Oklahoma Sooners vs. Michigan Wolverines

 The Sooners (1-0, 0-0) head north this week to The Big House in Ann Arbor Michigan to take on the Wolverines (1*-0). The earlier in a pair of blue blood matchups this Saturday, the other being Ohio State and Texas. 

Michigan is fresh off an undeserving win against Western Michigan that had the Wolverines gifted an extra down to throw a hail mary which was caught for a winning score. The Wolverine co-eds then, embarassingly, stormed the field as if they had just punched their ticket to the playoffs. To reiterate, the Michigan Wolverine fanbase stormed the field after a last second victory against Western Michigan. 

Anyhow, you can say the Wolverines were looking ahead. You can say they now have their heads snapped on straight. But you can also say that the Oklahoma Sooners come in having handled their business against UTEP in a 51-0 shellacking and they were not looking ahead. You can also claim that the Sooners have an advantage with continuity in the system across the board. Whereas Michigan has a new coach and, regardless how esteemed he might be, cannot have his unit fully dialed in to this point.

OFFENSE

The Sooners did some really encouraging things last week. Multiple tight end formations, John Mateer under center, the use of a fullback. All fantastic. They also were able to run the ball. The Colorado State transfer, Lloyd Avant, looked outstanding. He has outstanding acceleration through the hole (that's what she said). 

John Mateer made some really nice throws. Isaiah Sategna had a punt return and a TD reception. A total beast.

The souls of the Michigan players will be seen visibly leaving their bodies and fogging the lights of the Big House if the Sooners meet with early success running the ball. The Sooners also put some things on tape that will really make Michigan have to work on play action and with the tight ends out in coverage. 

For my OPOG, I think it'd be easy to take Sategna as he is clearly one of the best players on every field he steps on. However, I'm going to ride the hot running back hand this week and go with Avant. I am really excited about his game.

DEFENSE

UTEP missed three field goals in the shutout loss last week, so it maars what looks like an otherwise perfect report from the D. It was still a great game by the Sooners. They were locked in througout. UTEP threw every play in the book at them. What jumped out at me was in the 2nd half how the Sooners just had fresh body after fresh body to throw out there. It was relentless and overwhelming.

Michigan is a completely different challenge, but the point is the depth. Bryce Underwood has not done much after having been so balleyhooed out of high school. He's a fine player. But he is going to make some mistakes with having so much, so intensely thrown at him for the entire game.

In fact, this will be what gets the Sooners through the gauntlet this entire season. This has the chance to be an amazing defense and you can tell Sooner Nation is here for it. 

For my DPOG I'm going Taylor Wein. We need a DE to get home a couple times in this one. His size really jumps out at you on TV. 

THE SCORE

I think the Sooners have good reason to feel very confident going into this one. I'm interested to see how Michigan reacts after last week. Were they looking ahead? Are they still getting their sea legs under them?

The Sooners are the better team today so I'm not sure it matters. Still, I think it'll be real tough to win in Ann Arbor.

Sooners 27, Michigan 21

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

Michigan

 One week (and a day) after dispatching UTEP in expected fashion, the Sooners travel to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines in one of college football's most storied venues. Coming in to the season, this looked like a massive non-conference road game. While that still holds true, Michigan's miracle (questionable?) win over lowly Western Michigan (gasp, a directional school--hat tip Tory Jay) has sent the Wolverines out of the top 25 and provided far more questions than answers. This week should offer a few more, and hopefully the answer is that we kicked their ass. The Sooners D was looking vicious last week against an overmatched UTEP team. They need to bring that heat again and dominate a good, if underperforming Michigan club that finds itself with an all-world recruit QB on a very short leash.

Offense

This game should provide a much bigger test for the offense. The Michigan D played well, as expected, last week. They sport a significant upgrade in talent at all 3 levels than the Sooners faced last week. In big road games, it's the stars that have to step up and make plays. I think John Mateer does that both with his arm and with his legs in this one. I like the QB for OPG this week.

Defense

Bryce Underwood struggled mightily last week after a promising opening possession. The Sooners D is solid and the front is not to be fucked with. I think they get after the young QB early and often. I like Taylor Wein this week to get off for a couple of sacks and generally wreak havoc. Don't be surprised if we learn a bit about the Michigan back up in the second half (or more) of this one. 

Score

Michigan did not look great, to say the least, last week. But this is that point in the season where things are still shaking out. But, OU has a defense I believe in and even though the offense is still a question mark in my mind I think they get it done on the road. Spread is -4.5 for OU as of this posting, I think we ride the defense to cover city, Sooners win 27-13.  Let’s get it.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin’ Sooner 

UTEP vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Hello Sooner Nation and welcome to another installment of Sooner football and the Steamroller. I'm thrilled to be here and back with you to provide contextless commentary and uninformed opinions based on nothing more than gut feel and hope. It's the new American way after all.

The 2026 Sooners, fresh off a playoff appearance have high hopes and for good reason. They return a ton of starters on defense, plus it's year 2 of Ben Arbuckle and John Mateer. They do, however, have to run the gauntlet of what might be the toughest schedule in all of college football. Georgia, texas, Ole Miss, Michigan, and Texas A&M are all preseason top 20 teams.

First things first, it's a not top 20 foe in UTEP. The Miners will hopefully come into Norman, find themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided ass beating, collect a paycheck and head back to that fabled west Texas town of El Paso.

OFFENSE

You want optimism? The Sooners offensive line might be the most improved unit year over year. They have Mateer and a stable of running backs. Isaiah Sategna returns at receiver and Joe Jon Finley is out as TE coach, replaced no less a personage than future first ballot hall of famer Jason Witten. Oh yes, optimism is high.

All we need to see in this one is an injury free performance. The line I just spoke of has been "dinged up" at Center. No more injuries. Apart from that, how about some commitment to the run game. How about working the TE game and how about spreading the ball around to these new receivers to see what Mateer might have to work with going forward.

For my OPOG I'm going Mateer. He says the thumb is fully recovered. "They" say he's been working on his mechanics. "They" say he's been hitting the weight room. Let's see all that hard work pay off, my guy. I like him for 300 yards, 4 total TD's. 3 passing, 1 running.

DEFENSE

The Sooners have an embarrassment of riches here with continuity to boot. David Stone and Jayden Jackson shore up the front. Kip Lewis and Owen Heineke are back at linebacker. Eli Bowen, the better of the two Bowen brothers, is back at CB. I could go on, but I can't remember all the names and I'm not interested in looking it up. Just trust me when I say this unit is full of Dawgs and they are hungry.

I'll take Kip Lewis as my DPOG. I think he goes Ham this year and sets himself up for a nice NFL payday. He's good for a sack, about 12 tackles and, hell why not, a forced fumble.

SCORE

We're getting 2026 off with a bang under the Friday Night Lights in Norman. I like the Sooners big here.

Sooners 56, UTEP 0

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

UTEP

 As the fall of 2026 is upon us, I am pleased to be starting our 17th season of "publishing" the Steamroller. Yes, it's bad, yes, it's hastily thrown together most weeks but it's a damned tradition. So here we go again. The Sooners probably exceeded expectations last season making the college football playoff for the first time under Brent Venables. It's taken him a few years, but he finally delivered on bringing that top defense to Norman that has been missing since probably 2003ish. Sadly, the offense was still a work in progress (the irony!) so what was probably a championship level defense wasn't enough. I'll take a good D, bad O combo any day over the opposite though, so it was a welcome change at least. The Sooners return a lot of really good player and have a healthy Mateer back at QB. Let's hope the two sides of the ball can get cooking at the same time and something exciting can happen this year. 

The injury problems this fall has been somewhat of a bummer. First the starting center went down early in camp with an MCL strain that is expected to keep him out until Michigan at the earliest, and possibly for 2 more weeks after that. Then, this week we learned that the backup has also injured his knee and will miss at least the UTEP game. So third string it is! It's a little alarming that the original "backup" C was actually a G/T that moved over and hadn't really played C much except for a few snaps in high school. This doesn't give me a ton of confidence in the lad, although hopefully he can hold his own against what should be an overmatched UTEP squad. Additionally Parker Livingston (that's right, only skill position players names are worth my time) is in the concussion protocol as of this week. He's not officially out, but definitely in doubt at this point. All this to say, let's get past UTEP without anyone else getting knocked out, and try to get healthy for that big road test in Michigan the following week.

Offense

While I love a healthy John Mateer and am very excited to see if he can put his late season decision making behind him, I'm going another direction for OPG. Mateer will obviously have to start making good decisions, hitting open guys, and throwing the ball away when nothing is there. Injured hand or not, those things should be (desperately need to be) improved upon. But against UTEP I hope he isn't playing after halftime. Not to overlook anyone, but if this team expects to be playing in the CFP again, this game should be a tune up. I'm expecting a ground and pound game and I'm going with Xavier Robinson as my OPG.

Defense

While no doubt this unit had some significant departures, they still return a great group of players. Taylor Wein really blew up last year and I'm expecting a huge season from him. Likewise David Stone is just an absolute monster up front. Our Cheetah returns and basically the entire secondary is back. There is a lot to like on this side of the ball. I do think UTEP will try to stay away from Wein and Stone on directional play calling and that's why I'm going with Jayden Jackson for my DPG. Dude is a beast and will get tested a lot this year as a result of the talent around him.

Score

Our Sooners are a relatively modest 41.5 favorites against a better-than-your-usual-cupcake UTEP team. I think the offense stays vanilla and I think the defense clamps down. Vegas knows, as usual, but I don't think the Sooners quite cover here but it's never in doubt really, Sooners roll 41-6. Let's fucking go.

Boomer to the Motherfuckin' Sooner

Alabama CFP Edition

An exciting time is upon Sooner nation. Our beloved Crimson-clad football team finds itself in the college football playoff for the first time in its current iteration. I made a remark before the LSU game to Mitch that I simply wanted the Sooners in, everything else is gravy. Which are the words of a fan expecting little going into the season and at the time on the cusp of the postseason. But that was then, now I of course want more. 

After beating the aforementioned LSU tigers and all but sealing a trip to the postseason, in my head I mostly decided I just didn’t want to play anyone we’d played before, specifically Alabama. And in spite of my wish of them losing to Georgia coming true, they somehow got in with 3 losses. This is called Horseshit, if you’re groping for the technical term. 

In the first meeting, as sweet as it was, all but the most delusional Sooner fan I think would agree that OU got lucky. The D was excellent, the O was dreadful and the turnover battle was the difference. A pick six and 2 other turnovers were the difference. Assuming the offense and play-calling are still dreadful (no real reason to think otherwise given the total lack of adjustment during the season), it would almost require replicating that same performance. This seems, um, unlikely. 

Offense

What a disaster this part of the team has been. And what irony that when the Sooners finally put together a really good defense, they can’t score. Mateer has mostly been bad all year. I won’t dig into my opinions as to why, but it’s maddening at the end of the day. And yet, the scoring lives and dies with him. I’ve tried to pick RBs but none of them have done much in the sparing opportunities they’ve had. So I am going with Mateer. I think/hope the extra time has allowed him to reset, rest and get his head right. I think he plays well, limits turnovers and puts some points on the board. 

Defense

So many good players on this side of the ball. The front is going to have to really dominate this game for the Sooners to have a chance. Ty Simpson needs to get acquainted with the turf early and often. But I think that while the front is tying up the Alabama line, Owen Heinecke is flying around and making plays. I like him for a ton of tackles and one takeaway. 

Score

If you can’t tell, I’m nervous. Alabama has the advantage of a chip on their shoulder and the confidence knowing they should’ve won the first time. Yet the Sooners faithful will be out in force and making it a tough road environment. Additionally, the fact that they beat the Tide on the road and are still home dogs has to be lighting a fire. This all put together with a little vintage Sooner Magic has the good guys winning. Sooners escape, 24-23. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin’ Sooner 

Louisiana State Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners

 Greetings, Sooner fans and welcome to the final Saturday of the regular season. The Sooners find themselves in the proverbial drivers seat with regards to a playoff spot. Yessir, it's win and quite likely in. Standing in the Sooners way in Norman, however, is a dangerous LSU Tiger squad. A disappointing bunch, at best, with nothing to lose and an opportunity to play spoiler. Much like last week against Mizzou, the Sooners are fortunate to be at home with a friendly crowd.

Speaking of last week, the Sooners shut down the Mizzou running attack and won the turnover battle. That proved to be a winning formula, go figure. The Sooners will need to replicate that plan again today because, let's be real, the Ben Arbuckle led Sooners offense is suspect at best. 

OFFENSE

Speaking of suspect offenses, we've watched this season as the offensive line has struggled both on and off the field before settling into a solid rotation the last month or so. We've seen John Mateer come out like gangbusters before breaking his hand and then watched as he's thrown all balls with the same trajectory and velocity. He has, however, reduced his turnovers. That leaves Ben Arbuckle who seems hell bent on calling the game he dreams of in his mind versus what he has available from a personnel standpoint and by what the defense gives him.

Today, and for the rest of the season, the Sooners need to play ball control football. Get first downs, hang onto the ball. Own field possession. Use Tate Sandell as needed and score a couple touchdowns. You do that by running the ball. They need a running back in the backfield to at least make the defense think someone besides Mateer might run in it in obivious Mateer running situations.

So again, I'm picking Xavier Robinson for OPOG. Not because I think he'll have a big day so much as I am trying to will into existence the commitment to a running attack.

DEFENSE

What's left to say? These boys have carried the load. I think today, where the wind is whipping and the game could get ugly, these guys are going to be hungry. There is no way they are letting LSU control the action with it all on the line. 

Today I'm going Kendal Daniels for my DPOG. He's been getting some pub this week. He's a Senior, it's Senior Day. He's ready to let it rip.

SCORE

I can't believe the Sooners are 10+ point favorites, but I haven't watched a lot of LSU football and they do have some guys dinged up. The season has been a disaster, obviously, for them.

I feel like it's our new stock in trade to score about 24 points and give up potentially about 17. 

24-17 Sooners 

Boomer to the motherfuckin Sooner

LSU

 Here we are my friends, the last game of the season and it’s a big one. After a bleak middle of the season sitting at 2 losses and facing a run of 3 very good, ranked conference teams, including on the road at (then) #4 Alabama, our beloved Sooners have done what they haven’t in so long, TCB. Yet with 1 regular season game remaining, a loss in said game would dash all hopes of a meaningful postseason and a win, well, dare I say?

The obnoxious LSU tigers come to Norman this week for their first ever appearance there. No fan base has done more with less as it pertains to arrogance relative to actual success (except maybe Ole Miss). Make no mistake, they are a very good team and this will be a very tough test to close the season out. But after living in New Orleans for a few years, one gets rather tired of hearing about LSU football. There is plenty on the line here for the Sooners, but that added layer especially has me anxious for this one. Nothing would make me happier than an OU postseason game(s), but if it comes at the expense of an LSU team, all the better. 

Offense

Let’s start with this, Ben Arbuckle is an atrocious play caller. He seems to have no awareness of game situations for down and distance or series to series, let alone in the broad perspective of the entire game. The OU offense isn’t good, but he definitely doesn’t do them any favors. My prediction of them running the ball last week couldn’t have been farther off. So what am I doing? Doubling down of course. I think that Xavier does it this week and maintains the type of ball country so sorely needed with a good defense. 

Defense

Speaking of this Unit (that is with a capital U); where do I start. Missouri is definitely one dimensional, and that QB was horrendous, but man they really shut them down. Zero second half rushing yards allowed against what is easily the best run game in the country. For this week, I’m going to say David Stone. Dude is an absolute beast, I think he makes his presence “felt”.

Score

The line as of me writing this is OU -10.5. That feels absurdly high. LSU has a good defense and see above regarding our offense. The only way I could even remotely see us covering is 12-0 with four FGs. So no. I think that LSU comes out with something to prove and nothing to lose, this is a dangerous combo for a team with their talent. But I think the OU D does enough. Sooners hang on 17-14. 

Boomer to the Motherfuckin Sooner