Michigan enters Kyle Whittingham’s first season with plenty of talent, plenty of uncertainty and one brutal schedule standing in the way.
That’s the common thread in The Detroit News’ 2026 predictions: the Wolverines have enough pieces to matter, but the road to the College Football Playoff looks steep in Year 1 under a new head coach and a mostly new staff imported from Utah.
The biggest question hanging over Ann Arbor is Bryce Underwood. The sophomore quarterback is still chasing the five-star promise he hasn’t yet delivered on, and several of the predictions hinge on whether he takes a real step forward.
There’s optimism around the roster around him, though. Michigan is expected to have a better offensive line, deep running back and receiver groups, and a more dynamic attack.
Jordan Marshall is viewed as a key piece, and Savion Hiter is also part of the backfield outlook.
Whittingham’s arrival is being framed as a stabilizing force after a stretch of controversy. His reputation for discipline and control is part of the appeal, and the players have responded well to that approach.
But the Big Ten debut for his staff won’t be gentle. Michigan opens with Oklahoma in Week 2 at home, then faces defending national champion Indiana, plus road trips to Oregon and Ohio State.
Penn State and rival Michigan State also show up in the conversation as possible swing points.
The defense comes with its own set of questions. John Henry Daley’s health could matter a lot, while the depth at defensive tackle and linebacker is still being scrutinized. The secondary is seen as strong enough to make plays in the biggest games, but there are doubts about the defensive front and whether it can hold up against this schedule.
Across the board, the projections settle in the same neighborhood: 8-4. Angelique S. Chengelis, Connor Earegood, John Niyo and Bob Wojnowski all land there, even if they get there in different ways.
Chengelis sees the Oklahoma game as the early measuring stick and thinks a playoff run is probably a year away. Earegood calls Whittingham “safe” and says CFP chatter is hype, not reality.
Niyo believes the Wolverines have the talent to contend but may need more time to put it all together. Wojnowski is the most explicit about the swing factors, saying the Wolverines could finish 9-3 if they win at Minnesota, but 8-4 if they don’t.
His final forecast includes wins over Oklahoma, Iowa and Penn State at home, with losses to Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State. That leaves Michigan, in the end, right where the others have it: 8-4.
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 🡒]