There have been plenty of questions about what the Michigan football offense will look like this season with Kyle Whittingham as the head coach.
Whittingham's offensive philosophy over the years hasn't been that different from Jim Harbaugh. He's had some wide-open offenses, but Whittingham loves the ground and pound.
During his time with Utah, Whittingham never had a team that threw the ball more than it ran the ball. The Utes did have some teams that attempted 30 pass plays per game or more, but plenty that averaged 40 or more rushing attempts, too.
Last season, the Wolverines averaged 38 runs and 26 passes. Utah averaged 44 passes and 28 runs, so basically eight more plays per game. A faster tempo would be a good thing.
And one thing to remember is that Whittingham hasn't always had elite quarterbacks. He's made do. This season, he will have Bryce Underwood, the former five-star signee, who was ranked No. 1 overall in the 2025 class.
Whittingham said this week that Underwood was "getting close." It feels like he is finally being developed. He will also be unleashed as a runner this season.
However, Underwood will be unleashed in another way, too. The offense was way too conservative last season, especially in the most important games. That shouldn't be an issue with Jason Beck calling plays.
Some have still expressed concern about a lack of passing, even 5-star recruiting target, Dakota Guerrant. He didn't believe Michigan football would throw the ball enough for a wide receiver to thrive.
Well, Andrew Marsh, a rising sophomore and Michigan football's leading receiver in 2025, had a message on the Rich Eisen Show that Guerrant and Wolverine fans will want to hear.
During his appearance on the The Rich Eisen Show, Michigan WR Andrew Marsh said he expects the offense to be more explosive this year.
— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) July 27, 2026
"You'll definitely see the ball in the air more."#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/LArbhNBsZi
"You'll definitely see the ball in the air more," Marsh told Eisen.
Michigan football fans hear exactly what they want from Andrew Marsh
Michigan fans wanted the Wolverines to be more aggressive throwing the ball last season. Underwood had some struggles, but he had some great moments, too.
Marsh hauled in 45 passes for 651 yards last season as Underwood's top target. Marsh caught 41 receptions for 611 yards in Big Ten play. He didn't play much in the first few games.
This season, it feels like a 1,000 yards could be on the table. Beyond Marsh, there are more options in the passing game like J.J. Buchanan. The Wolverines should air it out more. Believe Marsh when he says that, but know, Michigan is still going to run more than it throws this season, at least if Whittingham's time at Utah is a guide.
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