Oklahoma significantly improved its roster through the transfer portal, adding quarterback John Mateer and running back Jaydn Ott.

Michigan’s strong defense, which performed well against Alabama last season, will be a key factor in the matchup.

The game will likely be a tough test for Michigan’s freshman quarterback, Bryce Underwood, potentially making his first road start.

While Michigan football is expected to be ranked in preseason rankings, not many expect a successful season for the maize and blue. Case in point: when CBS Sports thinks the Wolverines will lose their first game.

The Wolverines did something that Oklahoma did last year — beat Alabama — but the Sooners went 6-7 in a season where Michigan went 8-5 and also beat Ohio State, the eventual national champion. Yet, in predicting when each Big Ten team will lose its first game, CBS expects the maize and blue to go down in Week 2.

First loss: at Oklahoma on Sept. 6One of the marquee early Big Ten–SEC matchups, Michigan faces a stiff test away from Ann Arbor. Oklahoma overhauled its roster through the transfer portal, adding former Washington State quarterback John Mateer and Cal running back Jaydn Ott. With Brent Venables on the hot seat, expect a desperate Sooners team. Michigan will be asking a lot of freshman Bryce Underwood in what’s expected to be his first road start.

While the talent that the Sooners brought in might be formidable, so is the Michigan defense. The same defense that stymied the Crimson Tide will be the same one that John Mateer and Jadyn Ott will face. A Brent Venables-driven defense might be tough for Bryce Underwood, but the Wolverines also added a star running back of his own in former Alabama five-star Justice Haynes.

Could the maize and blue lose the first test of the season? Absolutely. But Michigan also matches up favorably against the Sooners, so it will be interesting to see if the defense can slow down OU enough with an offense that will still be figuring things out.

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At least CBS does believe that the Wolverines will win in Lincoln, which would push Michigan to 3-1 on the season if its prognostications come true.