Michigan’s offense is heading into Saturday night with a very different feel than it had a year ago, and the biggest reason sits at quarterback.
After a winter, spring and summer that brought in Kyle Whittingham as the new head coach, overhauled much of the staff, added the No. 12 recruiting class and No. 24 transfer portal class, and tried to keep together the Big Ten’s youngest roster, the Wolverines finally get to show it all in a season-opener against Western Michigan at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
The offseason push was about more than just plugging holes. Whittingham wanted Michigan to get back to old-school power, both in the weight room and on the field, while also opening up the offense with a more advanced passing game. With fall camp finished, the first real test is here.
At quarterback, Bryce Underwood is the clear name to watch. Whittingham was blunt in spring about Underwood needing to improve, but the tone changed fast once fall camp began.
The coach and offensive staff have piled up praise for Underwood, going so far as to call the jump a "night and day" improvement. Whether that’s real progress or a little preseason hype will start to show in the first two games.
Behind Underwood, Jake Carr appears to have secured the No. 2 job after being pushed by Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, according to the coaches. Carr had already been a name to track after his senior season at Saline sent him soaring up 247Sports’ recruiting rankings, and the reports on him since then have consistently pointed to the same traits: coach-ability, touch, athleticism, processing and "it factor."
Other quarterbacks in the mix include Brady Smigiel and Chase Herbstreit.
In Other News...
Michigan Freshman QB Rise Just Made The Opener More Interesting
Tommy Carrs climb up Michigans quarterback pecking order has quietly become one of the more interesting developments of camp. The true freshman has earned the QB2 job for the season opener, moving ahead of Colorado State transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi after what coaches viewed as a steady spring and fall. Carrs mobility and knack for extending plays stood out, giving the Wolverines a backup option whose style adds a different layer to the offense.
Fowler-Nicolosi brought experience and a strong arm into the competition, but his late arrival to campus made the race tougher from the start, especially with Carr already building momentum. For Michigan, the backup spot matters more than just insurance - it can shape how the offense looks if the starter has to come out, and it also says plenty about how quickly Carr has earned trust. The opener should still answer the biggest questions, but this one leaves a little more intrigue than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Michigans Defense Gets A Needed Boost Ahead Of Week 1
Michigan heads into the 2026 season with a mostly clean bill of health, and that matters especially on a side of the ball that needs to set the tone early. The only major injury in camp is to freshman offensive lineman Ace Hamilton, while the defense appears to be getting some welcome stability with veteran Chris Bracy expected back in the mix and Rod Moore also slated to play as the opener approaches.
Moores return comes with a measured approach after a two-year absence, but the bigger boost may be the presence of edge rusher John Henry Daley, who is fully recovered from his Achilles injury and already working his way into the defense. Kyle Whittingham has pointed to Daleys readiness and explosiveness, the kind of development that can matter immediately for a unit looking to open the season with more depth and a little more bite. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan Just Lost A Freshman Its Rotation Was Counting On
Brandon McCoy Jr. had already carved out a significant place in Michigans plans before the regular season even arrived, starting all three exhibition games on the Wolverines foreign tour. For a freshman expected to play a major role right away, those early reps suggested he was quickly becoming part of the rotation the staff was counting on heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
Instead, Michigan now has to move forward without him after McCoy Jr. suffered an ACL injury during the exhibition trip and will miss the entire season. The Wolverines said they will continue to share updates on his recovery as more information becomes available, but the immediate concern is clear: a young piece the program was banking on will be on the sideline just as the year begins. [Read more 🡒]