I'll be excited if Michigan beats Oklahoma and Iowa ...

Posted on August 21, 2026 at 04:34:00 PM by Cutter

My annual conventional wisdom is that you really don't get a good sense for a Michigan FB team until after Game 4.

If Underwood does enough, if the DTs hold up, if the LBs can handle their assignments against Oklahoma and Iowa, then I'll get excited.

Then there's the game at Minnesota, the bye week and Penn State. PSU hosts USC before playing in Ann Arbor. They might be 6-0 or 5-1 coming into Michigan Stadium.

After PSU is a home game with Indiana. The Hoosiers host Ohio State the week before coming to Ann Arbor. Another team that could potentially be undefeated or have one loss given their schedule the first half of the season.

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Thread:

The hype for this team will be absolutely off the charts if we beat OU. No one nationally has us winning that game (even though we’re favored).* - By LS&Play August 21, 2026 at 03:53:31 PM
- I think we’re going to kick their asses, something in the realm of 31-13. Even if our defense turns out to be mediocre, I don’t see Oklahoma being able to put many tds on the board. Major recalibration of expectations if we lose.* - By Ev August 21, 2026 at 05:25:53 PM
  - agree and the stadium is going to be electric. Like Washington in 2021. * - By plug August 21, 2026 at 11:23:27 PM
- We are going to beat OU solidly. This team is very talented. It was young last year and has added experience and coaching. We should be a playoff team* - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:00:04 PM
  - Agree. We will be better than everyone believes and I don’t think ou will be great* - By ameriKa August 21, 2026 at 05:42:49 PM
- I'd be pretty disappointed if we lose to this version of OU. Getting swept by Brent Venables isn't like losing to OU during the Stoops years - By y2wolv August 21, 2026 at 04:41:08 PM
  - They were 14th in SP+ last year so they were only an 8-4ish team because of a tough schedule. - By GritsGoBlue August 21, 2026 at 05:02:23 PM
- I'll be excited if Michigan beats Oklahoma and Iowa ... - By Cutter August 21, 2026 at 04:34:00 PM
  - Iowa? - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:00:24 PM
    - I see it. We always play to their level and have a history of shitting down our leg against them. * - By jhamm August 21, 2026 at 05:09:47 PM
      - but we still win the games.* - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:12:08 PM
        
        Usually but not always. And the losses always hurt. Jimmy’s team lost at home in what, 85? By 2 points. Would have been - By jhamm August 21, 2026 at 05:18:21 PM
        
        That was on the road as was 2016. Also 1985 was a Rose Bowl Iowa team. We are not losing at home. We have zero losses to Iowa since the 50s or 60s at home unless they have a Rose or Orange Bowl team. No chance* - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 06:18:51 PM
        
        OK, looked it up. Our last non-RR loss at home to Iowa that did not involve an Iowa Rose Bowl or Orange Bowl team was in 1924. Over 100 years ago. - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 06:22:57 PM
        
        2016 was a true goat fuck* - By ameriKa August 21, 2026 at 05:44:32 PM
    - Assowa* - By LS&Play August 21, 2026 at 05:05:29 PM
      - Aside from the RR years, Iowa has won 2 games in Ann Arbor in my lifetime and both in years where they won or shared the B10 - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:11:30 PM
        
        Wow, was just thinking I have no recollection of them ever winning in Ann Arbor. Turns out I really don’t.* - By Ev August 21, 2026 at 05:29:08 PM
        
        And 2002 (also a great Iowa team that blew us the fuck out). But agree with you. We will be double digit favorites.* - By LS&Play August 21, 2026 at 05:13:04 PM
        
        Shit put that one out of my mind, but yes, that Iowa team was in the Orange Bowl (OSU won national title)* - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:13:50 PM
- I think our defense matches up really well with them. Their rushing attack was ass last year outside of Mateer. I think our secondary will be elite and will be able to stop the pass.* - By Bluebuck August 21, 2026 at 04:33:58 PM
- Stewie thinks we will suck. Fat Ari thinks Bryce and Whitt don't care enough about the OSU rivalry. What does Seth think? I can't stand listening to that guy* - By Poster P August 21, 2026 at 04:28:17 PM
- There were multiple clowns on ESPN who picked Iowa in the BTCG in 2023. These morons don't know anything. - By dnvrblue August 21, 2026 at 04:03:48 PM
  - As I often say, there is a lot of anti-Michigan jealousy in the media and in the B10* - By Rich August 21, 2026 at 05:01:18 PM
  - Two-thirds of them picked Washington to beat us in the title game. - By GritsGoBlue August 21, 2026 at 04:07:51 PM
    - Yeah, I think there's a YT clip somewhere of McAfee picking against us 5 or 6 weeks in a row. ** - By dnvrblue August 21, 2026 at 04:14:15 PM
    - An SEC network host picked Washington 65-14. Can’t remember his name. Good call!* - By LS&Play August 21, 2026 at 04:12:36 PM
      - Tom Hart. I found the link. - By GritsGoBlue August 21, 2026 at 05:18:01 PM
    - Was that the same game where the YPP difference looked like something from a UM-WMU matchup? (nm) - By suede August 21, 2026 at 04:11:41 PM
      - That's the one! (nm) - By GritsGoBlue August 21, 2026 at 05:03:21 PM
      - Farted around for 2.5 quarters and still beat the fuck out of them.* - By LS&Play August 21, 2026 at 04:13:43 PM
    - Bball team spent all of 1 week ranked #1* - By chiwalker August 21, 2026 at 04:10:27 PM

The Victors

I'll be excited if Michigan beats Oklahoma and Iowa ...