Michigan’s first season under Kyle Whittingham has gone from uneasy to ugly in a hurry, and the Wolverines’ remaining 2026 slate doesn’t offer much relief. After a controversial last-second win over Western Michigan in Week 1, a narrow escape against Oklahoma State, a 55-17 rout of UTEP, and back-to-back losses to Iowa and Minnesota, Michigan now sits at 0-2 in Big Ten play with the schedule only getting tougher.
If the Wolverines are going to salvage anything, they’ll have to find their chances where they can. Here’s how the rest of the schedule stacks up from most manageable to most daunting.
Rutgers is the softest landing spot left, even with the game in Piscataway. The Scarlet Knights opened with a 37-21 home loss to UMass, then dropped games to Boston College and USC. Against FBS opponents, Rutgers is 0-4 with a minus-30 point differential, and that’s enough to make this the most winnable game left on Michigan’s calendar.
Michigan State is next. The Spartans have at least beaten an FBS team this year, but they’re also on a three-game skid after getting outscored 89-26 in those losses. The rivalry always adds some chaos, but with the game at the Big House, Michigan gets a real edge.
Penn State is a different kind of test. The Nittany Lions’ first season under Matt Campbell has already triggered plenty of concern in State College, and quarterback Rocco Becht has not settled in during Big Ten play.
He has just two total touchdowns and three interceptions in two conference games. That said, Penn State still sits a clear step above Michigan’s games against Rutgers and Michigan State.
UCLA has quietly become one of the most interesting teams on the schedule. Before the season, few expected the Bruins to start 4-0, but that’s exactly what Bob Chesney has done, with every win coming by at least 14 points. The former James Madison coach has the Bruins looking like a real Big Ten threat, at least for now.
Indiana is even more imposing. The Hoosiers have only shown a hint of vulnerability in a 29-23 win over Northwestern, and otherwise they’ve rolled through the rest of their opponents. Michigan will be at home, but the rest of the matchup leans toward Indiana.
Oregon’s visit comes with a timing wrinkle that could matter. Mid-November may give Dante Moore enough time to return from the severe concussion he suffered on Sept.
- If he doesn’t, Dylan Raiola has already shown he can handle the job well in relief, and he brings experience against Michigan from his Nebraska days.
At the top of the difficulty list is Ohio State. Even after an opening loss to Texas, the Buckeyes look like one of the best teams in the country, and Jeremiah Smith has been unstoppable with 23 catches for 423 yards and six touchdowns in just two Big Ten games. Michigan has pulled off surprises in The Game before, but this version of Ohio State doesn’t look like a favorable matchup for anybody.
In Other News...
Former Ohio State Coach Brian Hartline Just Took A Brutal First Step Back
Brian Hartlines first months at South Florida had gone smoothly enough, with the former Ohio State offensive coordinator off to a 4-1 start before a stumble at UTSA snapped the momentum. The trip also came with a side note that got plenty of attention, after Hartline made comments about the noise inside the opponents stadium and then had those remarks revisited in a very public way once the game was over.
From Ohio States perspective, Hartlines next chapter is still part of the larger coaching tree story, but the Buckeyes have their own issues to sort out as the schedule rolls on. The offense has had trouble getting the rushing game where it needs to be, and while Hartline is now trying to settle in as a head coach, his rough first step back served as another reminder that the margins get small fast once conference and nonconference tests start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Elite Passing Game Is Hiding A Bigger Running Back Issue
Ohio States passing game has been humming along at a level few teams in the country can match, but the ground game is carrying a very different kind of conversation. The Buckeyes sit 81st in rushing yards per attempt, a ranking that stands out for a team with this much offensive firepower and one that has had to lean on a rotating backfield rather than finding a clear weekly answer.
The workload has bounced among Ja'Kobi Jackson, Bo Jackson and Isaiah West, with true freshman Legend Bey also part of the early mix. Beys limited role has drawn attention because of questions around why his touches have thinned out, and while there has been speculation about professionalism concerns, nothing has been officially confirmed. For a team built to pressure defenses in every way, the bigger issue may be less about who is getting the carries and more about whether Ohio State has settled on the right one. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Brings Coaching Drama And A Defense Ohio State Can Exploit
Maryland arrives with plenty of noise around the program, and not much of it has anything to do with what happens between the lines. The uncertainty around Mike Locksleys future has hung over the Terps for a while now, with the athletic director potentially waiting until after the bye week to make a call, and that backdrop only adds to the sense that Ohio State is catching Maryland at a tense moment. At the same time, the offensive side has slipped, with Malik Washingtons play trending down and the Terps searching for steadier footing.
There is still enough on the defensive front to make Maryland worth studying, especially along the line, where a few key pieces can flash and disrupt a game if the rest of the unit holds together. The problem, as Michael Howes pointed out, is that the tackling has not been dependable enough, and those misses have repeatedly undercut the defense. For Ohio State, that creates a familiar sort of opportunity, one that starts with pressure up front and can quickly turn into a longer afternoon for a defense already carrying too much uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]