How are the Sooners preparing for Michigan QB Bryce Underwood?
NORMAN — It’s a small sample size, but Brent Venables likes what he’s seen from Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood.
Venables even had lofty comparisons for Underwood — former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. That’s high praise for Michigan’s true freshman quarterback, who was a five-star prospect and the No. 1 overall quarterback in the 2025 class.
Underwood could very well end up having a successful career like Lawrence. But the Sooners will be tasked with slowing him down this Saturday (6:30 p.m. ABC) in what is shaping up to be the marquee matchup in football this weekend.
“(He) looks to be mature beyond his years with his decision making and certainly his skill set,” Venables said during Tuesday’s press conference. “He’s got a very live arm, very athletic.”
The challenge will be figuring out the right game plan for Underwood.
The highly-touted freshman played his first collegiate game last weekend in Michigan’s 34-17 win over New Mexico. Underwood was solid in his debut, completing 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown pass came on a 15-yard throw early in the fourth quarter that helped put the game away. He was also sacked twice and didn’t compile any stats as a runner.
But that leaves not a lot of tape for the Sooners to study on Underwood. So how does Venables, who is also calling the plays for OU’s defense, generate a game plan?
“I really look at the team, the DNA of the offense,” Venables said. “We want to get after every quarterback that we play. But everything, there’s a methodology to all of it. And so you gotta start in the run game, starts up front. You gotta win the battle in the trenches. Everybody’s gotta win their matchups for anything to work. He’s a guy that — as I said to open up — he’s a little different. And it reminds me a lot of Trevor Lawrence. Just quick, decisive, accurate, poised, tough, consistent, and there’s a reason he was the No. 1 player in America.
“He’s got a maturity and a work ethic and a leadership ability to go along with that. So just really we look at, what’s it gonna take to win? How do you win? What’s the formula to win? And there might be byproducts of that. This guy doesn’t perform well and so forth. But it’s really about us, it’s about the fundamentals, it’s about the effort, it’s about the physicality. It’s about putting ourselves in position to be successful based on what is on tape, and don’t get into a lot of the conjecture.”
Venables is right that the Sooners will have to do more than just prepare for Underwood. Michigan running back Justice Haynes — a former Alabama transfer — tallied 159 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries against New Mexico. Tight end Marlin Klein came away with 93 yards and a touchdown on six catches.
But it’s an excellent opportunity for the Sooners to make Underwood uncomfortable in his first road start.
“I watched a little bit of that game Saturday night,” OU linebacker Kobie McKinzie said. He looks good. He doesn’t look like a freshman. Looked very composed and let the game come to him. We’re going to have to get after him a little bit. He looked comfortable back there.”
This weekend is a huge game for both teams, and a fantastic opportunity for either team to get a huge win early in the season. Limiting Underwood will be one of the biggest keys for the sooners.
“(Underwood), he’s got a good supporting cast, too. But… we like who we got,” Venables said. “And I know they like who they got. And they’ll be prepared. We’ll be prepared. It’s going to be a really exciting match up. I’m really excited to our fans. Our fans have an opportunity to really affect the game tremendously.”