In 2023, the Michigan Wolverines won a national title and have been trying to build on their national championship success since then. In the meantime, the college football program had dismissed its former head coach, Sherrone Moore. As Kyle Whittingham holds the reins, a national analyst thinks the 2026 season is going to be pivotal for them.

"This is a pivotal year for Michigan, which hopes to shrug off Moore's actions and continue to assert itself as one of the premier programs in the sport," wrote On3 analyst Ari Wasserman. "Whittingham will be in charge of keeping Michigan at the top and bringing along quarterback Bryce Underwood, who many think is a developing star."

It's pivotal because Michigan will have to prove itself by beating all odds. A new coach, a still-developing quarterback, and one of the toughest schedules in the country. It will be determined in 2026 whether the 2023 Natty was a turning point or a one-time peak. 

That hinges on two things: Whittingham's transition from Utah and Underwood's development. According to the head coach, the quarterback will still need some polishing.

"He was a little rough around the edges, still is a little bit," he said about Underwood's performance in the spring game.

There are several reasons to believe Underwood could elevate his game in his sophomore season, with experience being the biggest factor. After a full year of college football, he is expected to have a much firmer grasp on things and prove himself.

"So the Underwood leap is the single most important variable in the national championship race when it comes to the Wolverines," said ESPN's Greg McElroy.

Besides this, the teams led by Kyle Whittingham have traditionally been defined by discipline and solid fundamentals. This season could reveal how effective that cultural transformation will be in Ann Arbor over the long term.

But one factor is not under Michigan's control.

Michigan Wolverines Draw Fourth Toughest Schedule in 2026

CBS Sports ranked Michigan’s 2026 schedule as the fourth toughest in the country.

At home, the Wolverines play Oklahoma, Iowa, Penn State, and Indiana. They travel to Oregon and Ohio State on the road. With Oklahoma and Oregon added to an already loaded Big Ten slate, this is one of the most grueling schedules Michigan has had in years. 

"There's nothing forgiving about what Kyle Whittingham will face in his first season, a schedule built to test a playoff-caliber roster," wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford. "That already means navigating the weekly Big Ten grind."

The only plus is the timing. Michigan starts with four consecutive home games (including Oklahoma), giving Whittingham a chance to build momentum before the road tests come.

The Wolverines never played two home games in a row last season, which made an already challenging schedule even more challenging. 

If Bryce Underwood continues to develop throughout the new Kyle Whittingham era, 2026 could mark the beginning of their lost charm.

Read more at Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Abhay Bharti

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar