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Baker Mayfield, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost a bet to head coach Todd Bowles regarding his alma mater's basketball game against Mayfield’s former school. Wearing an ill-fitting Michigan tank top at his press conference, Mayfield admitted it was "a rough couple of days" after losing the wager. This incident highlights Mayfield's current challenging situation as he and the Buccaneers face pressure to improve following a disappointing loss in their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Baker Mayfield, quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, lost a bet with coach Todd Bowles over an NCAA college basketball game between Michigan and Oklahoma. After Michigan won 17-10, Mayfield had to wear an ill-fitting Michigan basketball tank top during his press conference on Wednesday. At the event, Bowles joked by humming the University of Michigan fight song, which embarrassed Mayfield. "It's been a rough couple of days," Mayfield admitted, referring to the consequences of losing the bet. The incident occurred as Mayfield was preparing for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Written for “Baker Mayfield Loses Bet” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
It's not all super serious for Baker Mayfield as he begins preparation for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.
asserted
he → begin → Browns
Mayfield, you see, stepped to the microphone on Wednesday to begin his weekly press conference wearing a University of Michigan basketball tank top.
asserted
you → see → top
Head 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.
asserted
Mayfield → stand → song
And why would Mayfield be wearing a child-size Michigan tank top?
asserted
Mayfield → wear → top
"Oklahoma versus Michigan," he explained.
asserted
he → explain → Michigan
"Todd's son was on the winning side of it.
asserted
son → win → it
And so, therefore, I squeezed into this little tank top."
asserted
I → squeeze → top
Bowles' son, Troy, plays for the Wolverines.
asserted
son → play → Wolverines
Mayfield played for Oklahoma.
asserted
Mayfield → play → Oklahoma
So there was some bragging rights involved that led to a friendly wager about the Saturday matchup.
asserted
that → be → matchup
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.
uncertain
it → understand → quarterback
The Bucs are 0-1 headed to Sunday's game against the Browns.
asserted
Bucs → head → 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.
asserted
Bucs → struggle → line
So, actually, that hurts.
asserted
that → hurt → ?
It hurts Bowles, who is under some expectation to get his team into the postseason.
asserted
who → hurt → postseason
And it hurts Mayfield, who just last week agreed to a three-year contract extension worth a whopping $165 million and putting him among the league's highest-paid quarterbacks.
asserted
who → hurt → quarterbacks
Neither Bowles nor Mayfield met expectation in the regular-season opener.
asserted
Bowles → meet → opener
So this week the script needs to flip against the Browns.
asserted
script → need → Browns
Did we mention happy-bet-loser Mayfield played for the Browns from 2018, when he was the NFL's No. 1 overall draft pick, through the 2021 season?
asserted
he → mention → season
Mayfield wasn't such a happy loser when the Browns shipped him to Carolina after deciding Deshaun Watson would be a better fit.
asserted
Watson → ship → Carolina
And Sunday is obviously a pressure-packed opportunity to get some measure of revenge.
asserted
Sunday → pack → revenge
Mayfield better get his retribution while he can in that opportunity.
asserted
he → get → opportunity
Because he won't be getting it from another friendly Michigan versus Oklahoma wager anytime soon.
asserted
he → get → wager
The two schools just completed their two-game home-and-home series and there are no future games scheduled.
asserted
schools → complete → series
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