From OutKick · Austin Perry · · 1m 20s
Michigan beats Oklahoma without any clock help
A week after a phantom second saved them, the Wolverines out-hit an 11th-ranked Oklahoma team and won it clean.
In brief
A week after a phantom second saved them, the Wolverines out-hit an 11th-ranked Oklahoma team and won it clean. Michigan's defense, not luck, is what makes them 2-0, and a signature win in September can decide December. Originally reported by OutKick.
No phantom second needed
Michigan beat 11th-ranked Oklahoma 17-10 in Ann Arbor, a grind-it-out win built on quarterback runs and winning the turnover battle.
“Michigan didn't need any help from a phantom clock this week.”
Written off after week one
The Wolverines had just survived Western Michigan on a Hail Mary that only happened because officials put a second back on the clock. Most people had seen enough.
Whittingham steadied them
Instead of unraveling, the head coach and his team buckled down and answered the challenge with an old-fashioned Big Ten performance.
“Make no mistake about it, this was a vintage Big Ten performance.”
The wrong defense got praised
Oklahoma's unit was the offseason darling and played fine. Michigan's was the one that suffocated people.
Mateer never got comfortable
The dark horse Heisman pick was harassed all afternoon, finishing at 52% passing with an interception.
Underwood ran it back
The sophomore quarterback carried 18 times for 87 yards and scored late in the first quarter to draw first blood. Michigan is 2-0, and Oklahoma's playoff math just got harder.
What it means
Michigan's defense, not luck, is what makes them 2-0, and a signature win in September can decide December.
