The Michigan Wolverines were able to open up the 2025 season at home with a win over New Mexico, but will immediately hit the road this weekend to take on a much bigger challenge in the Oklahoma Sooners.
Oklahoma — which opened its season with a 35-3 in over Illinois State — represents a huge early-season test for the second straight season. The Wolverines fell at home to Texas in Week 2 last year, but will be faced with even more adversity this weekend with a hostile road environment and a program hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Sooners head coach Brent Venables spoke to reporters following their game on Saturday and gave his initial impressions on Michigan.
“Obviously, Michigan’s a great football team,” Venables said. “They’re a football team (that’s) had elite level success over the last several years and certainly in the history of college football, it’s one of those programs. It’s really cool to have these two iconic programs meeting next Saturday. They are a couple years removed from winning the national championship and playing with a lot of momentum going into (the offseason).”
The Wolverines and Sooners are kicking off in primetime on ABC and represents the only ranked matchup of the weekend in college football. With College GameDay also headed to the game, all eyes will be on Norman, Oklahoma next Saturday. Venables — much like Sherrone Moore — is taking a one-game-at-a-time approach and isn’t treating any game differently.
“(Saturday against Illinois State) was the biggest game of the year for Oklahoma,” Venables said. “Some people don’t like that, and that’s cool. This next game will be the biggest game of the year. I’ve coached in a lot of games that were the biggest games in my career. I’ll run out of fingers and toes that I’ve had that same attitude. The process and preparation is all the same.”
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer — who had an Oklahoma record-setting debut with 392 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, along with 24 rushing yards and one touchdown — is also treating the game against Michigan no differently than the game he just played in.
“Preparation’s the same no matter the opponent, same process,” Mateer said. “We obviously don’t have two weeks and then a week of fall camp like we did last week to prepare for Illinois State, but we got six days, seven days to prepare and it’ll start tomorrow. Watching film every morning and at night and having a good practice week.
“It’s a good team, and they’re real physical up front … they play with a lot of pride. It’s a blue collar program and we’re excited to (play them).”
Michigan vs Oklahoma kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ABC.
