Michigan fans have spent the offseason wondering what this offense is going to look like under Kyle Whittingham, and the biggest question has been whether the Wolverines will finally open things up through the air.
Whittingham’s track record at Utah points to a team that still wants to lean on the run. Even when his offenses got more aggressive, they never became pass-first units.
There were Utah teams that got to 30 pass attempts a game or more, but plenty of others that lived in the 40-plus range on rushing attempts, too. Last season, Michigan averaged 38 runs and 26 passes, while Utah averaged 44 passes and 28 runs, which came out to about eight more plays per game.
A quicker pace would fit nicely with what Michigan wants to become.
The good news for the Wolverines is that Whittingham won’t be trying to build this thing without a real quarterback. Bryce Underwood, the former five-star signee and the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, gives Michigan a different kind of ceiling.
Whittingham said this week that Underwood was “getting close.” He also figures to be used as a runner this season, which only adds another layer to the offense.
Jason Beck calling plays should help, too. Michigan was far too cautious last season, especially when the games mattered most. That kind of restraint should not define this year’s attack.
Still, some skepticism has lingered, including from five-star recruiting target Dakota Guerrant, who questioned whether Michigan would throw enough for a wide receiver to really thrive. Andrew Marsh heard that noise, and he had a direct answer.
During his appearance on the The Rich Eisen Show, Michigan WR Andrew Marsh said he expects the offense to be more explosive this year.
"You'll definitely see the ball in the air more." #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LArbhNBsZi
- The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) July 27, 2026
"You'll definitely see the ball in the air more," Marsh told Eisen.
That’s the kind of line Michigan fans have been waiting to hear.
Marsh is coming off a strong season as the Wolverines’ top receiver, finishing with 45 catches for 651 yards. In Big Ten play, he put up 41 receptions for 611 yards, and he barely saw the field in the opening stretch of the season. With that kind of production, there’s a real chance 1,000 yards is in play this year.
And Marsh won’t be carrying the passing game alone. J.J.
Buchanan gives Michigan another option, which only strengthens the case for a more balanced and more dangerous offense. The Wolverines are still likely to run more than they throw if Whittingham’s Utah history is any guide, but Marsh’s message makes one thing clear: Michigan expects the ball to be in the air more often this fall.
In Other News...
Familiar Michigan Coach Is Staying In The Big Ten Spotlight
Biff Poggi is sticking around the Big Ten spotlight in a new way, with the conference network announcing that the former Michigan associate head coach will join its broadcasting team in 2026. Poggi has spent years around college football, and his recent stops at Michigan and Charlotte give him plenty of familiarity with the league hell now help cover from the studio side.
For Michigan fans, it adds another familiar name to the conferences media lineup after Poggis time on the Wolverines staff came to an end under new head coach Kyle Whittingham. Big Ten Network said he will appear across its studio programming, while other former players take on game analyst roles, keeping Poggi connected to the league even as his next chapter moves away from the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Has 3 Players Ready To Make The Media Look Wrong
Big Ten Media Days left Michigan with a familiar chip on its shoulder, as the Wolverines were picked to finish fifth in the conference and got only limited love in USA Todays All-Big Ten projections. Even so, there are still a few names in Ann Arbor who look capable of forcing a rethink by the end of the season, especially if the roster settles quickly around a few high-end playmakers on both sides of the ball.
Jordan Marshall, Jyaire Hill and Rod Moore all have the kind of ceiling that can change how a preseason list looks in hindsight. Marshall flashed enough last season to belong in the conversation, Hill has the tools to become one of the leagues better corners, and Moore remains the kind of veteran presence who could matter a lot if he is back to full strength. For a team that did not get much respect this summer, those are the sorts of players who can make the early projections look awfully premature. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Still Has A Shot At A Massive 2028 QB Flip
Michigans work on the 2028 class is already taking shape, and the early board includes some of the kind of names that can change the direction of a cycle. The Wolverines are pushing to stay in the mix with high-profile targets, including quarterback Jayden Wade, while also keeping lines of communication open with linebacker Cale Britt as they try to build momentum beyond their recent recruiting success.
Wade remains the bigger swing, and Michigan knows the path to making that kind of flip realistic starts with getting him on campus and back again. Britt, meanwhile, gives the staff another intriguing opening because he is still talking with Michigan even after his commitment elsewhere, which is the sort of steady contact that can keep a flip alive if the Wolverines can turn interest into visits. [Read more 🡒]