The Michigan Wolverines have gone from the top of the college football world into a curious position in just two seasons.
The Wolverines mustered a 17-9 record in two seasons under Sherrone Moore following a 15-0 national title campaign in 2023.
The post-Jim Harbaugh era hasn’t been kind to Michigan. The Wolverines were forced to fire Moore after two seasons due to off-field conduct, which left an open-ended future in Ann Arbor.
Kyle Whittingham proved to be a home-run hire in response. Whittingham is the winningest coach in the history of the Utah Utes. The 66-year old also expanded on what Urban Meyer did before him, making his run more impressive.
Skeptics remain despite everything that Whittingham has proven, however.
Whittingham Expected to Underwhelm in Year One
GettyBryce Underwood is Whittingham’s quarterback in 2026.
Brad Crawford of CBS Sports believes that the legendary coach will not reach expectations that are set for him this season.
Michigan’s baseline expectation is to reach the College Football Playoff. Crawford predicts that Whittingham will lead the team to an 8-4 record. This record isn’t strong enough to qualify for the CFP, but it does set the stage for the future.
Bryce Underwood is a supremely talented quarterback that any coach would love to roster. The sophomore has a live arm and is a plus athlete, managing to have a successful freshman season despite the lack of skill position talent that was around him.
Michigan’s roster has very few flaws on paper, but the schedule ahead is certainly a test.
Michigan’s 2026 Schedule is Daunting
Michigan is likely to play five teams that will be part of the AP preseason top 25 – Oklahoma, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State.
Oklahoma is the perfect diamond test to see where Whittingham’s team stands in week two. The Sooners reached the CFP in 2025 and return star quarterback John Mateer, who had a chance to move on to the NFL. A Michigan victory here would go a great length towards a playoff berth.
Penn State is perhaps the most intriguing matchup here. Matt Campbell is a former Big 12 rival of Whittingham (Iowa State) and is in a similar position himself. Quarterback Rocco Becht is an experienced star that will be able to match Underwood. Oregon is a perennial playoff team and boasts one of the top home field advantages in college football.
The season will come down to Ohio State if the Wolverines manage to win two of the three games above. The 2026 games will take place on the road, which increases the degree of difficulty for Whittingham’s squad. However, the two teams have traded barbs at one another over the course of this decade. The result of the rivalry is seldom on solid ground on a yearly basis at this stage.
Is a four loss season a failure? In a pinch, yes. Michigan’s expectations are off the charts as a “blue blood” program, so anything short of a playoff appearance is not ideal. However, Whittingham has a unique opportunity to re-engage a fanbase that has been swarmed with controversy over the last two seasons.
Kyle Whittingham Projected to Underwhelm in First Season at Michigan