Michigan’s place in ESPN’s way-too-early 2026-27 top 25 took a hit, but the reigning national champions are still sitting in a strong spot.
The Wolverines were previously slotted at No. 2, even after losing Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and three key seniors. But the latest shakeup in Ann Arbor changed the picture fast, and ESPN dropped Michigan to No. 5.
The move comes during a chaotic stretch for the program. What looked like smooth sailing into the new season - thanks to one of the top recruiting classes and three big men from the transfer portal - unraveled when Dusty May left for the NBA to coach the Dallas Mavericks. That left interim head coach Mike Boynton Jr. to steady the ship, and so far he has done that.
Michigan still appears to have its top four players back for next season, which helps explain why the Wolverines remain highly regarded despite the uncertainty. ESPN also pointed to the potential of Thiam, writing, "Assuming Thiam stays after May's departure [he announced he was returning after this published], he could take a huge step in his development, in Ann Arbor. He was terrific down the stretch of the past season, averaging 18.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 1.9 blocks over his final eight games at Cincinnati, and was dominant against Kansas and Texas Tech in February," ESPN wrote.
Florida, Duke, Illinois and UConn are ranked ahead of Michigan. Each of those programs has its head coach back for next season, and each either returns major pieces from last year or, like Michigan, brings in one of the top recruiting classes.
For a program that just won the national title, landing at No. 5 is still a sign of respect. But the bigger issue in Ann Arbor is the uncertainty around the coaching situation.
Boynton is the interim head coach, and AD Warde Manuel’s statement did not suggest he was locked in as the long-term answer. Even so, Boynton is operating like he wants to earn that job.
He’s doing the right things for now, but the real test will come if Michigan can keep its roster mostly intact and keep winning. If that happens, the fan base may start feeling a lot better about Boynton as the permanent solution.
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ESPNs latest jersey-number feature was meant to be a fun walk through college football history, but it landed with a jolt in Ann Arbor when Michigan fans spotted a glaring mistake involving Anthony Carter. The former Wolverines star, who starred in maize and blue from 1979 to 1982, was the kind of player whose place in program lore is beyond dispute, which made the mix-up stand out immediately.
What makes the error sting a little more is that it is still sitting there uncorrected, leaving a sloppy impression on a player whose Michigan rsum speaks for itself. Carter was one of the defining receivers of his era, piling up 141 catches, 2,681 yards and 31 touchdowns while earning major conference and national honors, so seeing his name mishandled in a national roundup is the sort of oversight that naturally gets noticed around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Is Suddenly In The Mix For A Massive 2028 TE
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Jordan McKinley is one of the names to watch in that group, and Michigan has clearly put itself in the conversation with the four-star prospect. The Wolverines are also in the mix for other top-end options at the position, which gives this pursuit a bigger feel than a simple one-off offer chase. If Michigan can turn those early conversations into real traction, it would be an important sign that the staff is not just filling out a board, but trying to set the tone for what comes next. [Read more 🡒]