Michigan’s summer was supposed to be quiet. Instead, it turned into a nonstop stretch of headlines, and now Warde Manuel has one last chance to leave a mark before he exits at the end of the calendar year.
The run started with Dusty May, who passed on the Wolverines and took the head basketball job with the Dallas Mavericks. Michigan then turned to assistant coach Mike Boynton, who was initially expected to serve only as the interim before the university gave him a full contract. After that came the news that Manuel would be leaving Michigan at year’s end.
Given the rocky, scandal-heavy stretch Michigan has been through lately, Manuel’s departure did not exactly land as a shock. He may not have been the one causing the problems, but he was the athletic director, and that responsibility lands on him.
Even with two National Championship-winning head coaches on his résumé, Manuel’s tenure probably won’t be remembered warmly by most fans. Still, there is a path for him to salvage a little of that legacy, and it runs through one of college sports’ most recognizable rivalries.
The Notre Dame-USC rivalry is officially back after a one-year pause, with the Trojans having been too chicken to want to schedule the Irish. That development naturally brings another dormant matchup into focus: Michigan and Notre Dame.
The Wolverines and Irish last met in 2019, and the rivalry has been badly missed. It was a fierce early-season series, and it needs to be back on the field as soon as possible. There are already games on the books between Michigan and Notre Dame in 2033 and 2034 under a previous agreement, but Manuel still has time to do something bigger.
If he can get the rivalry back sooner than 2033, he could at least leave Ann Arbor with a small win in the eyes of the Michigan sports community. Former players on both sides, including Wolverines legend Taylor Lewan and recent Notre Dame draft pick Jeremiyah Love, want to see it return, too.
Manuel has until the end of the calendar year to make it happen, which leaves the door open for him to adjust the agreement or add games before 2033. If he does, Michigan fans would have something real to look forward to a lot sooner.
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Michigans Offense Faces One Early Test After Fall Practice No. 1
The first fall practice offered a useful snapshot of where Michigans offense stands, and offensive coordinator Jason Beck came away encouraged by the early work from a unit still sorting itself out. Bryce Underwoods confidence and development drew notice, while the receiver group also showed signs of pushing for larger roles as the team begins to settle into camp. There is still a long way to go, but the opening day pointed to a group with more options and more competition than it had a year ago.
Beck also pointed to the ongoing battle up front, where the offensive line remains a key area to watch as practice moves forward. Players such as Zack Marshall and Mason Bonner are expected to help shape the depth chart, and quarterback coach Koy Detmer has been part of the support system helping Underwood grow through the transition. For Michigan, the early challenge is not just identifying talent, but finding out how quickly all those pieces can come together. [Read more 🡒]
Bryce Underwood Gives Michigan Fans A Reason To Dream Early
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There is still plenty of camp left, and Michigan will keep sorting out how its passing game comes together with receivers Andrew Marsh and Jaime Ffrench, along with freshmen Travis Johnson and Salesi Moa in the mix. But for a program trying to settle in quickly under a new staff, it helps when the most closely watched player looks comfortable early. Underwood did enough in the opening days to give Michigan fans a reason to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's New Era Opens With One Big Playoff Test
Kyle Whittinghams arrival in Ann Arbor gives Michigan an immediate sense of stability, even as the program turns a page after the long run at Utah. Hired in December 2025, Whittingham inherits a team ranked No. 16 to open the 2026 season, with new offensive coordinator Jason Beck and defensive coordinator Jay Hill also joining the staff as the Wolverines try to reset quickly under a familiar, proven head coach.
The challenge now is less about reputation than translation: turning a new staff into a team ready to handle the weekly demands that come with being in the playoff conversation. Michigan has enough to make the conversation interesting, but the real question is whether this group can come together fast enough to meet the standard Whittingham brings with him and keep pace in a race where there is little margin for a slow start. [Read more 🡒]