As predictions for the College Football Playoff keep rolling in, Michigan keeps getting treated like an afterthought. That feels like a miss. The Wolverines didn’t just change coaches - they landed Kyle Whittingham, and that matters.
Michigan still managed a 9-3 season in 2025 with a freshman quarterback, a head coach who was later revealed to be dealing with a lot more than anyone realized, and plenty of defensive problems. By the time the dust settled, that record looked almost hard to believe. But it happened.
Now the Wolverines head into 2026 with a very different feel, and Whittingham is the biggest reason why. The jump from Sherrone Moore to Whittingham is substantial, even if it’s not getting enough attention. Whittingham said at media days that Michigan has a "back to football" mentality, and that the program is putting the drama behind it.
That alone would make Michigan worth watching, but Whittingham’s track record makes the case even stronger. At Utah, he built a reputation for squeezing real production out of limited resources. The 66-year-old coach sent players like NFL legend Eric Weddle to the league, won several conference championships, and finished with a record far above .500.
Whittingham left Utah with a 177-88 overall record and a 109-70 conference mark. He also helped guide the Utes into the Big 12 in 2024, and the team went from 5-7 to 10-2 over the next two seasons. Even after he "stepped down" from Utah, he still wanted to coach, and Michigan moved quickly to bring him in.
The fit in Ann Arbor looks different in a good way. Utah was still adjusting as a new Big 12 member, while Michigan is an established Big Ten program with far more resources at its disposal. Whittingham has already shown he can win without everything being lined up perfectly, and now he gets a setup that should be even better.
There’s another piece here that could be easy to overlook: he didn’t arrive to a full rebuild. A lot of the Michigan roster from last season stayed put, including the majority of the players from that 9-3 team who still had eligibility. That gives Whittingham a base to work with, and he’s already built a culture that has the group ready to play for him.
So yes, coaching changes come with growing pains. But writing Michigan off as a CFP contender now that Whittingham is in charge feels way too aggressive. The Wolverines have upgraded in a major way, and if they end up sneaking into one of those final bracket spots, it shouldn’t come as a shock.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Added To An Uncomfortable In-State QB Debate
Michigan had already spent time in the mix for Donald Tabron, one of the top quarterbacks in the 2028 class, before the in-state debate around elite passers got a little more uncomfortable. The highly ranked recruit is now committed to Texas A&M, and Michigans change on the coaching side played a role in slowing the momentum it had built with him. For a program that has plenty of eyes on its quarterback pipeline, it was a reminder that even early recruiting battles can shift quickly.
The Wolverines are still operating from a position of depth at the position, which gives them some breathing room as they recalibrate. Rather than chase one name too hard, Michigan is turning its attention to other quarterback targets in the 2027 and 2028 classes while continuing to pursue other key recruits in 2028. It is not a crisis, but it does add another layer to an already tricky in-state conversation about which quarterbacks the program can realistically land next. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Offensive Line Thinks It Finally Found A Needed Edge
Michigans offensive line spent the offseason trying to build more than size and technique. In fall camp, right tackle Andrew Sprague said the group is carrying a sharper mindset and better conditioning, with strength coach Doug Elisaia and offensive line coach Jim Harding pushing that process along. Sprague also pointed to his own physical transformation, while crediting center Jake Guarnera and quarterback Bryce Underwood for the way they have developed alongside the rest of the offense.
The emphasis now is on stamina and pass protection, two areas Michigan believes can make a real difference when games start to tighten late. Spragues comments suggested the line is not just chasing cleaner reps in camp, but trying to create an edge that shows up in the final drives and the fourth quarter. For a unit that knows how important consistency is up front, the question is whether that work holds when the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Have Two Early Storylines Worth Watching Closely
Michigans fall calendar is already carrying a little extra intrigue on multiple fronts, with recruiting and roster development both nudging their way into the conversation. On the basketball side, five-star 2028 recruit Brady Pettigrew has lined up five official visits, and Michigan is first on the list when he comes to campus on September 12. For a program that is always watching the next wave of talent, getting the opening shot in a visit sequence is the kind of early marker fans tend to track closely.
On the football side, Utah transfer wide receiver JJ Buchanan has been drawing strong praise from Kyle Whittingham, who has pointed to the receivers complete skill set and his ability to be difficult to cover. Michigan will be paying attention to how that evaluation translates once the season gets rolling, especially with the rest of the athletic department already in motion as volleyball opens its schedule and womens soccer has started with a tie against Utah Valley. There is no shortage of small-but-interesting early signs to watch, and Buchanans role may end up being one of the more telling ones. [Read more 🡒]