Michigan’s 2026 season opener comes with a little extra edge, and not just because it’s under the lights in Ann Arbor. Western Michigan rolls in on Saturday with upset plans of its own, led by former MAC Offensive Player of the Year Broc Lowry at quarterback and 1,000-yard rusher Jalen Buckley.
That alone makes the Broncos worth a serious look. Add in what’s waiting in Week 2 - Oklahoma - and it’s easy to see why analyst Josh Pate has been sounding the alarm on this one. On his podcast, he called Western Michigan at Michigan a “dangerous game” for the Wolverines.
“I think Western Michigan at Michigan needs to be talked about,” Pate said. “Michigan's a 27.5 point favorite...I talked about what I think Michigan could be capable of, but that doesn't mean that you can just look past Lance Taylor and the boys in Kalamazoo
"You know who they have coming into town next week. Everybody knows the Oklahoma game is on deck.
Everybody knows you don't want to show anything. I am circling Western Michigan-Michigan.
We've got a new well - not a new everything, but a new a lot of things at Michigan.
"We've got a new offense being installed there. I believe in Bryce Underwood, but it could be a little wobbly coming out of the gate. Not to mention, you're not really opening things up against Western Michigan."
That concern is exactly why the opener has drawn so much attention. Michigan has change layered on top of change, and Pate’s point was simple: early-season uncertainty can make even a heavy favorite vulnerable.
Whittingham, entering Year 1 at Michigan after 21 seasons as Utah’s head coach, echoed that caution on Monday. He knows how quickly an opener can turn on a team if the details slip.
“They're a strong run team," Whittingham said on Monday. "I think it was the last half of the season they averaged over 300 yards a game rushing.
The quarterback is a big part of that. The running back is really good.
He was the MVP of the conference championship game, the MVP of their bowl game. They've really done a nice job running the football.
"That reminds me of us last year at the University of Utah where we were second in the nation in rushing. They got a very potent rush attack.
We've got to be assignment sound. As we talked about, tackle efficiently."
Michigan has had home openers go sideways before, but this group is trying to set a different tone. There’s no shortage of pressure around the Wolverines this season, and the goals are clear: a Big Ten Championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
That means there’s no room to treat Western Michigan like a tune-up. The Broncos may not be the favorite, but they’re good enough to force Michigan to earn every snap before that Oklahoma showdown arrives.
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 🡒]