Fall camp is officially here, which means college football is so close, you can almost taste it. It might be a good thing, though, that teams still have a few weeks before they officially hit the field against a real opponent because some still have work to do to be ready, including Michigan.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham is about to enter his first season as the Michigan head coach, which, whether he believes it or not, will be vastly different from his time at Utah. Before that, he will need a roster and depth chart he feels comfortable putting out on the field, which is where fall camp comes into play.
There are still some decisions to be made about who will take the field as starters and who will be in reserve roles, or otherwise known as position battles. Michigan has plenty of them to work through, but there are three that could define parts of the 2026 season for Michigan, and we are here to walk you through all of them.
Blake Frazier vs. Andrew Babalola for the left tackle position
This might be one of the tightest position battles Michigan will see during fall camp, and it could even spill into the regular season. The offensive line is crucial for the Wolverines this season, especially if Bryce Underwood is going to have the season he wants.
This offensive line has depth out the wazoo, so being the front leaders in this battle has to mean something for both Blake Frazier and Andrew Babalola. It should be watched closely, as it feels like offensive line coach Jim Harding can't go wrong with either guy.
This is a decision that should be made sooner rather than later because once the offensive line is set, it will take time for the guys to gel. With camp still in its early stages, it could take some time for either guy to really stand out.
Tommy Carr vs. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi as the backup QB to Bryce Underwood
The backup quarterback position is more important than anyone might want to admit. This is the guy that everything will be turned over to if the starter goes down. Just look at Nebraska last season when Dylan Raiola went down; TJ Lateef was thrust into action, or Penn State with Ethan Grunkemeyer taking over for the injured Drew Allar.
So, while no one wants to see Bryce Underwood go down, if he does, there needs to be a solid backup plan. Right now, there is a battle for that position between freshman Tommy Carr and veteran transfer Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
It seems like common sense for the position to go to someone with experience like Fowler-Nicolosi, who transferred from Colorado State this offseason, but that may not be the case here. Carr, who is the brother of Notre Dame starting QB CJ Carr and the son of Jason Carr, who once played at Michigan, has really impressed throughout the spring and summer.
This battle has time to develop, as a backup really isn't needed unless Underwood goes down, and again, no one wants that. Whittingham could play the long game here and watch how both guys perform in late-game opportunities if the Wolverines are up by enough, but as of right now, Carr could have the edge here.
The linebacker battle is wide open
The linebacker position is the biggest question mark of this Michigan team as a whole. After losing all three starters from last season, new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Jay Hill and Alex Whittingham have their work cut out for them in fall camp.
The linebacker room is filled with a lot of inexperienced players like Chase Taylor and Troy Bowles, who played more reserve roles in 2025. Then there is the transfer experience of Nathaniel Staehling coming from North Dakota State and Michigan name Nathaniel Owusu-Boating, who is coming off a freshman campaign with the Wolverines.
This is the most wide-open position battle for Michigan, as there is no clear frontrunner. Hill and Whittingham are dealing with inexperience and must find a way to bring the group that is probably the weakest link of a very talented defense up to par by Week 1.
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