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OU-Michigan quick-hitters: Sooners pass test against Wolverines

Bob Przybyloby: Bob Przybylo09/07/25BPrzybylo
Deion Burks9
OU WR Deion Burks. (Kevin Jairaj - Imagn Images)

You’re never a finished product in the first week of September, but we knew we would learn some things about OU football.

Sure enough, we did. And there were a lot of positives. There were also some hold your breath moments, but No. 18 OU was able to put it together for the 24-13 victory against visiting No. 15 Michigan on Saturday night.

Here are your quick-hit takeaways.

Mateer here, Mateer there, Mateer everywhere

Led by a revamped offensive line, it was indeed a showcase game for quarterback John Mateer. Think everybody realized Mateer would be in the running game a lot, and he was.

Mateer rushed for two scores and was not afraid to lower his head and take the blows. He got up time after time after time.

He threw for 270 yards with a touchdown. But how about 19 carries for 74 yards? Nobody else had double-digit attempts. It was going to be Mateer, one way or the other.

OU had four different starters for the line. It felt like it worked with Derek Simmons, Febechi Nwaiwu, Jake Maikkula, Heath Ozaeta and Michael Fasusi.

Sooners get physical

It wasn’t always clean, especially in the second half. However, if you were wondering if OU is going to man-up in 2025, you had your answers.

From big hits by guys like Kendal Daniels in the first half to Kip Lewis flying everywhere, the Sooners defense made their imprint.

Also got hit with a couple of chunk plays. The discipline is going to be something to watch going forward. They’re fired up, sure, but have to be smart.

OU frustrated Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood all evening. He only had nine completions, going 9 of 24 through the air.

OU shoots itself in the foot

Seriously, 14-0 at halftime, but it felt like it could have been 21-0 or 28-0. And then as OU was looking to stretch the lead in the second, more miscues.

Mateer threw an interception in the first half. Then Isaiah Sategna muffed a punt in the second half. OU has been far from clean in the first two games.

Jaren Kanak dropped a touchdown pass, that then led to a missed Tate Sandell field goal.

So far, luckily, it has not been a determining factor.

Up next

Time for OU (2-0) to hit the road. The Sooners are heading to Philadelphia next weekend to take on Temple. The Owls are 2-0, albeit against very inferior competition. OU began the 2024 season with a Friday night victory against Temple.

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