Connor Stalions may be sidelined by NCAA sanctions, but the former Michigan staffer isn’t turning away from the game he loves. Currently serving an eight-year show-cause penalty for his central role in the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal, Stalions continues to watch and share his college football insights on X. This weekend, he offered his thoughts on Oklahoma and Michigan following their Week 2 matchup.
Oklahoma entered Saturday’s game as 4.5-point favorites and delivered a decisive 11-point victory. The quarterback play, which Stalions focused on, was not exactly competitive. Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood finished 9-of-24 for 142 yards with no touchdowns. For Oklahoma, junior John Mateer went 21-of-34 for 270 yards and three total touchdowns, including two on the ground.
What Did Connor Stalions Say on X?
In a series of posts, Stalions emphasized the chemistry between Mateer and offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle. The two are in their third season together after moving to Oklahoma following two years at Washington State.
After watching the film from Saturday’s game, he declared: “Mateer is a gamer!”
Mateer is a gamer! Also can tell he has great chemistry with his OC going on their 3rd year together. OU will do some serious damage this year.
For Michigan, the staff obviously knows the personnel better than anyone outside the building does. Bryce is a mustang — can’t put a…
— Connor Stalions (@cpstalions) September 7, 2025
In another post, Stalions praised Oklahoma’s play calling, which used quarterback runs to stress and expose parts of the Michigan defense. The strategy opened up the passing game and allowed Mateer to add 74 yards and two scores on the ground.
Stalions had a more critical message for his former employer, though he remained optimistic about its outlook this season.
“For Michigan, the staff obviously knows the personnel better than anyone outside the building does. Bryce is a mustang — can’t put a saddle on a mustang. QB-OC chemistry won’t develop overnight. But one loss is just that. Make the corrections, get Bryce in rhythm, and move forward. This team has a high ceiling.”
An early-season loss is no longer a death knell in college football, but Michigan has work to do to reach the high ceiling Stalions referenced. Through two games, Michigan is ranked 25th in SP+, and its offense sits outside the top 50 in yards per game. Underwood has completed just 54.5% of his passes for 393 yards and one touchdown.
Though Stalions has been exiled from college football’s inner circles, he continues to do what he has always done: break down games and watch Michigan with a meticulous eye. He came away from this week’s matchup praising John Mateer while calling for more from the Wolverines. Unlocking Bryce Underwood will be key to the rest of Michigan’s 2025 season.
