John Henry Daley makes bold statement about how good Michigan can be in 2026

When Kyle Whittingham stepped down as the Utah head coach, it wasn't a guarantee he was going to find another job. There also wasn't a guarantee that John Henry Daley would follow.

In the end, Whittingham was the choice that made the most sense for Michigan football. The Wolverines desperately needed an adult in the room. The program needed a proven winner, ready to guide a team with the talent to achieve just about anything.

Whittingham didn't shy away from expecations. He said that you come to a place like Michigan to win a national championship. That's the goal. First, the Wolverines need to get into the 12-team playoff for the first time after missing the past two seasons.

However, Henry Daley, one of the Utah players Whittingham brought with him, doesn't see any reason to wait. He believes Michigan football can do that in 2026.

John Henry Daley makes bold statement about Michigan's national title apsirations

Henry Daley didn't make any guarantees. Let's be clear about that, but in an interview with Pete Nakos of On3.com, he said that Michigan has a "national championship roster."

Henry Daley also said: "We can accomplish everything this year."

As a fan, that's exactly what you want to hear. Players and coaches should want one of their leaders to have that kind of confidence, too. With 11.5 sacks last season and 17.5 TFL, the EDGE, ranked as one of the top transfers in college football, is one of the most disruptive players in the sport.

Whittingham has said this offseason that the defensive line is going to be Michigan's biggest strength this season, and Henry-Daley hasn't even been healthy. Beyond an elite D-line, Michigan should have one of the best offensive lines in college football, one of the best running back rooms, an upgraded receiver room, and a loaded secondary.

Linebacker is a concern. Quarterback is, too. Bryce Underwood still has a lot to prove. Yet, it's good to see that Henry-Daley is a believer. Way too many have written off Underwood, despite just one season as a starter, when he was a true freshman, without a dedicated QB coach, I might add.

That wasn't conducive to success and Underwood still had a better freshman season than Dante Moore. If he takes a true leap forward this season, and the defense, and running game are as good as expected, there's no reason why what Henry-Daily said can't come true.

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