Joel Klatt outlines ‘huge advantage’ Oklahoma has in matchup vs. Michigan
By Jacob Moss
Published:
The No. 11-ranked Oklahoma Sooners are getting ready for their first real test of the 2026 college football season on Saturday, heading up to the Big House to take on the Michigan Wolverines in a highly anticipated SEC vs. Big Ten clash.
Michigan’s questionable last-second Hail Mary victory in Week 1 over Western Michigan has taken a bit of the intrigue out of what many expected to be a clash between 2 squads vying for College Football Playoff tickets come season’s end, but the Wolverines figure to still be a formidable opponent for the Sooners.
Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt broke down the matchup on Friday morning’s episode of The Joel Klatt Show, and he said that Oklahoma has a huge advantage over their Big Ten foes in a key area.
“11 of the 12 starters that they list for Oklahoma (on defense) started their careers at Oklahoma,” Klatt said. “Continuity. It’s something that we talk about in the coaching staff ranks… Well, how about continuity in your lineup, and guys that have been in the system now 2, 3, and 4 years? That is a huge advantage going against an offense that might be experienced, but is learning a system for the first time.”
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There’s no denying that the Sooners’ biggest strength coming into the season was their experienced, loaded defense. Many around the country tabbed it as the best unit in the country, and for good reason.
Having that kind of edge in both talent and continuity, as Klatt puts it, will certainly give Oklahoma a massive leg up over a Michigan offense that is still learning the ropes of Kyle Whittingham’s system.
