Michigan football hasn’t had a Heisman Trophy winner since Charles Woodson in 1997, and the program’s recent list of contenders has been pretty short. Chris Perry got there in 2003.
Jabrill Peppers made the final group in 2016. Aidan Hutchinson pushed all the way to second in 2021 while doing it almost entirely on defense.
Now there’s another name worth watching in Ann Arbor, and it isn’t quarterback Bryce Underwood.
On the Big Ten Network this week, Michigan legend and analyst Jake Butt made the case that Jordan Marshall belongs in the Heisman conversation. He also said five-star freshman Savion Hiter should be a freshman All-American.
"Jordan Marshall can be in the Heisman conversation throughout the season and freshman RB Savion Hiter should be a freshman All-American," Butt said.
Marshall’s 2025 season already gave the idea some real weight. He ran for 932 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per carry, but the bigger leap came after the Nebraska game, when he took over the starting job and started looking like the offense’s driving force. In Big Ten play, he put together four 100-yard games and ripped through the league at 6.9 yards per attempt.
That production showed up in the biggest spots, too. Against Ohio State, Marshall gained 61 yards on seven carries across two possessions. The source material says if he stays healthy, it might have looked a lot like the 1995 edition of "The Game" all over again.
The comparison points around him only make the season look more impressive. Bo Jackson averaged 5.5 yards per attempt in Big Ten play last season, while Antwan Raymond - the only Big Ten running back to earn preseason conference honors - averaged 4.9.
The argument here is simple: Marshall was the best running back in the Big Ten last season, aside from when Justice Haynes was going through his own stretch, and he projects to be the best back in the conference in 2026.
Michigan’s offense should help him. Bryce Underwood is better, which should make the ground game easier to sustain, especially with Underwood involved as part of the run game on zone reads. The receiver group has been upgraded, and the offensive line is expected to be much better as well.
The wrinkle is Hiter. The freshman could be the one thing that cuts into Marshall’s Heisman path, because he may be too good to keep off the field, which would lead to more of a timeshare. That part still has to play out.
If Marshall gets more than 200 carries, though, the source material says he could put together a season similar to Blake Corum’s in 2022.
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 🡒]