The final and solely assembly between Oklahoma and Michigan had a nationwide championship on the road, although that wasn’t recognized till proper earlier than kickoff.
Not lengthy earlier than the beginning of the Orange Bowl on New 12 months’s Day 1976, Oklahoma discovered that UCLA – as a two-touchdown underdog – had polished off top-ranked Ohio State within the Rose Bowl. Mixed with a Texas A&M loss to Southern California on the Liberty Bowl in late December, the Sooners immediately had a path to back-to-back championships beneath coach Barry Switzer.
Oklahoma beat Michigan 14-6 behind 282 dashing yards and a mixed 23 tackles by brothers Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon.
Nearly a half-century later, the Sooners and Wolverines meet on Saturday with decrease nationwide stakes — you possibly can’t win a championship in September, although you possibly can lose your shot at one. However the fallout from the sport in Norman has the potential to form the Faculty Soccer Playoff, particularly in figuring out which and what number of groups the Massive Ten and SEC place within the postseason subject.
“It’s going to be a extremely cool matchup,” stated Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. “Two unimaginable applications that symbolize all of the excellence in faculty soccer.”
With many prime playoff contenders taking up Group of 5 or Championship Subdivision competitors, the matchup could have the nation’s consideration as the one ranked pairing on Saturday’s schedule.
These are the components at play:
An SEC and Massive Ten playoff referendum
There’s little question the end result on Saturday will finally be used as an influential information level for the playoff when evaluating the SEC and Massive Ten.
The 2 energy leagues positioned seven groups in final yr’s debut 12-team subject and will have at the very least that many on this season’s bracket. After some controversy stemming from the preliminary mannequin, the playoff has moved to a straight-seeding mannequin that points a bye to the 4 highest-ranked groups moderately than the highest-ranked convention champions.
Ought to the SEC and Massive Ten have a number of groups in competition for the highest 4 spots, as anticipated, what occurs on Saturday may very well be used as a tiebreaker of types for the playoff choice committee.
For instance, contemplate a state of affairs the place Michigan beats Oklahoma on the street. Ought to Ohio State and Georgia end as convention champions with equivalent information, an Ohio State win in opposition to the Wolverines — this has really occurred earlier than, consider it or not — may very well be the ultimate piece that offers the Buckeyes the highest seed and a better matchup within the quarterfinals.
In terms of Michigan and Oklahoma particularly, the victor may have a season-long benefit within the race for an at-large playoff berth, so long as the loser doesn’t flop in convention play.
Stress on Brent Venables and Sherrone Moore
The strain on Venables is clear. After going 6-7 final yr, the previous Clemson defensive coordinator is considered one of two Oklahoma coaches previously century to have two dropping seasons.
“I’ve been extremely disillusioned that we haven’t been capable of give extra purpose for celebrating and pleasure with our finish product,” Venables stated. “However I’m motivated by that.”
This yr’s staff appears vastly improved offensively after two main offseason additions, each from Washington State: quarterback John Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. Mateer had over 400 yards of complete offense and 4 touchdowns within the 35-3 win in opposition to Illinois State to open the season.
Saturday would be the first of seven matchups for Oklahoma in opposition to groups on this week’s US LBM Coaches Ballot. Taking 4 of those video games ought to make the Sooners a legitimate at-large possibility for the playoff; profitable 5 would make them a digital lock.
The Wolverines are at the moment slated to tackle simply two ranked groups in Oklahoma and Ohio State. However that would make Saturday much more necessary: Michigan gained’t have the identical alternatives to make up floor within the playoff race and would want to keep away from any slipups in opposition to a sequence of second-tier Massive Ten groups.
“It’s why you come to Michigan,” Moore stated. “It’s in all probability why you go to Oklahoma, proper? I imply, these are the kind of video games that you just need to be part of and video games you bear in mind. Clearly, each recreation is necessary. However yeah, taking part in in opposition to Oklahoma, one of many winningest applications in faculty soccer, is big to us.”
And whereas his job safety is safer in comparison with Venables, second-year coach Sherrone Moore remains to be beneath scrutiny for his half within the sign-stealing scandal that just lately drew a hefty nice and penalties from the NCAA.
He is set to take a two-game suspension after the Oklahoma recreation, spanning matchups in opposition to Central Michigan and Nebraska. To lose on Saturday after which be sidelined for 2 weeks would open Moore to heavy criticism in and out of Ann Arbor.
John Mateer vs. Bryce Underwood
These are two quarterbacks with dramatically completely different paths to Saturday night time. Mateer was a frivolously recruited prospect who was picked out of relative obscurity by former Washington State assistant Eric Morris, who’s now the pinnacle coach at North Texas.
After serving because the backup in 2023, Mateer exploded onto the nationwide scene final yr with practically 4,000 yards of complete offense and 44 touchdowns, probably the most by any Bowl Subdivision quarterback.
Mateer is “a gunslinger,” stated Moore.
Alternatively, Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood was the top-ranked quarterback previously recruiting cycle. A former verbal dedication to LSU, he flipped to the Wolverines final November after which gained the beginning job over switch Mikey Keene throughout preseason camp.
In his debut, Underwood accomplished 21 of 31 throws for 251 yards and a landing with out an interception within the Wolverines’ 34-17 win in opposition to New Mexico. The Lobos in all probability aren’t a great barometer for what to anticipate in opposition to the Sooners, who gave up simply 34 passing yards on 1.7 yards per try within the season opener.
Purchase-in second for each groups
The Sooners and Wolverines have earned loads of off-the-radar hype as respectable playoff contenders, although this religion is tempered by a wait-and-see method for 2 groups which have but to show themselves in opposition to elite competitors.
That makes Saturday a sort of buy-in recreation that alters the nationwide notion of each groups — doubtlessly skyrocketing the winner up the rankings whereas knocking the loser out of the High 25 completely.
The hesitancy to leap on the Sooners’ bandwagon stems from this system’s thud of an SEC debut. That Michigan is at the moment seen as no higher than the fourth-best staff within the Massive Ten could be attributed to Moore’s uneven first yr and the shortage of expertise beneath heart.
However the dialog across the Sooners and Wolverines will change after Saturday night time.
The Sooners should “concentrate on one another,” Mateer stated. “Simply keep off the telephone as a result of they’ll say numerous good and say numerous dangerous and you have simply received to focus prefer it’s any week. And it’s superior. Like, embrace how cool it’s since you solely get so many alternatives. But in addition know you have to play the sport.”
This text initially appeared on USA TODAY: MIchigan-Oklahoma conflict has CFP and SEC, Massive Ten implications
