Michigan’s season has reached a sharp edge, and Saturday’s trip to Eugene could decide whether the Wolverines stay in the bowl picture.
Michigan (5-4, 2-4 Big Ten) heads to Autzen Stadium to face No. 19 Oregon (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) on Saturday, Nov.
- Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
ET, with FS1 carrying the game. Streaming is available on Fox One and Fubo.
The Wolverines are coming off a rough 15-6 loss to Michigan State in Ann Arbor last week, a defeat that came against a Spartans team that had been winless in Big Ten play before that game. One day later, Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck, and the move put even more pressure on first-year coach Kyle Whittingham.
Interim Jim Harding will take over as the team’s offensive coordinator after Beck’s dismissal, though how much that changes on the field is still an open question. Michigan is expected to be an underdog in its final three regular-season games, and if it drops all three, bowl eligibility disappears.
That makes this week’s matchup especially important. A win over Oregon would give Michigan the sixth victory it needs to qualify for a postseason bowl.
Oregon, meanwhile, is coming in hot after going into Columbus and beating the Buckeyes 41-28 last week. The Ducks also handled Michigan in the teams’ most recent meeting, winning 38-17 at Michigan on Nov. 2, 2024.
Michigan’s remaining schedule after Oregon includes a home game against UCLA on Saturday, Nov. 21, with time and TV still to be determined, and a trip to Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 28 at noon ET on Fox.
Michigan 2026 football schedule, all times Eastern:
Week 1: W, 13-12 vs Western Michigan.
Week 2: W, 17-10 vs Oklahoma.
Week 3: W, 52-17 vs UTEP.
Week 4: L, 20-19 vs Iowa.
Week 5: L, 20-14 at Minnesota.
Week 6: BYE.
Week 7: W, 21-18 vs Penn State.
Week 8: L 13-6 vs Indiana.
Week 9: W, 28-21 at Rutgers.
Week 10: L, 15-6 vs Michigan State.
Week 11: at Oregon, Saturday, Nov. 14 (3:30 p.m., FS1).
Week 12: vs UCLA, Saturday, Nov. 21 (time and TV TBA).
Week 13: at Ohio State, Saturday, Nov. 28 (Noon ET, Fox).
In Other News...
FAA Grounding Suddenly Puts One Michigan Team In A Tough Spot
The Federal Aviation Administrations nationwide grounding has created an unexpected travel headache for several Michigan and Detroit teams, but the University of Michigan appears to be in better shape than some of its peers. While the disruption has thrown schedules into question across the region, the Wolverines football and basketball teams are among those that have either already completed travel or are positioned to keep moving without interruption.
Michigan State football is the one feeling the most immediate pressure, with its game against Washington suddenly in doubt because the Huskies have not yet left Seattle. For Michigan, the broader picture is a reminder of how quickly off-field logistics can ripple through a season, even when a teams own travel plans are still intact. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Slump Just Turned Into A Bigger Kyle Whittingham Problem
Michigans recent struggles have done more than raise questions about the product on the field. They have also opened the door for a louder conversation around Kyle Whittinghams leadership, with former Wolverines Taylor Lewan, Jake Butt and Devin Gardner all publicly taking aim at the direction of the program after the latest rough stretch.
The criticism has not been limited to ex-players, either. Analyst Joel Klatt has said he is unsure what the future looks like for Whittingham in Ann Arbor, while Josh Pate has offered a bleak read on where things could be headed if the current slide continues. For a fan base already uneasy about the teams trajectory, the debate is shifting from one bad run to a bigger question about whether the program is still pointed the right way. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Suddenly Have A Very Real Kyle Whittingham Question
The conversation around Kyle Whittingham has shifted quickly after a difficult stretch that included a recent loss and the firing of offensive coordinator Jason Beck. For Michigan fans watching from afar, it is the kind of late-season turbulence that can turn a coachs future into a daily topic, especially when the team is already dealing with pressure and uncertainty on the sideline.
Whittingham is working under a five-year contract with a sizable buyout, which makes any change complicated even before the results on the field are sorted out. If the season continues to trend the wrong way, the question is no longer just about how the staff adjusts now, but whether the program would be willing to make a major move and consider the names that would surface if that door opens. [Read more 🡒]
