Oklahoma coach Brent Venables didn’t want to be the center of attention after one of his biggest victories, but his players made sure he was. As the late Toby Keith’s “How Do You Like Me Now?!” blared over the loudspeakers, Sooners players hoisted Venables into the air, celebrating a 24-13 win over No. 15 Michigan on Saturday night.
For Venables, it was more than just a nonconference victory — it was a signature moment as Oklahoma (2-0) looks to bounce back from last year’s disappointing 6-7 campaign. “This game meant a lot, and our guys delivered,” Venables said. “We wanted to show who we are becoming.”
The Sooners were led by quarterback John Mateer, a Washington State transfer making his first start in a marquee matchup. Mateer passed for 270 yards and ran for 74 more, accounting for three touchdowns — two on the ground and one through the air. His poise against Michigan’s pressure set the tone for an offense that executed in the key moments.
Mateer’s 2-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left in the first half gave Oklahoma a 14-0 lead and all the momentum. Michigan responded with a spark when Justice Haynes broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second half, cutting the deficit to 14-7. But the Wolverines (1-1) never got closer.
Venables’ defense, with the head coach calling plays, stifled Michigan’s passing game. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, making his first road start, struggled under constant pressure. He completed just 9 of 24 passes for 142 yards, often looking rattled against Oklahoma’s aggressive front. The Wolverines finished with just 288 total yards.
Oklahoma’s receivers made the most of Mateer’s arm. Deion Burks hauled in seven passes for 101 yards, while Jaren Kanak added five receptions for 69 yards. On the defensive side, the Sooners forced Michigan into uncomfortable third-down situations and kept the Wolverines’ passing game in check.
Michigan’s brightest spot was Haynes, the Alabama transfer, who ran for 125 yards on 19 carries. His long touchdown run was his third of 50-plus yards this season after two explosive plays in the opener against New Mexico.
The Wolverines also got a boost in the second half from linebacker Jaishawn Barham, who returned from a first-half suspension due to a targeting penalty in Week 1. He finished with six tackles before limping off in the fourth quarter.
Despite two turnovers, Oklahoma continued its early-season trend of bending but not breaking. The Sooners are now minus-4 in turnover margin for the year but have surrendered only six points on drives following giveaways. In Saturday’s win, they sealed control with a 16-play, 78-yard fourth-quarter drive, capped by a short field goal from Tate Sandell to extend the lead to 24-13 with under three minutes to play.
The matchup was only the second all-time meeting between the storied programs. Michigan still holds the all-time wins record in FBS, while Oklahoma boasts the most victories since World War II.
For Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who once played for Oklahoma while Venables was a defensive coordinator there, it was a sour homecoming.
Michigan: The Wolverines didn’t show trust in Underwood, and the offense looked one-dimensional when Haynes wasn’t breaking big runs.
Oklahoma: The Sooners showed grit in running out the clock and relying on defense, a winning formula that could push them up in the AP Top 25.
Michigan returns home to face Central Michigan next Saturday. Oklahoma hits the road for a matchup at Temple.
