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...
Rutgers Let A Ranked Test Slip And Another One Awaits
Rutgers got a front-row lesson in the margins of Big Ten soccer on Friday night, falling 2-1 to No. 7 Maryland at Yurcak Field in front of a season-high 614 fans. Amer Lukovic supplied the lone goal for the Scarlet Knights, but Maryland struck first and spent much of the night controlling the terms before finding the winner late in the second half.
The result stings because it came in a game that felt within reach and because the schedule does not offer much time to regroup. Rutgers heads to No. 20 Wisconsin next, another ranked road test, before returning home to host Indiana in what shapes up as another demanding stretch for a team still trying to turn close chances into statement results. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Needs This Ohio State Game To End One Frustrating Drought
Rutgers field hockey heads to Columbus for a lone matchup with Ohio State on Friday at 1 p.m., a meeting that carries extra weight because the Scarlet Knights are still looking for their first Big Ten victory. Rutgers comes in at 6-6, and this has become the kind of conference stretch where every chance matters, especially against an opponent that has also had a rough autumn and will be available live on B1G+.
Ohio State enters on a five-game losing streak and sits at 4-7, which gives Rutgers a real opening to change its conference trajectory before the schedule tightens further. The Scarlet Knights have played enough solid hockey to stay in the mix, but the next step is turning that into a result that can finally loosen the pressure around a drought that has lingered through the league slate. [Read more 🡒]
Rutgers Swimming Opens With A Chance To Prove Its New Promise
Rutgers swimming and diving opens its season this weekend with a home Invitational that gives the Scarlet Knights an early chance to show how much better they can be. The event will stretch across Friday and Saturday at the Rutgers Aquatic Center, with multiple sessions and a field that includes Army, St. Bonaventure, Northeastern, Boston College and Fordham.
There is real intrigue in how Rutgers pieces this group together, because the roster blends proven returners with newcomers and includes several athletes who earned Big Ten Preseason Swimmers and Divers to Watch recognition. Early meets can be tricky to read, but for a team looking to turn promise into results, this one should offer a useful first look at both its depth and its direction. [Read more 🡒]