Seven surefire wins seem to be the worst-case scenario for Michigan football in 2026. However, when you dig deeper into the schedule, nine is not that far-fetched in the first nine games of the season.
Iowa, Penn State, and Michigan State will be real threats that they can't look past, besides hosting the rematch with Oklahoma and the defending national champions. Win those, and being 9-0 going into Eugene for a matchup with Oregon could be a reality in Kyle Whittingham's first season as head coach.
3 reasons why Michigan can start 9-0
Michigan only has two road games before week 10
Despite a challenging schedule Michigan gets seven of its first nine games at the Big House. The Wolverines should be favorites to win in Minneapolis and Piscataway too, assuming they hold steady with at least four other ranked home wins during that sequence. Their last three home losses were to the No. 1-ranked team twice and to No. 3-ranked Texas. Indiana has Ohio State in Bloomington one week before coming to Ann Arbor and could be in the top five if they dethrone the Buckeyes once again.
Oklahoma is winless in postseason games under Brent Venables
Ever since Venables was hired in Norman, he has not won a bowl game or a playoff game. Week two's rematch is not a postseason game by any means, but it will be hyped up like one. Over the past couple of years, Kyle Whittingham and Michigan have won their fair share of bowl games, conference championship games, and playoff games since Venables took over in Norman. Therefore, the winner of this high-stakes affair will be treated like they won a playoff game and will hold the upper hand in the rankings all season long.
Indiana hasn't won in Ann Arbor since 1967
Gone are the days of counting Indiana as an easy win on the schedule. As long as Curt Cignetti is in Bloomington, the Hoosiers will be anything but an easy victory for anyone. With that said, Indiana has not beaten the Wolverines three times in a decade since the 1950's. Cignetti was not even born yet, and Indiana has only won back-to-back games over the Wolverines twice in the series history over 70 years. Times have certainly changed drastically in Indiana's favor thanks to Cignetti.
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