After winning a National Championship in 2023, Michigan has failed to make the College Football Playoff, let alone threaten to win it all again. Jim Harbaugh left, more scandals broke out, Sherrone Moore was fired, and now Warde Manuel will be out at the end of the calendar year. So why should anyone have hope in Michigan? Two words: Kyle Whittingham
The 2026 college football season is mere weeks away, so while fall camp winds down and preparations for Week 1 fully begin, the media is making some of their final preseason predictions. CBS Sports host Aaron Taylor is high on the Wolverines, but not just because of the talent the team possesses, but because of what Whittingham brings to Michigan.
"It felt like the last three years for Michigan, they were trying to apologize for themselves," Taylor said of the Wolverines. "They [Michigan] didn't need to be reinvented; they just needed to be reminded of who the hell they are, what style of football they play, and get some swag back. Kyle Whittingham will do that."
.@AaronTaylorCFB has high hopes for Kyle Whittingham and Michigan.#ICF pic.twitter.com/KxWPKoS8RG
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) August 18, 2026
The Wolverines don't need to change what they have done, at least on the field. Whittingham is the coach to come in and reset things, especially not having really any ties to the program before stepping foot in Ann Arbor.
After years of scandals and issues, Kyle Whittingham is helping Michigan get back to football
When Kyle Whittingham was hired at Michigan, he had no real ties to the school previously, other than holding a perfect 3-0 record against the Wolverines. So, even now, he is learning a lot about the program and its history, but is also choosing to keep things simple when it comes to football.
Everyone knows Michigan's history of scandals as of late, including Whittingham, but even when asked about that history at Big Ten Media Days, the 66-year-old head coach said the team is ready to put all that behind them and get back to football.
This is exactly what Michigan needs as it works to, at the very least, get back to the College Football Playoff. A National Championship could be in the cards for the Wolverines again in the future, even with the talent they have now, but Whittingham knows that playing meaningful football late in the season is important.
Now, the patience of the fanbase won't last forever. If Whittingham doesn't produce winning seasons with College Football Playoff appearances, he will quickly lose favor with Michigan fans. Right now, though, it is focusing on what is happening in practices and getting ready for the season.
There have been some changes as well to the conference, with the Big Ten bringing in more talent than it had even three years ago. So, Michigan will need to find a way to get back into the top tier of teams.
So, Taylor is right, Michigan doesn't need to rebuild or reinvent itself; it has the identity to win, and Whittingham can absolutely be the coach to bring that back to Ann Arbor.
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