Baker Mayfield loses bet to coach Todd Bowles, has 'rough couple of days' including at press conference

Mayfield, you see, stepped to the microphone on Wednesday to begin his weekly press conference wearing a University of Michigan basketball tank top.An ill-fitting one at that.MICHIGAN EXERCISES CLOCK DEMONS FROM WEEK ONE WIN, VANQUISHES 11TH RANKED OKLAHOMA IN ANN ARBORHead coach Todd Bowles initially stood in the doorway humming the University of Michigan fight song and shouting, "Let's go blue!""That hurts, that hurts real bad," Mayfield said."It's been a rough couple of days."And why would Mayfield be wearing a child-size Michigan tank top?"Oklahoma versus Michigan," he explained.

"Todd's son was on the winning side of it.The Sooners were not.

And so, therefore, I squeezed into this little tank top."Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rushes for a touchdown during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Sept.13, 2026, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

(Getty Images)Bowles' son, Troy, plays for the Wolverines.Mayfield played for Oklahoma.

So there was some bragging rights involved that led to a friendly wager about the Saturday matchup.But then ...Michigan 17.Oklahoma 10.So, quite a funny moment considering the expression on Mayfield's face.But that moment could be understood to be perhaps more meaningful in that it speaks to the mindset for the Buccaneers' quarterback, his coach, and perhaps the team.Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield fumbles the football during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Sept.

13, 2026.(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)The Bucs are 0-1 headed to Sunday's game against the Browns.

And Mayfield in the season-opener struggled in a 33-27 season-opening loss against the Cincinnati Bengals because he didn't throw a touchdown pass but lost three fumbles, including one around the goal line when it seemed the Bucs would be scoring.So, actually, that hurts.It hurts Bowles, who is under some expectation to get his team into the postseason.And it hurts Mayfield,...