Big Ten Network analyst Dave Revsine left Ann Arbor with the same takeaway a lot of people around Michigan are starting to land on: the roster looks strong, but the real headache in 2026 is the schedule.
Revsine spent Wednesday around the Wolverines during the Big Ten Network’s preseason stop in Ann Arbor, giving fans a look at fall camp through a series of videos showing players working through reps. What he saw lined up with the buzz already coming out of the program. The defense looks solid with Rob Moore and John Henry Daley back from injury, the running back room is expected to be a nightmare for opponents, and the offensive line competition is heating up.
The bigger story, though, is the path Michigan has to navigate. Revsine said the team is in a good spot overall, but pointed to the slate as the thing that could define the season.
“Overall - this is a good situation. Very talented roster.
The only issue?? The schedule is less than ideal - 4 CFP teams from last year including all 3 from B1G and Oklahoma. Plus Iowa, PSU, Minn all coming off good years.
9 W’s would likely put in CFP discussion pic.twitter.com/rYfrVMv7Q9”
As things stand, Michigan is projected to face six Top 25 opponents in 2026, with that number still capable of rising. Based on the Preseason Coaches Poll, the Wolverines are lined up for matchups with No.
1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No.
6 Indiana, No. 9 Oklahoma, No.
17 Penn State, and No. 22 Iowa.
Add in Minnesota and a rivalry game against Michigan State, and it’s a brutal run no matter how you slice it.
That kind of schedule would normally make playoff talk feel like a long shot, but there’s a wrinkle here: the committee has shown it cares a lot about strength of schedule and quality wins. That gives Michigan some room to work with if it can stack enough wins against a loaded field.
A nine-win season would leave the Wolverines with only three losses, and if those losses come against top-tier teams like Oregon or Indiana, it may not hurt them nearly as much as it would in a softer year. The source of the argument is simple enough - the committee has already rewarded teams for résumé quality, and Michigan could have that on its side if it lands a few statement wins.
That starts with No. 9 Oklahoma in Week 2. If Michigan can pull off some upsets and pair them with enough ranked wins, this schedule could stop looking like a roadblock and start looking like a path into the College Football Playoff.
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Now the question for Michigan is how quickly Daley can get himself ready for real game action. He said fall camp has been about managing his playing time while he works to improve, and he sounded encouraged by the direction of the defensive unit under coordinator Jay Hill. There is obvious excitement in his voice about wearing a Michigan uniform, but the more immediate storyline is whether the Wolverines can count on him to be fully ready when it matters. [Read more 🡒]