The Michigan Wolverines are stepping into a new chapter-and it’s one that has the potential to be every bit as compelling as their recent run of dominance. With veteran head coach Kyle Whittingham taking the reins following a turbulent offseason, and Bryce Underwood returning for his second year under center, there’s a sense of cautious optimism building in Ann Arbor.
Let’s be clear: Whittingham isn’t walking into a rebuild. He’s inheriting a program that’s tasted the top of the mountain and still has the talent to stay there.
But he’s also bringing something Michigan fans should appreciate-discipline, development, and a proven track record of building quarterbacks the right way. And at the center of it all is Underwood, a young signal-caller with sky-high potential and a lot still to learn.
Whittingham recently joined Urban Meyer on The Triple Option podcast and didn’t shy away from discussing where Underwood stands in his development. One of the more revealing insights?
Underwood didn’t have a dedicated quarterback coach working with him daily last season. That’s a big deal, especially when you consider the context: Underwood was just 17 for most of the year.
He could’ve been finishing high school, but instead, he was navigating the Big Ten.
“He’s a young man, 17 years old. He didn’t turn 18 till mid-season,” Whittingham noted. “He really could have been in high school last year, as far as his age.”
That puts his freshman season into a whole new light. And it also makes the pairing with Whittingham and his staff all the more intriguing. The new head coach is already working closely with Underwood, and he’s confident in the team around him to help accelerate that growth.
“There’s some things in throwing mechanics and just things to smooth out in his fundamentals and technique, and we’ve already got a good start on that,” Whittingham said. “Jason Beck and Koy Detmer Jr. are outstanding quarterback developers and coaches, so we’re already going down that path.”
That’s exactly what you want to hear if you’re a Michigan fan. The talent is there.
The tools are there. Now it’s about refinement.
And with a staff that’s clearly prioritizing quarterback development, Underwood could be in for a major leap in Year 2.
The schedule? It’s no cakewalk.
Michigan opens with three straight home games, including a marquee early-season showdown against Oklahoma on Sept. 12.
That game could serve as a tone-setter-not just for Underwood, but for the entire program under Whittingham. If the Wolverines come out sharp and organized, it’ll say a lot about how quickly this new coaching staff has gotten buy-in.
From there, the Big Ten slate offers plenty of intrigue. Iowa visits Ann Arbor in late September, and while the Hawkeyes are often overlooked, they’re rarely out of the fight.
Then there’s a mid-season stretch with Penn State and Indiana back-to-back-two teams with legitimate aspirations of their own. Indiana, in particular, is a program on the rise and could be a dark horse in the conference title race.
And of course, everything builds toward the finale in Columbus. “The Game” never lacks meaning, but this year, it could carry even more weight. Michigan will be looking to reclaim bragging rights against Ohio State, and with the playoff picture likely hanging in the balance, the stakes will be sky-high.
Here’s how the full 2026 slate shapes up for the Wolverines:
2026 Michigan Wolverines Schedule
- Sept. 5: vs. Western Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Sept. 12: vs. Oklahoma (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Sept. 19: vs. UTEP (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Sept. 26: vs. Iowa (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Oct. 3: at Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)
- Oct.
10: OPEN
- Oct. 17: vs.
Penn State (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Oct. 24: vs.
Indiana (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Oct. 31: at Rutgers (Piscataway, NJ)
- Nov. 7: vs. Michigan State (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Nov. 14: at Oregon (Eugene, OR)
- Nov. 21: vs.
UCLA (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Nov. 28: at Ohio State (Columbus, OH)
There’s no shortage of storylines heading into the fall. New coach.
Young quarterback. A loaded schedule.
But with the right pieces in place and a coaching staff that seems locked in on development, Michigan’s not just aiming to stay in the Big Ten hunt-they’re looking to lead it.
Ann Arbor could be in for a special season.