ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP), The Michigan football team, coming off a controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan, faces a significant challenge Saturday when No. 11 Oklahoma visits the Big House. The victory, secured by a last-second Hail Mary pass from Bryce Underwood, has been overshadowed by concerns about the team’s overall performance and Underwood’s job security.
Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the team has “plenty to fix” after a lackluster showing in all phases of the game against Western Michigan. The Wolverines, who have fallen out of the AP Top 25, are 6 1/2-point underdogs against the Sooners. Cole Sullivan, a linebacker for Oklahoma who transferred from Michigan after last season, described his former team’s previous game as “crazy.”
Underwood, the nation’s No. 1 recruit in his second season, showed initial promise with a touchdown drive but struggled throughout the remainder of the game. He was observed appearing disengaged on the sideline. “I just feel like we've got to come out and dominate and be aggressive, how we were the first drive, every single play,” Underwood said. “We can't get down, our energy can't get down.”
Whittingham stated Underwood needs to improve to maintain his starting position, a comment Underwood claimed he hadn’t seen, stating, “I didn’t see that. It’s cool.” The quarterback’s performance will be under scrutiny, particularly if Michigan’s running game is stifled by the Sooners. Tommy Carr, Michigan’s No. 2 quarterback, has a notable family history in football, with a brother at Notre Dame and grandfathers in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Beyond quarterback play, Michigan struggled in other areas. Western Michigan controlled possession for a significant portion of the second half, executing a 20-play touchdown drive that consumed nearly a quarter of the game clock. Special teams miscues, including a fumble on a punt return by Andrew Marsh, and nine penalties for 80 yards further hampered the Wolverines. Despite these issues, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables still views Michigan favorably.
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