set to face the Michigan Wolverines in an anticipated Week 2 matchup. Michigan's young quarterback, Bryce Underwood, a five-star prospect from the 2025 recruiting class, earned the starting role as a true freshman. In his inaugural season, Underwood completed over 60% of his passes for 2,428 yards, throwing 14 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, and adding 392 rushing yards with six scores.
However, Underwood's statistics reveal a challenging trend when facing highly-ranked defenses. In 2025, his games against top-20 scoring defenses, including Oklahoma, Washington, and Ohio State, resulted in a 1-2 record for Michigan. Notably, against Oklahoma and Ohio State, both top-10 defenses, Underwood struggled significantly, with zero combined rushing yards on nine attempts.
The Sooners' defense, having prepared against athletic quarterbacks like E.J. Colson and Raymond Moore III, is well-positioned to counter Underwood's dual-threat capabilities. If Oklahoma maintains disciplined, assignment-sound play, they are expected to present a formidable challenge to the Wolverines' freshman signal-caller.
