Bryce Underwood is the name everyone in Ann Arbor will be watching in Week 1, but Michigan does not need a fireworks show from its quarterback right away.
After an offseason full of conversation about what the Wolverines would look like with Kyle Whittingham now in charge, the focus still keeps coming back to Underwood. The former No. 1 overall prospect and five-star recruit has plenty of expectations attached to him after a true freshman season in 2025 that fell short of them, and the pressure is obvious. He also came to Michigan with a lot of NIL money and a whole lot of attention, which only sharpened the spotlight on what comes next.
Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt thinks the first game of the season is not the place for Underwood to try to prove everything at once.
"He is going to be buzzing, he is going to be excited, he's gonna want to show the world how talented he is," Butt said on The Big Ten Network. "The challenge for Underwood will be: you don't have to prove anything in Week 1, you go out there and do all the basics well."
That is the right lens for Michigan’s opener against Western Michigan. Sure, it would be nice if Underwood came out slinging it for 350 yards, four touchdowns, and no picks. But that kind of stat line is not required here, and it may not even be the point.
Whittingham is not likely to empty the playbook in Week 1, especially with No. 10 Oklahoma waiting in Week 2. Western Michigan is no pushover after finishing 10-4 last season, but Michigan has bigger games on the horizon and no reason to show every wrinkle now.
Underwood’s job is simpler than the hype machine wants to make it. Protect the ball.
Make the right reads. Use his legs to settle into the new offense.
Keep the offense moving and guide Michigan to a comfortable win.
The ideal outcome might not even include him finishing the game. If the Wolverines build a lead, get the offense humming, and let the defense control things, Whittingham should be able to sit Underwood down in the fourth quarter and let the backups keep battling.
That is why a monster stat line is not the standard for Week 1. Underwood does not need to put everything on display against Western Michigan. He just needs to look sharp, stay composed, and save the full reveal for Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Michigan Freshman QB Rise Just Made The Opener More Interesting
Tommy Carrs climb up Michigans quarterback pecking order has quietly become one of the more interesting developments of camp. The true freshman has earned the QB2 job for the season opener, moving ahead of Colorado State transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi after what coaches viewed as a steady spring and fall. Carrs mobility and knack for extending plays stood out, giving the Wolverines a backup option whose style adds a different layer to the offense.
Fowler-Nicolosi brought experience and a strong arm into the competition, but his late arrival to campus made the race tougher from the start, especially with Carr already building momentum. For Michigan, the backup spot matters more than just insurance - it can shape how the offense looks if the starter has to come out, and it also says plenty about how quickly Carr has earned trust. The opener should still answer the biggest questions, but this one leaves a little more intrigue than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Defense Gets A Needed Boost Ahead Of Week 1
Michigan heads into the 2026 season with a mostly clean bill of health, and that matters especially on a side of the ball that needs to set the tone early. The only major injury in camp is to freshman offensive lineman Ace Hamilton, while the defense appears to be getting some welcome stability with veteran Chris Bracy expected back in the mix and Rod Moore also slated to play as the opener approaches.
Moores return comes with a measured approach after a two-year absence, but the bigger boost may be the presence of edge rusher John Henry Daley, who is fully recovered from his Achilles injury and already working his way into the defense. Kyle Whittingham has pointed to Daleys readiness and explosiveness, the kind of development that can matter immediately for a unit looking to open the season with more depth and a little more bite. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Lost A Freshman Its Rotation Was Counting On
Brandon McCoy Jr. had already carved out a significant place in Michigans plans before the regular season even arrived, starting all three exhibition games on the Wolverines foreign tour. For a freshman expected to play a major role right away, those early reps suggested he was quickly becoming part of the rotation the staff was counting on heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Instead, Michigan now has to move forward without him after McCoy Jr. suffered an ACL injury during the exhibition trip and will miss the entire season. The Wolverines said they will continue to share updates on his recovery as more information becomes available, but the immediate concern is clear: a young piece the program was banking on will be on the sideline just as the year begins. [Read more 🡒]