Oklahoma’s upset loss to Michigan in Week 2 stung Sooner fans — and Baker Mayfield ended up literally wearing the result. The former Oklahoma quarterback and Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles had made a lighthearted wager: if Michigan won, Mayfield would show up to practice in a Wolverines jersey; if Oklahoma prevailed, Bowles would don an Oklahoma jersey. Bowles’ son, Troy, plays linebacker for Michigan.
When asked about the bet last week, Mayfield quipped, “Michigan sucks, that’s what.” After Oklahoma’s defeat, he did wear the Michigan jersey to practice — and it looked like it was a tight fit. Troy Bowles, a former four-star recruit, is in his second season with Michigan after two years at Georgia (2023–24). Through Michigan’s first two games this season he has recorded 21 combined tackles and one fumble recovery; in 2025 he finished with 27 combined tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
Mayfield’s college résumé remains impressive: he started at Oklahoma from 2015–17 after transferring from Texas Tech, captured the 2017 Heisman Trophy and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 and 2017. He ranks second in Oklahoma history with 12,292 passing yards and 119 touchdown passes, led the conference in completion percentage and passer rating in each of his three seasons as Oklahoma’s starter, and topped the Big 12 in passing touchdowns in 2015 and 2017 before the Cleveland Browns selected him first overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
On the pro side, Mayfield and the Buccaneers are coming off a Week 1 loss at Cincinnati. Last week he signed a three-year, $165 million contract extension with Tampa Bay; the $55 million average annual value ties him for third-highest among NFL quarterbacks. Mayfield and Bowles are entering their fourth season working together — Mayfield joined the Bucs in 2023, while Bowles is in his fifth season as head coach after previously serving as the team’s defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians. This Sunday the Buccaneers will host the Cleveland Browns, the team that originally drafted Mayfield.
Fan Take: This little moment blends college loyalties with NFL storylines, reminding fans that personal ties and past rivalries still resonate at the pro level. Mayfield’s contract and ongoing relationship with Bowles matter because they shape Tampa Bay’s short-term expectations — how he performs this season could influence the Bucs’ competitiveness and the larger QB market.
Source: www.foxsports.com
