Michigan’s win over No. 11 Oklahoma did more than send the Wolverines back into the AP Top 25 at No.
- It also gave the program a chance to make a strong impression on a crowded Saturday of recruits in Ann Arbor, and that part of the afternoon did not go unnoticed.
Kyle Whittingham made it clear he understood what the moment meant on the recruiting trail.
"Very positive," Whittingham said about the impact of the win on recruiting. "We had a ton of recruits at the game Saturday, and they were all with us in the locker room afterwards, and it was a great locker room."
Michigan had already come out of the Western Michigan game with a win the previous week, but that one did not create the same kind of buzz, even with the Hail Mary finish. Against Oklahoma, the Wolverines handled business in front of a room full of prospects, including several of the highest-profile names they are chasing.
One of the biggest current commitments on hand was four-star 2027 pledge Kamden Lopati, who said the scene inside The Big House left a major impression.
"It was AMAZING to be in that environment!" Lopati said."To be there in front of 100,000-plus people is just insane."
He also said it was a joy to hear fans around them calling the recruits "the future of Michigan."
The offensive line group also had plenty to show off. Antijuan Wilkes Jr., the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, was on campus for the game and came away calling it the best one he has seen so far. That visit mattered even more after Michigan’s line turned in a much stronger showing against a tough Oklahoma defense than it did in Week 1, giving Bryce Underwood more time to work through his decisions.
Then there was five-star Florida commit Armani Strong, who made the trip to Ann Arbor for the upset win. He has been committed to Florida since late June, but the fact that he had a scheduled game-day visit keeps the door open for a possible flip.
Dakota Guerrant was the highest-ranked recruit in attendance. The five-star wide receiver from home has been a target for Whittingham since he arrived at Michigan, even after Guerrant picked Oregon instead of the Wolverines. With Oregon taking a loss on Saturday and Michigan landing the upset over Oklahoma, the timing made the visit even more notable.
None of these visits guarantees anything down the road. But Michigan’s win gave the staff exactly the kind of backdrop it wanted, and it may have nudged a few big names a little closer to the Wolverines.
In Other News...
Michigan Just Made An Early Move That Should Excite Basketball Fans
While the football team was entertaining Oklahoma, Michigan basketball used the same weekend to work its own recruiting circuit, bringing in several top prospects for campus visits. Among the headliners were 2028 five-star forwards Dylan Betts and Brady Pettigrew, a sign that the staff is already thinking far ahead as it tries to build relationships with the next wave of elite talent.
The visits also included time with head coach Mike Boynton and former players, giving the recruits a fuller look at what Michigan can offer beyond the practice gym. Pettigrew has sparked some buzz because of the possibility that he could move up a class, but that remains unconfirmed for now, leaving the bigger question open: how much traction did Michigan gain with two of the most coveted names on its early board? [Read more 🡒]
Michigan May Have Gained Real Recruiting Momentum After Beating Oklahoma
Michigans win over Oklahoma did more than improve the mood around the program. It also gave the staff a chance to put several high-profile visitors in the middle of the atmosphere, with five-star wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and four-star prospects Nasir Richardson, Mekhi McNair, Asa Burch and Armani Strong among the recruits on hand. The setting mattered, and the reactions afterward suggested the day landed the way Michigan hoped it would.
The buzz extended beyond the field, too, with recruits and their families speaking positively about both the game-day environment and the broader feel around the program. Guerrant, who is currently committed to Oregon, is among the visitors now taking a harder look after the trip, which is the kind of momentum Michigan has been trying to build on the trail. The game provided a backdrop, but the real question is how far that visit can move things in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Shouldn't Overlook The UTEP Threats That Could Test This Opener
Michigan opens the season as a heavy favorite, but the spread alone will not make UTEP disappear. The Miners bring a few players who give this matchup some real shape, starting with quarterback EJ Colson Jr., who gives their offense a dual-threat element, and Kam Thomas, a versatile piece who can move around and create problems in different spots. Add running back Tavorus Jones to the mix and UTEP at least has enough skill talent to make the Wolverines stay alert early.
Defensively, the Miners also have a few names that could make the first game of the year feel less like a tune-up than Michigan would prefer. Linebacker Jayden Wilson has been one of the more active pieces on that side, while cornerback Justin Content brings the kind of coverage ability that can challenge timing throws. Michigan should still expect to control the game, but if UTEP is going to make it interesting at all, it will probably come through a handful of those individual matchups rather than a broad team upset push. [Read more 🡒]