Oklahoma-Michigan Was a Battle of Dueling QB NIL Philosophies

Michigan and Oklahoma’s battle in Week 2 of the college football season featured a quarterback duel that highlighted contrasting philosophies. The Wolverines invested in 18-year-old true freshman Bryce Underwood, this year’s top-ranked high-school recruit, while the Sooners relied on No. 1 transfer and redshirt junior John Mateer.

The veteran prevailed.

No. 18 Oklahoma defeated No. 15 Michigan 24–13 on Saturday, and Mateer led the way for the Sooner with 270 passing yards and a touchdown. The 21-year-old transferred to Oklahoma from Washington State, where he had a breakout 2024 after two seasons backing up Cam Ward, who would eventually become the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

According to ESPN, Mateer is expected to make somewhere between $2.4 and $3 million in his first season at Oklahoma.

That estimate is in the ballpark of the estimated average annual value of Underwood’s four-year contract with Michigan. The deal was believed to be worth at least $10 million last fall, but On3 reported ahead of the season that it could be as high as $12.5 million. The unprecedented deal was funded by billionaire media and tech tycoon Larry Ellison.

However, after throwing for more than 250 yards and a touchdown against New Mexico in Week 1, the five-star quarterback was limited to 9-of-24 passing (37.5%), 142 yards, and zero touchdowns against the Sooners.

He also appeared to get into an intense exchange with running back Justice Haynes after the team struggled to convert in the red zone. Haynes is a junior transfer from Alabama.

Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said after the game that the two were “fine” after talking it through. “It’s competitive. They both want to be right,” Moore said.

Fortunately for Michigan, they have time to be patient with Underwood. The Wolverines will not face another ranked team until their final game, when they battle their archrival, No. 1–ranked Ohio State, on Nov. 29.