The wait for the 2026 Michigan football season is almost over. We are just hours away from kickoff as Kyle Whittingham makes his debut as the Wolverines' head coach.
How to watch Michigan vs Western Michigan?
Michigan is a heavy favorite in the season opener. Fresh off a nine-win season, Michigan is a 27.5-point favorite over the Broncos, who won 10 games last season. The two teams will square off in the Big House Saturday night. NBC/Peacock will have the coverage. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM EST.
FUBO is another option for streaming the game online between the Wolverines and the Broncos. The game can also be listened to for free at MGoBlue.com.
What to watch for Michigan vs. Western Michigan
Not only did the Broncos win 10 games in 2025, but they actually kept some of their most talented players. Western Michigan is better in the trenches than most MAC teams. It also returns quarterback Broc Lowry, who was the 2025 MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Michigan returns starting quarterback Bryce Underwood as the starter after an up-and-down first season. Many have dumped on Underwood. Truly, his first season as the starter wasn't as bad as some have made it out to be.
Underwood is the same age this season as Dante Moore was when he started as a freshman. Development takes time, but Jason Beck feels like he will be a huge piece for Underwood.
Bryce looked much better in fall camp. All the buzz is about how much he has improved. Yet, we need to see it against a live defense. If the passing game struggles, the running game should be just fine, especially with Underwood more involved.
It should be better than fine, actually. Michigan might have the best run game in the Big Ten. The offensive line should take almost as big a step forward as Underwood. That's how poor the coaching was under Sherrone Moore, at least compared to Jim Harding.
The Wolverines can't afford to overlook Western Michigan, though. The spread seems a little big, especially when you have a team playing for the first time under a new head coach.
There could be some growing pains. Or the Wolverines will dominate in the trenches, and that will be that. That's how I predicted things would go in our bold predictions, and it feels like a safe bet.
The Wolverines will win by three scores, but covering the spread might be asking too much.
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