Does Michigan Football Have What It Takes to Regain Control of the Big Ten in 2026?
Three years after the historic yet slightly scandalous 2023 season, the Michigan Wolverines are looking to get back on the saddle and become the top dogs that everyone used to fear. It's no secret that there has been something lacking in the coaching position since Jim Harbaugh left to avoid NCAA penalties, which led the university to promote offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach. Moore’s tenure with the Wolverines went as expected, with a pedestrian 2024 season, though Michigan pulled off a major upset against the would-be National Champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes, which made every Michigan fan happy. This past year, which was also the freshman year for the highly sought-after Bryce Underwood, went a little better as Michigan finished 9-4, despite dropping their last two to OSU and Texas, and coach Moore had off-the-field drama so bad it got him fired and arrested.
Luckily for the Maize and Blue, this gave them an opportunity for a fresh start, and although they were a little late to the party, they landed a great candidate in Kyle Whittingham, who was Utah’s head coach for 22 years and had some very successful seasons in Salt Lake City. For Michigan, Whittingham’s age of 66 is not a concern, as they gave him a five-year, eight-million-dollar salary with 75% guaranteed. He may not be a Jim Harbaugh-level coach, but he has been around the game for a long time and has the chance to develop Underwood into a winning QB and give the rest of the Big Ten a run for their money. With Michigan constantly in the spotlight, it will be fascinating to see how coach Whitt can connect with this new group of guys and get this program back to where it belongs.
As for the players on Michigan, Bryce Underwood will be back as the starting quarterback, which is who everyone’s eyes will be on, but the Wolverines also did a solid job in the transfer portal, as they are bringing in 16 new guys, with five of those coming from Utah and joining their coach in Ann Arbor. One of those former Utes is cornerback Smith Snowden, who played a big role back in Utah, and it is no secret that Whitt wanted Snowden to join him in the Big Ten. Outside of the Utahns, former Texas wide receiver Jaime Ffrench Jr. is joining the program and looking to be a key target for Bryce Underwood. Considering where this program was back in December, things are certainly on the up and up right now, as this new era of Michigan Football is ready to shock the world.
