The 2026 NFL regular season opens tonight with a Super Bowl LX rematch, and Michigan football is all over it.
The defending champion Seattle Seahawks host the New England Patriots to kick things off, but for Wolverines fans, the story goes deeper than the banner raising and the cross-conference spotlight. Four former Michigan standouts are spread across the two rosters, and all four are expected to matter as the new season begins.
Seattle’s title team leans hard into the kind of physical football Michigan fans know well, and three ex-Wolverines are part of that identity. AJ Barner has quickly become a versatile piece in the Seahawks’ offense. After a breakout year in which he caught 52 passes and scored a clutch touchdown during Seattle’s championship run, the tight end enters the opener as both a receiving threat and a key blocker on the edge.
At center, Olu Oluwatimi brings the kind of stability coaches trust. During his time in Ann Arbor, he won both the Rimington Trophy and the Outland Trophy, and now he gives Seattle veteran line-calling experience and interior toughness against aggressive pass rushes.
Mike Morris adds another layer on defense. The former Wolverine defensive end gives the Seahawks size, range and power in the rotation, with the ability to disrupt plays in the backfield, close down the pocket and hold the edge.
New England counters with Mike Onwenu, a proven force on the offensive line. Whether he’s working at guard or sliding out to right tackle, the former Michigan lineman gives the Patriots drive-blocking strength and dependable pass protection.
The matchup puts a familiar pipeline on display: Ann Arbor to the NFL, with former Michigan players again occupying some of the most physical jobs on the field. Tonight’s opener is a showcase for both teams - and for the Wolverines who helped build them.
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Michigan Heads Into Oklahoma Week With Availability Questions Fans Hate
Michigan is heading into a big early-season test against No. 11 Oklahoma with a few familiar uncertainty markers still hanging over the week. John Henry Daley and Rod Moore are available to play, which at least gives the Wolverines some clarity, while Carter Meadows is hopeful to get back after missing the opener and working his way through the recovery process.
Andrew Babalola and Hogan Hansen remain questionable, though both are expected to take part in practice this week, which should help Michigan get a better read on where things stand before kickoff. For a team trying to settle in before a marquee nonconference matchup, the difference between available, hopeful and questionable can shape a lot of the conversation long before the Sooners arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Offense Faces Early Pressure Against Oklahoma For One Big Reason
Michigans opener left the familiar warning lights flashing on offense. The Wolverines escaped with a 13-12 win over Western Michigan thanks to an elite defensive effort, but the lack of big plays on offense made the result feel more like a stay of execution than a clean start, especially with No. 11 Oklahoma up next.
Jake Guarnera, Andrew Marsh and Bryce Underwood are among the players under the microscope as the competition level rises, and Underwood in particular enters the week with his starting spot suddenly looking less secure if the production does not pick up. For a team trying to build momentum early, the margin for another flat offensive showing is thin. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Fans Suddenly Have A Rare Reason To Care About Bowman Football
Michigan fans usually have plenty of reasons to keep one eye on the college football card market, but Bowman is about to make things a lot more interesting. The 2026 Bowman Football set will be the first of its kind to mix NFL and college players in the same release, giving collectors a new kind of crossover chase with dual cross-sport autographs and multi-signature cards that pair current stars with legends.
For Wolverines fans, the hook is less about the broad concept than the way this new format keeps widening the list of names worth tracking. The set is set to feature the first Bowman cards of Texas quarterback Arch Manning, along with special cards of NFL legends in their college uniforms, and the checklist already includes eye-catching pairings like Joe Burrow and Paul Skenes, Vince Young and Kevin Durant, and Matthew Stafford and Anthony Edwards. [Read more 🡒]