Michigan’s fall camp is winding down, and the early read from Ann Arbor is hard to miss: there’s real reason to feel better about this team than there was a year ago.
That doesn’t mean the Wolverines are suddenly above questions. They’re coming off a 9-3 season that didn’t sit well and ended in turmoil, with Sherrone Moore fired and Kyle Whittingham brought in to steady the program.
The standard at Michigan never changes - chase the Big Ten title, handle the rivals, and put yourself in position for the College Football Playoff. But this season can still be judged on a different scale.
Could Michigan finish with a worse record than last year’s 9-3? Absolutely.
Could that still count as a successful year? Also yes.
A lot of that comes down to the offense, which was mostly anemic a season ago. Bryce Underwood’s play remains central to everything, and there still hasn’t been proof on the field that he can consistently deliver against the top teams.
Last season, Underwood and the offense were brutal against Oklahoma, USC, and Ohio State. There were flashes, but nothing close to sustained production.
Now the excuses are gone. Underwood was a freshman, extremely young, and coached improperly. This time, the expectation is that he has to turn the corner.
The defense should be strong again, as it usually has been since the turn of the decade, but the biggest source of optimism is on the other side of the ball. The offensive line has six players battling for spots, and that competition should keep things moving all season under Jim Harding.
In the backfield, Michigan may have one of the best duos in the country. Jordan Marshall is a captain and appears ready to break out after spending two seasons behind more established players.
Behind him is Savion Hiter, who is already viewed as one of the best backs in the country. That gives Jason Beck a serious run-game foundation while the passing game works itself out.
The coaches have only added to the upbeat tone. This staff does not sugarcoat things, and they’re not the type to hand out empty praise.
So when they speak highly of what they’ve seen, it carries weight. The same goes the other way: if the offense were struggling, they wouldn’t be talking it up.
And they have talked it up.
According to his coaches, Underwood has put together an excellent fall camp. Whittingham called it an A-Plus camp.
Jason Beck said last week that Underwood has put together 13 good practices out of the 13 that he has.
Michigan also appears to have more answers at receiver. JJ Buchanan and Andrew Marsh could become one of the best one-two punches the Wolverines have had at the position since Chad Henne was the starting quarterback.
There’s still uncertainty at tight end, but Mason Bonner is starting to draw buzz.
“He is off to a really good start, and you’re going to see him get snaps as a true freshman,” Whittingham said.
At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, Bonner brings size that could matter in the passing game.
The depth chart at receiver has some intrigue too. Micah Simon said last week that Michigan has been looking at multiple candidates to serve as the third receiver. Last year, that role belonged to Semaj Morgan, who is now at UCLA after transferring out at the end of the season.
The bigger point is that Michigan looks like it has more talent, and that talent is being put in better spots to succeed. That could help the Wolverines win the kind of physical, grinding games that have defined them since 2021. It could also give them enough firepower to hang in some shootouts.
There are still things to sort out, and fall camp is always the season of optimism. Underwood and the offense still have to prove it when the games start. But after three weeks of camp, it’s tough to argue this has been anything other than a strong showing for Michigan.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Landed An Early Ohio Recruiting Win Fans Will Love
Monsanna Torbert Jr. gave Michigan an early jolt on the recruiting trail, becoming a hard commitment for the Wolverines 2027 class after the four-star cornerback out of Princeton High School in Cincinnati chose Ann Arbor over several major programs. For a staff that has long made its living selling defense and development, landing one of Ohios most intriguing prospects so far ahead of signing day is the kind of move that can ripple well beyond one pledge.
Torbert is regarded as a top national cornerback prospect, and his decision points to the kind of impression Michigan made during his visit. The coaching staff and its defensive philosophy clearly resonated, which is especially notable considering where he comes from and who else was in the mix. For Michigan, it is an early win in a neighbors backyard, and the real question now is how firmly the Wolverines can hold onto it as the recruiting process keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans O-Line Is Nearly Set But One Key Question Remains
With the opener against Western Michigan closing in, Michigan still has one last bit of line work to sort through. The Wolverines have a pretty clear shape up front, with Blake Frazier and Andrew Sprague lining up at tackle, Jake Guarnera at center and Evan Link set on the left side of the interior. Even with that outline taking form, the staff has not officially settled on a starting offensive line, which keeps a little intrigue attached to a unit that will be critical no matter who gets the nod.
The biggest unresolved spot is the guard job next to Link, where Nathan Efobi and Brady Norton are still vying for the assignment. Andrew Babalola remains sidelined for now, and when he is ready to return he may first be used as an extra blocker rather than being thrown immediately into the full-time mix. For Michigan, the broader picture is encouraging because most of the front appears close to defined, but the final choice at guard will be one of the details worth watching when the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Rookies Are Already Forcing The NFL To Notice
Detroit got an early look at why Derrick Moore was such a coveted draft pick. The former Michigan edge rusher, selected 44th overall in the 2026 NFL draft, made his mark in a preseason game against the Commanders with a sack and two forced fumbles, a quick reminder that his game can translate fast to the next level. For a Lions team expecting him to help its pass rush right away, that kind of debut matters.
Rayshaun Benny is giving Baltimore reason to keep paying attention, too. The former Wolverines defensive lineman, a seventh-round pick, added a sack in the Ravens preseason win over Minnesota and strengthened his case for a spot on the 53-man roster. It is the kind of early production that can change how teams view late-round picks, especially when roster decisions start getting tight. [Read more 🡒]