Michigan’s 3-0 start comes with an asterisk for some people, but the record itself isn’t up for debate. However loud the argument gets, the Wolverines are still undefeated, and the College Football Playoff selection committee has already said it can’t change the result.
ESPN’s Dan Wetzel has said there was time left on the clock, too, even if others keep pushing a different version of events. Urban Meyer, meanwhile, called it a Michigan loss on Fox’s Big Nook Kickoff, but that doesn’t make it so.
What Michigan does have is a résumé that looks stronger than a typical 3-0 mark. Through three weeks, the Wolverines have put together one of the more impressive early playoff cases in the country, even if that only matters if they keep stacking wins once Big Ten play gets going.
And that’s the real test. Michigan likely needs to win seven of its next nine games, and the path is lined with trouble: Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State all sit ahead.
Even beyond those headline matchups, there’s no safe weekend in this league. Minnesota and Michigan State are part of the picture, and Rutgers already served as a reminder that nothing gets handed out in the Big Ten.
The schedule has already been a grind. ESPN ranks Michigan sixth in strength of schedule, and the Wolverines have already faced two 10-win teams from last season, including Oklahoma, which made the College Football Playoff in 2025.
That’s why the Western Michigan chatter has always felt a little too convenient. ESPN projects the Broncos to make the 12-team playoff, and they brought back the MAC Player of the Year on offense, a 1,000-yard rusher, and a roster that had real talent. Michigan looked like it let its guard down against Western Michigan in the same way it appeared to overlook UTEP.
Still, the second half against UTEP was at least a sign of what this group can be when it settles in. Michigan outscored the Miners 35-3 after halftime, didn’t commit a penalty or a turnover, and finally looked like the team fans thought they were getting when Kyle Whittingham was hired.
Now the question is whether that version shows up again Saturday against Iowa. If Michigan handles business there, the schedule strength will only look better from here.
In Other News...
Michigans Next Road Test Just Got More Serious For Wolverines Fans
Michigans trip to Minnesota on Oct. 3 now has a clearer stage, with the Big Ten matchup set for noon ET on FOX. It will be the Wolverines second game this season in the Big Noon Kickoff window, giving fans another early start to a road test that should draw plenty of national attention.
The timing adds another layer to a series that has long carried its own weight, especially with Michigan heading into a conference road environment that has not always been easy. With both programs bringing recent results and history into the conversation, this one already feels like more than a routine October date on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Defense Showed Something Fans Will Care About In Big Ten Play
Michigans defense gave fans a reason to pay attention beyond the final score against UTEP, holding the Miners to 17 points while showing it could handle both sides of the game plan. The front was active, the coverage held up, and the unit looked like one that can carry real weight once Big Ten play starts to tighten the margins.
Jonah Lea'ea provided the headline play with a pick-six, while Tariq Boney added disruption off the edge with tackles for loss and a sack. The rotation also mattered, with players such as Shamari Earls and Jordan Young seeing meaningful snaps, a reminder that the Wolverines are building depth as well as production on a defense that will be asked to do more when the competition steps up. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Backfield Debate Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Savion Hiter keeps making the Michigan backfield discussion harder to settle. In the Wolverines 52-17 win over UTEP, the freshman turned 11 carries into 62 yards and two touchdowns, giving the offense another burst of energy while sharing work with Jordan Marshall, who remains the heavier-duty option in the rotation.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham praised Hiters running style and upside, and the comments only add to the sense that his role could keep growing if the opportunities follow. For now, Michigan has a useful one-two punch, but Hiters performance suggested the balance of carries may be worth watching closely in the weeks ahead. [Read more 🡒]