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Report Card: Grading Michigan in a 24-13 loss at Oklahoma

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas09/07/25Balas_Wolverine
Michigan's Justice Haynes (22) scores in the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)
Michigan's Justice Haynes (22) scores in the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooner and the University of Michigan Wolverines at the Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman)

Michigan looked bad in just about every way in a 24-13 loss at Oklahoma that could have, probably should have, been worse. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and the offense struggled, and the defense was inconsistent. We grade the performance here … 

RELATED: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 13: Notes, quotes, and observations — no bright spots

Michigan rushing offense: C-

A 75-yard touchdown run from running back Justice Haynes raises this grade considerably. There were nine rushes of 4 yards or more from the Alabama transfer, so there was some success beyond just the big run. Overall, though, the Wolverines managed 2.29 yards per carry on the other 31 runs against a stacked box and didn’t win the line of scrimmage.

Passing offense: F

Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood completed only 9 of 24 passes, rarely had time to throw and was sacked twice. He missed tight end Zack Marshall after he got behind the defense and again on a wheel route, thanks to a few defenders in his face. He had a couple passes dropped, and the OU defense didn’t allow him to get comfortable, but he also missed some receivers. 

Michigan rushing defense: C-

The Wolverines couldn’t stop Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer even when he was telegraphing his runs (which was often on third down), and while it was a slow bleed, the Sooners did enough on the ground to keep drives alive. They finished with 138 yards on 40 carries … not a ton, but many were chain movers. 

Passing defense: D

Mateer finished 21 of 34 for 270 yards and a touchdown, including a few big plays when it appeared he was dead to rights on sacks. Poor tackling didn’t help, though, and receiver Deion Burks (101 yards and a score) had a big day. Dropped passes and a few misfires kept this from being even worse than it should have been. The pass rush wasn’t good enough, either.

Michigan special teams: D+

Kicker Dominic Zvada missed a 32-yard field goal … that alone tells you it’s not going to be your night. The Wolverines had a short punt turned into a touchdown, had one from midfield roll into the end zone, and got nothing again from the return game. Punter Hudson Hollenbeck had one booming kick that led to a muff and a fumble recovery, but otherwise, another disappointing day outside of two Zvada field goals.