Michigan football might be 1-0, but it's hard to feel like the Wolverines are winners, despite the 13-12 final score on Saturday night at the Big House.
Bryce Underwood made a great throw. It was one of just a few that were on target all night. J.J. Buchanan made an incredible catch. However, it's hard not to look at the replay and say Michigan was fortunate, at best, to get another second on the clock.
Maybe there is a legitimate explanation. It seems like a blown call. Despite all the protests, that result is not going to change. Michigan won the game, as improbable as it was. Kyle Whittingham started 1-0, but make no mistake, the pressure is on.
An absurd decision to give Michigan one more play. We all saw the clock with our own eyes.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 6, 2026
Honestly the Big Ten should be ashamed but they won’t be.
Many, myself included, wrote that Whittingham is on the hot seat after the loss. After what we assumed was a loss. Bryce Underwood pulled a rabbit out of a hat. Does that erase what happened for 60 minutes, though?
No, it doesn't. Whittingham gets it. He said the team didn't celebrate after the game. There was no "hooting and hollering," the head coach said.
There shouldn't be. That was a disaster. Western Michigan, the defending MAC champions, is a solid team. The Broncos played well and had a great plan, but if Michigan doesn't improve drastically, the Wolverines might not reach a bowl game.
"We're not going to win a lot of ballgames if we don't fix some things and fix them right away," Whittingham said.
Kyle Whittingham: "We're not going to win a lot of ballgames if we don't fix some things and fix them right away."
— Isaiah Hole (@isaiahhole) September 6, 2026
Michigan football better fix things by next week
With Oklahoma coming to town next week, it feels like things could get ugly. Things aren't as bad for Whittingham as they would have been with a loss, but a lopsided defeat to Oklahoma will have people questioning his hire, with good reason.
It felt like a perfect fit. Maybe it will be still. One game doesn't make a season. Teams are also never as good or as bad they seem.
Michigan isn't as bad as it looked on Saturday night. But it's fair to question how good this team can be unles there is dramatic improvement, almost overnight from the quarterback and the offensive line.
The play of the offensive line was just as concerning as the play of Underwood. Both were expected to be much better this season. Instead, they look like they might have taken a step back.
Crazy things happen in Week 1. Notre Dame lost to Northern Illinois two years ago and played for the national championship in the same season. That's not to suggest Michigan will do that. This team shouldn't even be ranked.
There is time to improve, as Whittingham said, but if Michigan is going to avoid a disappointing season, that improvement better happen quickly.
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