Steve Curtis- Oklahoma’s Defense Is Built to Expose Michigan’s Offensive Flaws

Steve Curtis | September 11th, 2026

Oklahoma’s defense should control Saturday’s matchup in Ann Arbor.

Michigan scored just 13 points against Western Michigan, turned the ball over three times and needed a touchdown on the final snap to escape with a victory.

Now that offense will face an Oklahoma defense that finished sixth nationally last season and opened 2026 with a shutout.

Bryce Underwood arrived at Michigan as one of the nation’s most highly regarded quarterback recruits. Through the first year of his career, that reputation has not translated into consistent play.

Saturday’s matchup gives Oklahoma every opportunity to expose why.

Underwood accounted for both of Michigan’s touchdowns against Western Michigan, including the 47-yard pass to JJ Buchanan on the final snap. He also threw an interception, lost a fumble and produced five turnover-worthy plays.

The most revealing part of that performance was when the mistakes occurred.

Four of Underwood’s turnover-worthy plays came from a clean pocket, and all five came when Western Michigan did not blitz.

Against additional pressure, Underwood completed three of four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown. On non-blitzed dropbacks, he completed fewer than half of his attempts and threw his interception.

That should shape Oklahoma’s approach.

The Sooners do not need to send everyone after Underwood. They need to create uncertainty while keeping enough defenders in coverage to close the passing lanes he struggled to identify.

That is exactly what Venables’ defense is designed to do.

Oklahoma has repeatedly created confusion by disguising its blitzes and coverages before the snap. The same defenders who appear ready to rush can drop into coverage, while pressure can come from another part of the field.

Underwood struggled when the picture remained unclear and he was forced to hold the football.

His problems were especially noticeable on shorter throws.

Three of Underwood’s seven attempts between zero and nine yards were deemed turnover-worthy. He was much more successful throwing deep through the middle, where his two completions produced 75 yards and Michigan’s only passing touchdown.

Outside the numbers, he completed none of his four deep attempts.

Oklahoma should make him live there.

If the Sooners protect the middle of the field, disguise their coverages and force Underwood to consistently complete throws toward the boundary, the mistakes should come without Venables having to rely on constant pressure.

Taylor Wein, PJ Adebawore and Danny Okoye can still make him uncomfortable.

But they must collapse the pocket without opening escape lanes. If they race past Underwood in search of sacks, he has the athleticism to turn a successful pass rush into an open running lane.

His legs kept Michigan alive several times last week.

Underwood rushed eight times for 49 yards, with two scrambles producing 21. He also gained 23 yards after contact, showing that simply reaching him will not be enough.

That makes Oklahoma’s tackling especially important.

The Sooners missed 13 tackles against UTEP. The shutout made those mistakes easy to overlook, but several possessions lasted longer than they should have because the first defender failed to finish.

Underwood also put the ball on the ground twice.

Oklahoma’s defenders cannot become so focused on delivering a hit that they lose their responsibilities. But when they reach him, they need to finish through his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame and attack the football.

Michigan is not entering Saturday with an established rushing attack beyond its quarterback.

Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter combined for 59 yards on 16 carries, while the Wolverines struggled to generate movement through the middle. Most of their success came toward the left side or when Underwood escaped the pocket.

That gives Oklahoma a clear assignment.

David Stone and Jayden Jackson must close the interior, while the linebackers and defensive ends prevent Michigan from bouncing runs outside. If the first defender finishes, the Wolverines may struggle to sustain drives. If the Sooners tackle the way they did against UTEP, Michigan’s offense will look much healthier than it did a week ago.

Then comes JJ Buchanan.

Buchanan accounted for 126 of Michigan’s 170 passing yards and caught the game-winning touchdown. No other Wolverine finished with more than two receptions or 17 yards.

Michigan showed exactly where Underwood wants to go with the football.

Now Oklahoma has to take it away.

At 6-foot-4, Buchanan gives Michigan a legitimate outside receiver capable of winning downfield. That places the primary responsibility on Courtland Guillory, Eli Bowen and Jacobe Johnson, with Oklahoma’s safeties available to help over the top.

The goal should be larger than limiting Buchanan’s final yardage.

Oklahoma needs to disrupt that connection early and make Underwood move beyond the one receiver he trusted against Western Michigan.

That is where turnover opportunities should emerge.

If the Sooners control Buchanan without dedicating unnecessary help to him, they can crowd the middle of the field and force Underwood toward the outside throws he struggled to complete.

Taken together, this is a matchup Oklahoma’s defense should control.

Michigan struggled to run the ball, Underwood made mistakes when Western Michigan dropped into coverage and nearly all of the Wolverines’ passing production came through one receiver.

Oklahoma has an answer for each problem.

The defensive front can control the run without requiring constant help. Venables’ disguised pressures and coverages can force Underwood to process more than he did last week. Oklahoma’s cornerbacks also have the talent to challenge Buchanan without repeatedly dedicating a safety to him.

But a dominant performance will still depend on execution.

Missed tackles, lost contain or one breakdown in coverage could allow Michigan to remain competitive despite another uneven offensive performance.

If Oklahoma finishes tackles, keeps Underwood inside the pocket and forces him to consistently throw outside the numbers, the Wolverines will have to build long drives through the areas where they struggled most last week.

Nothing Michigan showed in its opener suggests it is ready to do that against one of the nation’s best defenses.