Michigan opens its season Saturday night against Western Michigan, and the first real test of the Kyle Whittingham era is less about the Broncos than it is about what the Wolverines show about themselves.
That’s the bigger storyline here. Michigan should be in position to handle Western Michigan comfortably, even if the night turns into a heavy dose of the run game and a conservative script. But with Oklahoma on deck next week, this opener matters because it offers the first live look at whether the offseason buzz around the Wolverines is real.
The spotlight naturally lands on quarterback Underwood. Michigan does not need him to go off on Saturday to beat Western Michigan, and it could probably win by leaning on the ground game and keeping things simple.
Still, the staff has made it clear all offseason that it wants to see the growth in real game action, not just in practice. Underwood has drawn plenty of attention for improvements to his fundamentals and his attention to detail, but the challenge now is carrying those gains into the lights.
If Michigan is going to look ready for Oklahoma in a week, the offensive line and rushing attack may tell the bigger story. Jason Beck said during his weekly media availability that he hopes to play three running backs and eight offensive linemen.
There will be a rotation at guard, with all three contenders from the offseason getting time. The starting lineup has not been announced, but Michigan knows who it is.
The message from the outside is simple: get the group that will be asked to handle Oklahoma as many reps together as possible. That kind of chemistry could matter a lot against Brent Venables and his defense.
In the backfield, Saturday brings the first look at Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter together. Both are expected to carry major expectations this season, and if Michigan’s ground game develops the way it wants, both should top 1,000 rushing yards.
The trenches on defense could be just as important. John Henry Daley arrived with plenty of attention from transfer recruiting, and that buzz was deserved.
He should be one of the leaders on Michigan’s defensive line this season. But the word coming out of camp is that Nate Marshall may actually be the team’s best pass rusher.
Marshall is expected to start opposite Daley, and Michigan believes the pair could form its best edge-rushing duo since Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo were tearing through the Big Ten in 2021.
There’s depth there too. Cameron Brandt, Carter Meadows, and Dom Nichols are all expected to see snaps at edge, which should keep pressure coming if Western Michigan spends much of the game chasing from behind.
One area that still feels unsettled is tight end. In an offseason where the pass catchers got plenty of attention, the tight end group has not gotten nearly enough.
Michigan may not have a tight end it can fully trust right now, which is notable because that position has usually been a staple in the offense. Zak Marshall appears to be the favorite to start, while Hogan Hansen has been limited by injuries and his status remains unclear.
A true freshman could also work his way into the picture. Mason Bonner, listed at six-foot-seven, is a name to watch because of the size he brings as a potential target for Underwood over the middle.
Separately, Roddy Gayle Jr. has been granted a TRO in his effort to play for Michigan this season.
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 🡒]