Analyst Joel Klatt is warning No. 15 Michigan fans about the “challenging reality” that awaits true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood as he prepares for a road test against No. 18 Oklahoma.
The Fox Sports analyst highlighted comments from Sooners HC Brent Venables, who offered his own blunt assessment of what the young passer will have to endure. With all eyes turning to Norman for one of the biggest early-season matchups of the season, the game represents a monumental first test for Underwood.
How Will Bryce Underwood Handle His First True Road Test?
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood made an immediate impression in Michigan’s season-opening 34-17 victory over New Mexico. The 6’4″, 228-pound signal-caller was poised and precise in his first start, completing 21 of his 31 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown.
His performance certainly caught the attention of Brent Venables, who praised the young quarterback’s composure and talent.
“He’s a guy that, man, he’s a little different,” Venables said. “He reminds me a lot of Trevor Lawrence, just quick, decisive, accurate, poised, tough, consistent. There’s a reason he was the No. 1 player in America, and he’s got a maturity and a work ethic and leadership ability to go along with that.”
However, the challenge now becomes significantly greater. This weekend, Michigan heads to Norman to face Oklahoma in a matchup that analyst Joel Klatt called “really the biggest game of the weekend.” On his show, Klatt detailed the difficult circumstances Underwood is walking into.
“Now, you’ve got to go on the road against Oklahoma,” Klatt said. “One of them happens to be a true freshman who’s going to be making his first start on the road.”
Klatt emphasized the reality of such a difficult assignment, noting how tough it is for a young quarterback to prepare for that kind of environment.
“We should be more aware about guys making their first start on the road at quarterback because it is difficult and you have no ability, no ability as a quarterback to recreate that environment or even imagine what it’s going to feel like to walk out there on the road.”
While Klatt credited Underwood for his excellent timing and accuracy in the opener, explaining how the freshman consistently released the ball within two to three seconds, he cautioned that the Sooners present a completely different level of competition.
“He knows what he was looking at,” Klatt said. “For a young guy, that’s important.”
Still, he underscored that the Oklahoma defense will bring a much tougher fight.
“He’s going to be facing a defense that I think is going to be much more creative, much more aggressive, and certainly more athletic than what he saw last week against New Mexico,” Klatt said.
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With the Sooners aiming to bounce back and Norman preparing for a charged atmosphere, Klatt captured the stakes.
“I think that Norman is going to be on fire. Oklahoma is a great and proud program. They certainly feel like they’ve got an advantage with a true freshman quarterback on the other side.”
Meanwhile, Venables, whose defensive coaching career includes appearances in eight national championship games and titles with Oklahoma in 2000 and Clemson in 2016 and 2018, has built his reputation on frustrating quarterbacks.
Since becoming Oklahoma’s head coach in 2021, he has posted a 22-17 record, highlighted by a 10-3 campaign in 2023.