Michigan football’s season opener against Western Michigan brings the kind of early test that can reveal a lot before the calendar really turns. The Wolverines are favored by 27.5 points, but the Broncos arrive with real pieces in place after a 10-win season, and that’s what makes Saturday worth watching.
Western Michigan is not just showing up to make up the numbers. Broc Lowry, the MAC Offensive Player of the Year at quarterback, is back, and so is Jalen Buckley, who ran for more than 1,000 yards. Keeping both of them has led some to view the Broncos as a playoff contender, and that kind of continuity gives them a puncher’s chance to make noise if Michigan comes out flat.
Still, the biggest story belongs to Michigan. Bryce Underwood will be under the brightest spotlight, and his debut is tied directly to how far this team can go.
The expectation is that the Wolverines should look better on both lines, with improved quarterback play and a stronger overall roster. Jason Beck’s presence is part of that optimism, and there’s a sense that this group is built to be more efficient from the jump.
The offensive line feels like the safest place to start. Michigan had three redshirt freshmen starting up front last season, and now that group has a year of experience, more strength, and one of the best offensive line coaches in college football working with them.
That should show up fast. Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter are both projected to top 100 rushing yards, and the ground game is expected to look even better than it did a year ago, even with the reminder that it was already pretty good at times.
Just ask Justice Haynes.
Hiter is the name that could make the opener pop. He dealt with a bit of a fall camp issue, but he is expected to play, and the buzz around him could get loud in a hurry.
The expectation here is that he won’t need a huge number of carries to make a statement. One explosive run - maybe a long touchdown, or at least a 40- or 50-yard burst - could be enough to turn heads.
His ability to make defenders miss showed up in the spring game, even behind backups, and that burst should play even better behind the starting offensive line.
Underwood’s line might not jump off the page if Michigan leans on the run game, but the debut still looks poised to be clean. The projection is around 215-225 total yards, two touchdowns, and no turnovers.
That would fit the script of a quarterback settling in while the offense around him does a lot of the heavy lifting. He’s also expected to run a little, though not often.
There’s also a warning baked into this game: heavy favorites have already been caught sleeping this season, and Rutgers’ upset-minded embarrassment is a reminder that nobody gets to coast. Western Michigan has an offense that can be tricky to prepare for, especially with a running quarterback in Lowry and a proven back in Buckley. Michigan should still be ready for that challenge, and the prediction is that it wins the battle in the trenches on both sides.
The final call is Michigan 38, Western Michigan 13.
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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 🡒]