Michigan football is heading into the 2026 season with high expectations but lots of uncertainty. On paper, Michigan will field a very talented team. Possibly the most talented team that Kyle Whittingham has ever had. But the Wolverines have lots of unanswered questions heading into the season. Will Bryce Underwood take a big leap? Will the offensive line protect him? Will the linebackers hold up despite losing Cole Sullivan?
Normally, you'd love to have a few weeks for guys to get comfortable with how these coaches actually coach during the game. You'd like to see them have the chance to work with the scheme against some lesser opponents, and really let them gel with this new staff and playstyle (not to mention each other). Michigan football doesn't have that luxury in 2026.
The Wolverines face off against Western Michigan to open the season, in a game that definitely shouldn't be taken lightly. The Broncos won the MAC last season, so they're not going to roll over and let Michigan light them up without a fight.
Oklahoma will be Michigan's most important game of the year
After that, Michigan hosts Oklahoma, in what I think could be the biggest game of the season. It's no secret that Michigan has a brutal schedule in 2026. A loss against Oklahoma means Michigan would only be able to lose one more game if it wanted to securely make the playoffs. With matchups against Indiana, at Oregon, and at Ohio State, going 2-1 is hard to imagine. And that's assuming the Wolverines take care of their other opponents, which include Iowa and Penn State, amongst others.
We saw a young, inexperienced, and poorly coached Michigan team crumble under the lights against Oklahoma last season. After that loss, they were always chasing from behind and never were able to get any real momentum going. This season, Michigan will be more experienced and much better coached. The Wolverines are still young, but they should be much more mature than they were a season ago.
A win against the Sooners would show the nation that Michigan is back to competing for championships. It would silence any doubts about Bryce Underwood's ability to lead a top-tier team. Possibly most importantly, it would give the Wolverines a chance to gain serious momentum before they reach the toughest part of the schedule.
A win against Oklahoma would give Michigan a great shot at being 6-0 when it hosts Indiana. That momentum would definitely be a boost for the Wolverines in that game, and if they're able to beat the Hoosiers, they could be 9-0 heading into their matchup at Oregon. It's difficult to overstate how much confidence and momentum the Wolverines could gain by defeating Oklahoma.
A loss against the Sooners, and any playoff hopes are on thin ice before Big Ten play begins. A victory, and making the playoffs becomes the expectation. It's a fantastic opportunity for Kyle Whittingham to give this team a jolt in the right direction, and it would represent a big step for Whittingham in his goal of winning a championship.
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