Big Ten Series: 2026 Michigan Football Season Preview

The consensus around Ann Arbor in 2025 was that when the Wolverines were 9-2, with losses only to Oklahoma and USC on the road. Things were looking good. 

In the mind of the Maize & Blue faithful, however, heading into the season finale with #1 Ohio State, Michigan had put enough on their resume that they should have been included in the CFP. After a 27-9 loss to the Buckeyes at the Big House, the Selection Committee thought otherwise, and no invitation to the postseason tournament was forthcoming.  This will be a huge rallying point for the upcoming campaign.

Team Snapshot

• Conference: BIG TEN

• Head Coach: Kyle Whittingham

• 2025 Record: 9-4 Overall, 7-2 BIG TEN

• Key Games: Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State

Season Outlook

First, let’s be brutally honest about the Wolverines. This season, there isn’t the usual, elite talent in Ann Arbor (on either side of the ball) that will be selected in the 1st or 2nd round of the 2027 NFL Draft. 

That’s the bad news. 

The good news is there’s a brigade of extremely good football players and some high-end underclassmen who are not draft-eligible taking the field this year. They will be future high picks.

One of those is quarterback Bryce Underwood. After a disappointing freshman campaign, look for new offensive coordinator Jason Beck (Utah) to incorporate more spread offense as well as using the signal caller more in the run game. A big plus for the offense is returnee Jordan Marshall (932 yards and 10 TDs), who will be the primary ball carrier with 5-star freshman recruit Savion Hiter waiting in the wings. The wide receiver corps is led by Andrew Marshall, with portal additions JJ Buchanan (Utah) and Jaime French (Texas) expected to contribute immediately. The offensive line is experienced (4 returning starters) and deep, so don’t be surprised if Coach Willingham employs a “three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust” game plan until the passing game starts to click.

New defensive coordinator Jay Beck (BYU) will strive to get back to the unit that won the national title in 2023 with an array of looks meant to confuse the opposition that will lead to turnovers. Both defensive tackles, Trey Pierce and Enow Etta, are holdovers, and the addition of defensive end John Henry Daly (Utah) will help anchor the front four. 

The weakest link is the linebacker corps, which may explain why the Maize & Blue will be using a 4-2-5 system. The secondary has veteran leadership with Zeke Berry, along with Jyaire Hill manning the corners and a healthy Rod Moore holding down one of the safety spots. Transfers Smith Snowden (Utah) and Chris Bracy (Memphis) will complete the last two spots. If the backend end can stay healthy, this group has a chance to be one of the top units in college football.

2026 Prediction: Projected Record: 10-2 Overall, 7-2 Conference

Head Coach Kyle Willingham has already instilled in Ann Arbor the “Leave No Doubt” mantra when it comes to a CFP bid. The biggest plus for Michigan is the return of four starting offensive linemen to play bully ball right out of the gate. The schedule is difficult but manageable with Oklahoma, Iowa in September, then back-to-back dates with Penn State and Indiana in the middle of October. All of these contests are in the Big House. 

The two most difficult contests will be a couple of November soirees, with one to the left coast to take on Oregon plus the traditional trip to “that school down South” in Columbus. By then the Maize & Blue may have worked out all the kinks, positioning the Wolverines as a prime candidate for a CFP birth.

Top NFL Prospects

Blake Frazier leads a solid group of offensive linemen returning to the trenches for the Wolverines. At 6’5 and 295 pounds, the redshirt sophomore offensive tackle has great bloodlines. His father, Steve, was a member of the 1997 championship team at Michigan, and the Austin native decided to go north rather than play at Texas. He has phenomenal athleticism and exceptional footwork, which makes him an elite pass protector. He’s also added some bulk, which will only increase his draft stock. He should come off the board late 1st or early 2nd round.