"In the Weeds": Keys to Victory for OU Football vs. Michigan w/ Jake Butt

Gabe Ikard and Teddy Lehman are joined by Michigan Wolverines legend Jake Butt to break down the "Keys to Victory" for Oklahoma football against the Michigan Wolverines on September 12, 2026. They break down the X's and O's of OU's defense vs. the Michigan offense and the Sooners offense vs. the Wolverines defense.

1:26 OU's defense needs to be ready to play "big boy football" against a Michigan offense they will be trying to prove their physicality on the line of scrimmage and will feed RB Jordan Marshall
6:11 Sooners defense must contain designed runs for Michigan QB Bryce Underwood and must hit him hard when he does carry the ball
11:02 OU's defense must collapse the pocket, contain Bryce Underwood and force him to read coverage and throw from the pocket. They can't give Underwood escape lanes to scramble.
15:24 Bryce Underwood will make a poor decision and throw OU's defense the ball at some point and the Sooners need to catch it!
21:30 OU's offense must force Michigan's stout front 7 to read and react by attacking them with perimeter runs: speed sweeps, outside zone and pin pull schemes
25:45 John Mateer and the Sooners offense need to attack Michigan's inside linebackers in the passing game. Isolating Isaiah Sategna and Rocky Beers on those defenders should result in positive plays
31:50 Oklahoma's left tackle (Michael Fasusi, Peyton Joseph or Ryan Fodje) must play at a high level and handle John Henry Daley's power rushes well. OU's right tackle E'Marion Harris must be ready for Dom Nichols' inside counter moves

‍