Western Michigan’s entire Week 1 plan seems to run through one name: Broc Lowry.
The Broncos’ quarterback comes in as the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, and the numbers explain why he draws so much attention. Western Michigan finished 88th in college football in points per game last season, yet still went 10- win thanks in large part to Lowry’s production through the air and on the ground. He threw for more than 1,800 yards and nine touchdowns, then added 964 rushing yards and 14 scores.
That dual-threat ability is the part Michigan has to respect most. Lowry can extend plays, turn broken snaps into gains, and punish a defense if it loses discipline for even a second.
He has already seen Big Ten competition in a Western Michigan uniform, too. In games against Michigan State and Illinois, Lowry ran 11 times for 59 yards, a 5.4 average, but he completed just 57 percent of his passes.
If Western Michigan can lean into its ground game, it may give itself a real chance. The Broncos averaged 204 rushing yards per game last season, and getting anywhere near that total would put them in position to threaten for a major upset.
Still, Michigan has reasons to feel good about its matchup with Lowry. The Wolverines believe their defensive line is the team’s strength, and if that front plays to that standard, Lowry’s life gets much harder. He can create with his legs, but he won’t be able to casually escape Michigan defenders the way he might in MAC play.
Michigan has had issues over the years with quarterbacks who can run, but the team has also spent practice time against offenses that want to use the quarterback as a weapon, whether that quarterback is Bryce Underwood or Tommy Carr.
There’s optimism in the linebacking group, too. Chase Taylor was one of the three biggest stock risers from fall camp, according to Whittingham, and Nathaniel Staehling has also drawn plenty of buzz for his play, turning what had looked like a weakness into something that at least feels serviceable.
Put it all together, and Lowry should still make some plays. Western Michigan should get on the board. But if Michigan’s front seven shows up the way it expects to, the Wolverines should have the upper hand when it comes to containing the Broncos’ quarterback.
In Other News...
Michigan Fans Just Got An Early Sign About The Backfield Choice
The early glimpse into Michigans backfield picture offered a reminder that roster decisions can shape a season long before conference play settles in. Justice Haynes, who left the Wolverines via the transfer portal and showed up for Georgia Tech in a recent game against Colorado, was part of the backdrop to a move that now looks increasingly intentional from Michigans side, with the program choosing to build around the backs already in the building.
Jordan Marshall is the headliner in that group after a strong previous season, and he has already put himself in the conversation as a potential Heisman contender if that level continues. Michigan also made the call to keep freshman Savion Hiter in the fold, a decision that signals confidence in the current depth chart and a willingness to move forward without Haynes as part of the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Opener Still Comes With One Injury Question Up Front
Michigan heads into its season opener with most of the injury noise already sorted out, and that is a relief for a program that has spent much of camp trying to get healthy in the right spots. John Henry Daley and Rod Moore are both available after earlier injury concerns, which gives the Wolverines some welcome stability as they begin the year with expectations attached and little margin for early-season mistakes.
Andrew Babalola will not be part of that opening-day group after a minor setback, leaving one more question up front as the team finalizes its first-game rotation. Michigan has already absorbed bigger blows in the offseason with Micah Kaapana and Ace Hamilton lost for the year, so even a short-term absence matters when the roster is being layered back together for the start of the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Faces Michigan Test That Will Define The Hype
Bryce Underwood entered Michigans offseason with the kind of billing that turns every throw into a talking point, but the early signs out of fall camp suggest the sophomore quarterback is settling into his next step with a little more polish. The No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class has been working under new offensive coordinator Jason Beck in a revised scheme, and coaches have pointed to noticeable progress in his consistency and decision-making since spring.
Underwoods development matters because Michigan is not just waiting on talent anymore, it is waiting on proof that the hype can survive game planning, pressure and the regular rhythm of a season. He spent part of the offseason training with quarterback Jordan Palmer and Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow, and now the real test is whether those lessons show up when the Wolverines start asking him to run the offense instead of simply flash what he can do. [Read more 🡒]