Michigan enters 2026 with the kind of expectations that always follow a program chasing the Big Ten race and the College Football Playoff, but ESPN’s bowl projections suggest the first year under Kyle Whittingham may still be a step short of that target.
That was part of Whittingham’s own message during Big Ten Media Days, though his view sounded a little different by Friday. He pointed to the way the roster has started to stabilize at key spots.
"Yeah, the reason for that statement was a little bit of a shortage of depth at certain spots," Whittingham said. "There's been guys starting to come to the table there, and Channing Goodwin, as I mentioned, Shamari Earl, the corner, Mason Curtis, safety, guys are starting to elevate their play and feeling much better about things than back when I made that statement."
Even with that optimism, the road ahead is rugged. Michigan’s schedule gives it little room to breathe, and ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach both have the Wolverines landing back in the ReliaQuest Bowl rather than reaching the playoff.
Bonagura projects Michigan against LSU, while Schlabach has the Wolverines matched up with Oklahoma again.
The LSU angle would at least give fans something fresh. The programs have never played before, and it would also feature two new head coaches, with Whittingham in his first season at Michigan and Lane Kiffin now running LSU.
The Oklahoma pick, on the other hand, would feel like too much of the same. Michigan played in Norman last season and will host Oklahoma this year, so a third meeting in a bowl setting would not exactly bring much novelty.
Michigan has already lived through this kind of projection before. In 2024, Sherrone Moore’s first year as head coach, the Wolverines wound up in the ReliaQuest Bowl after a seven-win regular season, a rough follow-up to the national title run.
That does not necessarily mean ESPN is forecasting another seven-win year. The better comparison may be Alabama’s nine-win season in that same range, which is likely closer to where Michigan sits in these projections.
The schedule is the real problem. Michigan has four heavyweight matchups in Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State, and it also has to deal with Iowa, Penn State, and Minnesota. Trips to Oregon and Ohio State only make the climb steeper, and both could easily end up in the loss column for Whittingham’s team.
For Michigan, the standard is still bigger than a bowl game. But if the Wolverines can leave Year 1 with progress, get Bryce Underwood closer to his ceiling, and build toward 2027, nine wins would at least point the program in the right direction.
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 🡒]