Toby's Takeaways: Oklahoma Sooners beat Michigan behind John Mateer, dominant defense in Norman

John Mateer showcased his dual-threat ability and Oklahoma’s defense stifled Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood as the Sooners secured a statement victory Saturday night in Norman.

Mateer Magic

John Mateer won the quarterback showdown in a landslide. Five-star Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood is going to be a star, but the experienced Mateer put on a show Saturday night. His 270 passing yards were notable, but it was the 74 yards rushing that spoke the loudest. Mateer ran for tough yards against a physical defense in big situations. It’s early, but the Sooner QB has to be among the Heisman favorites after two weeks.

READ MORE: Mateer's imperfect but electric playmaking fuels Oklahoma’s championship hopes

Dominant Defense

Other than the 75-yard run to start the 2nd half, OU’s defense only allowed Michigan to rush for 2.3 yards per carry. And they held Underwood to 9/24 passing while flummoxing the newcomer with pressure all night long. Sophomore David Stone seems to be developing into what Sooner fans hoped the five-star would be. And former walk-on Owen Heinecke had his best game in an OU uniform, leading the team with eight tackles and multiple big hits.

Sloppy Special Teams

On an otherwise sensational night for the home team, several special teams gaffes kept the Wolverines hanging around. A muffed punt, missed field goal, muffed kickoff return and roughing the punter penalty served as lifelines for Michigan to keep it a one-score game deep into the 4th quarter. Oklahoma will need to sure up the third phase of the game before SEC play arrives.

>>> OU coach Brent Venables reacts after Sooners’ win over Michigan: ‘Really proud of our guys’

Statement Final Drive

The most encouraging development of the night was Oklahoma’s 4th quarter game-clinching drive. Over eight minutes in length, 16 plays, 13 of which were on the ground to build a two-score lead and essentially salt away the victory. A mixture of QB run game, jet sweeps and traditional running back carries melted away the clock. It’s the kind of drive that should give an offensive line that has been heavily criticized some confidence early in the season.

Potential Springboard Victory

It’s only game two of the season. Oklahoma still has to face eight more teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25. But, Saturday’s win over Michigan is the kind of win that could serve as a springboard for Brent Venables’ team. A program in need of some positivity has it. And they know now that they have a quarterback and a defense. That can go a long ways, even in the SEC.