The Oklahoma Sooners are about to receive a very rude welcome to the Big Ten’s backyard.
No. 11 Oklahoma travels to Michigan on Saturday for one of the biggest games of Week 2.
Kickoff is set for noon ET at Michigan Stadium.
And this is where the Sooners find out whether their SEC hype is real.
Oklahoma can talk about recruiting.
It can talk about Brent Venables.
It can talk about playing in the SEC.
None of that matters Saturday.
Go into Ann Arbor and beat Michigan.
That’s the statement.
Anything else leaves room for questions.
Michigan might not carry the same national ranking as Oklahoma, but that almost makes this game more dangerous.
There is nothing for the Wolverines to lose.
Everything is stacked against them on paper.
The Sooners have the higher ranking.
They have the SEC badge.
They have the national attention.
Michigan has a massive home crowd and an opportunity to ruin Oklahoma’s entire Saturday.
That is why this game is so fascinating.
Oklahoma does not need another comfortable win.
It needs proof.
The Sooners need to show they can walk into one of the toughest environments in college football and play like an SEC contender.
Otherwise, people will start asking the obvious question.
Was Oklahoma’s ranking earned, or did the voters simply buy the SEC hype?
Saturday provides the answer.
