Michigan’s season opener against Western Michigan comes with more questions than answers, and that’s exactly what makes Saturday night at Michigan Stadium worth watching.
Kyle Whittingham is in his 22nd season as a head coach, but this is his first at Michigan, and the spotlight immediately lands on sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood. The Wolverines’ staff wants to see how much he’s grown since the offseason, and the first game will offer an early look at Jason Beck’s offense, Jay Hill’s defense and the team’s depth at linebacker.
With Oklahoma waiting in Week 2, Michigan probably won’t reveal everything. Still, this is the first chance to see what the new pieces look like together.
Western Michigan arrives with real credibility after a 10-win season, a bowl victory and a Mid-American Conference title. Lance Taylor’s team is well coached and not an easy out, even if the gap between a Group of Six champion and a Power Four roster remains significant. Michigan’s talent edge is clear, but the Wolverines may still need time to settle in and impose it.
One reason the Broncos are more dangerous than a typical opener opponent is the way they play. They want to run it, limit mistakes and shorten the game.
Broc Lowry gives them a veteran quarterback who ran for 963 yards last season, and Jalen Buckley is another productive piece in the backfield. Western Michigan’s defense also has experience in the secondary, though the front seven lost a lot and that could matter if Michigan starts leaning on the ground game early.
That ground game is where the Wolverines can take control. Jordan Marshall and freshman Savion Hiter give Michigan a bruising duo, and the expectation is that the offense will get rolling on the ground before opening things up. If Beck’s system does what the staff wants, Underwood could also get help from run-pass options and some downfield chances to big-play targets Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan.
There’s also a wrinkle in Western Michigan’s rise from last season: former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hired away Broncos defensive coordinator Chris O'Leary to coach his Los Angeles Chargers. O'Leary was a major factor in Western Michigan’s success a year ago, and his departure leaves a question about how much that defense can withstand Michigan’s size and depth.
The predictions all land the same way: Michigan wins, with the scores ranging from 31-10 to 38-14. One forecast sees a 31-17 result, another has it at 34-13, another at 38-14, and another at 31-10. The common thread is simple enough - Michigan should handle a solid Western Michigan team, get a useful tuneup and move on to Oklahoma.
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 🡒]