Michigan Football Schedule Prediction

The calendar has turned to August, which means football is right around the corner. To get ready for football season, Mitten Sports breaks down Michigan footballs 2026 schedule and predicts their record.

Season Over/Under: 8.5

Week 1: Vs Western Michigan

Michigan has no trouble with the Broncos and roll to 1-0 in the Kyle Whittingham era.

1-0

Week 2: Vs Oklahoma

Michigan went to Norman last fall with a true freshman QB making his first road start and basically turning the forward pass off, and still gave Oklahoma a dogfight at night at their place. Year 2 of Bryce Underwood, with a competent coaching staff, and playing at home, means the Wolverines get it done over the Sooners in week 2.

2-0

Week 3: Vs. UTEP 

The Wolverines demolish UTEP to move to 3-0.

3-0

Week 4: Vs Iowa

This is a sneaky spot for Michigan, Iowa is a tough program and Kirk Ferentz will come in and run the ball and play defense. Michigan wins, but don’t be surprised if this is a close, slug fest of a game.

4-0

Week 5: @ Minnesota

Minnesota can sneak up as a trap game some years and with Michigans offense, I don’t think they blow the Gophers out in their building. I’d expect a low scoring Michigan win here.

5-0

Week 6: Vs Penn State

Matt Campbell was a great hire for the Nittany Lions, and I am higher on Penn st than most people. I can see Penn State winning 8-9 games this fall with the easiest schedule in the big ten, but Michigan gets the better off them at home this time.

6-0

Week 7: Vs Indiana

Indiana and Curt Cignetti have become a juggernaut in the Big Ten, Michigan isn’t ready to climb that mountain just yet. Michigan drops to 7-1 after losing to Indiana at home.

7-1

Week 8: @ Rutgers

Despite Mike Higgins and Logan Blakes best efforts, Michigan will go to SHI Stadium in Piscataway and roll the Scarlet Knights in the birthplace of college football.

8-1

Week 9: Vs Michigan State

Pat Fitzgerald will have MSU heading in the right direction in the next couple of years, but Kyle Whittingham gets the best of him in the Big House in year 1.

9-1

Week 10: @Oregon

Dante Moore and Dan Lanning are on a revenge tour through the Big Ten this season and playing in Autzen stadium is one of the most difficult things to do in CFB. Oregon will take care of Michigan at home.

9-2

Week 11: Vs UCLA

This week is always tough for Michigan and Ohio State to avoid dropping the week 11 look-ahead spot to The Game. I think Michigan is a better team than UCLA and by now Bryce Underwood is comfortable and rolling.

10-2

Week 12: @ Ohio State

The Game is tough to predict, Ohio State will be one of the more talented teams in the country, but Michigan won in the Shoe 2 years ago as 20 point underdogs without the forward pass. We will see how Bryce Underwood performs in what will be the biggest game of his life to that point.

Breakdown:

Given the schedule, I see the floor of Michigans season being 8-4 with a ceiling of 10-2. The Wolverines get a number of their tough games at home, like Oklahoma, PSU, and Indiana which helps. Oregon and OSU are tough road games but the only other 2 road games are Rutgers and Minnesota which is more than manageable. The tough Big Ten trap games usually come on the road and the Wolverines avoid those. The development of Bryce Underwood is the main factor in how the seasonn turns out. The defense will be good, one of the best running back rooms in the country, an elite receiver in Andrew Marsh will help underwood take the year 2 leap.