Michigan is entering a new era under Kyle Whittingham, and ESPN insider Pete Thamel agrees. He believes the Wolverines have found the right coach to lead them.

In a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Thamel praised Michigan's decision and explained why he expects Whittingham to succeed in Ann Arbor. Thamel also discussed Michigan's coaching change after a turbulent stretch for the program. 

"Well, I think, look, Rich, Michigan made an unbelievable hire. Kyle Whittingham is one of the best football coaches in the last generation in college football,” Thamel said on July 22. “He took Utah from the Mountain West with barely a blip to the Pac-12, made them a contender, and made them a conference title.”

Thamel pointed to Whittingham's long track record at Utah. He said the veteran coach is well-equipped to restore consistency while taking advantage of the resources available at Michigan.

“He has been one of the most consistently performing football coaches in college football in the last 25 years, period. End of story," Thamel said on the Rich Eisen Show on July 22.

The insider also pointed to Whittingham's sustained success despite rarely having elite quarterback play. He highlighted Michigan's investment in its coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Jason Beck and defensive coordinator Jay Hill.

"So I think it's an unbelievable hire. It's such a good fit in the Big Ten. They've recruited really well. He has a strong front office there, and he's going to maximize the resources,” Thamel added. “He's a high-end game-day coach. I'd be stunned if Kyle Whittingham doesn't succeed highly there."

Michigan is scheduled to open fall camp on August 1, giving Whittingham his first opportunity to put that vision into action ahead of the 2026 season.

The new coaching staff has already brought renewed expectations around the program.

One of the biggest storylines, however, remains how sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood develops under Beck.

Bryce Underwood still has doubters entering Year 2

According to The Athletic's annual quarterback tiers, Underwood enters the season ranked No. 31 among the nation's projected starting quarterbacks, placing him in Tier 4.

"There was a ton of hype surrounding Underwood entering last season as the No. 1 recruit in his class, but the play didn’t match the buzz. He was just a true freshman, and Michigan’s dysfunctional coaching situation didn’t help matters,” The Athletic wrote. 

The report also included feedback from a Big Ten assistant coach, who praised Underwood's physical tools. But the coach also pointed out that his mechanics and natural feel still need refinement.

With Whittingham and Beck now leading the program, Michigan hopes a more stable environment will help Underwood take the next step as the Wolverines look to return to Big Ten title contention.

Do you think Bryce Underwood will improve under HC Kyle Whittingham's guidance? Let us know in the comments.

Read more at the Michigan Football Community.

Written by

Evince Das

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit