From Western Michigan to Ohio State, Michigan football will be in store for some grueling individual matchups across the lineup this upcoming season. The Wolverines will have to defend two potential no. 1 overall picks, about half a dozen other first-round picks or so, and that's not including what awaits them in the postseason. To win games that they are not supposed to, they'll have to gain the upper hand in some of these one-on-one slugfests.
Some interesting individual matchups to watch this season
Jake Guarnera vs Oklahoma DT David Stone
Groomed as everybody's preseason all-first teamer, Stone is considered by many experts as a top-10 pick. He benefited from playing next to Gracen Holten, who got drafted in April. Now it's Stone's turn to dominate. Guarnera was one of Michigan's most consistent offensive linemen in 2025 and should relish this opportunity against Stone. Opening holes for Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter will be difficult for Guarnera to do with Stone in their way. Besides that 75-yard scamper that Justice Haynes had at Oklahoma last year, Haynes only managed 50 yards rushing.
Trey Pierce vs. Iowa OL Kade Pieper
Another Iowa offensive lineman who is next in line to join the long list of Hawkeye linemen who have been coached by Kirk Ferentz. Iowa won the Joe Moore award because of guys like Pieper, Trevor Lauck and Leighton Jones. All return this season and will be a force in the Big Ten like they always are in Iowa City. All-American Pro Football Focus first-teamer is nothing to scoff at either.
Andrew Sprague vs. Minnesota DE Anthony Smith
Two guys who have a lot to gain if they continue to rise up draft boards. Smith may be the best defensive end in the country that no one is talking about. He's big enough to play on the inside if he adds a few pounds, too.
Andrew Marsh vs. Indiana CB Jamari Sharpe
This may be one of the most intriguing matchups of the entire season. Indiana's secondary collected 19 turnovers in its championship season. They stifled Ty Simpson to just 67 yards in the Rose Bowl win and picked off Dante Moore three times in two meetings. In his last two games, Marsh caught three passes for 10 yards.
Jyaire Hill vs. Rutgers WR KJ Duff
As a 6-foot-6 receiver, Duff probably had the quietest 1,000-yard season in college. He had at least 30 plus yards in every game and averaged 18 yards per catch. Some believed that Hill could be a first-round pick, not long ago. He'll get to prove it against Duff, Isaiah Sategna III, Charlie Becker, Dakorien Moore, Jeremiah Smith, and others on a gauntlet of a schedule for the defensive backs.
Rod Moore vs. UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava
Bob Chesney has the task of getting the most out of Iamaleava. The Tennessee transfer didn't progress as he anticipated in his first go-around in Pasadena. UCLA is banking that the twosome will grow together like Curt Cignetti and Fernando Mendoza did in Bloomington. For Rod Moore, this will be an underrated test against a Sunday NFL hopeful that shouldn't be taken lightly.
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