3 Bold Predictions for Michigan Football in 2026

The 2026 Michigan Football season is just around the corner. Although how this year will go is anyone's guess, here are my 3 Bold Predictions for Michigan Football in 2026, ranging from the running game all the way to where the Wolverines finish.

1. Jordan Marshall Wins the Doak Walker Award

In 2025, Jordan Marshall rushed for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns on 150 carries (6.2 yards per attempt) while appearing in 11 games. He earned All-Big Ten recognition (second-team media, third-team coaches) and showed the ability to carry a heavy workload when given the chance. His late-season surge was particularly impressive: 185 yards and three touchdowns against Purdue, 142 yards and two scores at Northwestern, and consistent production in Big Ten play (823 yards on 120 carries, 6.9 yards per attempt).

The Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's best running back, has gone to a few notable players in recent years, with Ashton Jeanty winning in 2024 and Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love taking it home last season. Both of these players posted elite efficiency and high numbers, something Marshall will have to do as well.

In 2026, Marshall enters the season as the sure RB1, but he will be splitting carries with 5-Star Freshman Savion Hiter. I don’t expect this to take away any stardom from Marshall; in fact, I expect it to complement him by giving him rest and keeping him healthy. 

2. Bryce Underwood Finishes as a Top-3 Quarterback in the Big Ten

Underwood’s 2025 numbers as a true freshman starter were solid if unspectacular: 2,428 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, and a 60.3% completion rate across 13 games. He added 392 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns. The efficiency was inconsistent, particularly against better competition, but the physical tools and willingness to run, when allowed, were evident.

Quarterbacks breaking out in their sophomore season are common and that’s exactly what I expect for Underwood, He now has an entire season more of experience and, more importantly, a coaching staff that is dedicated to him and his improvement. As formerly mentioned, the run game is expected to be elite if not the best in the country, which will complement the passing game well. In other words, Jason Beck is giving him the supporting cast; Underwood just needs to step into the spotlight.

The Big Ten quarterback landscape in 2026 is strong but not impossibly deep. Julian Sayin at Ohio State and Dante Moore at Oregon, along with Maiava at USC and the Hoosiers Josh Hoover. Underwood does not need to lead the conference in every major category. He needs to be efficient, limit turnovers, and produce in big moments. A season in the range of 3,000+ passing yards, 20+ total touchdowns, and improved accuracy would place him among the top three quarterbacks in the league by most evaluative metrics. That would also, however, be one of the best seasons in Michigan history. 

That’s the point.

The closer we get to the start of the season, the more I expect Underwood to live up to the hype. From what we’re hearing and seeing from fall camp, this is a completely different quarterback than the barely 18-year-old we saw last year. Things look more than promising, enough so that I think Bryce will take home bronze or better in the passing competition for the Big Ten.

3. Michigan Makes the College Football Playoff

This is the prediction that will draw the most skepticism, and understandably so. Michigan’s 2026 schedule features road games at Oregon and Ohio State, a home date with defending national champion Indiana, and additional challenging matchups. Preseason projections and betting markets generally view the Wolverines as a fringe contender at best, with win totals hovering around 8.5 and playoff odds in the +260 to +330 range.

With that said, we live in a completely different era of college football than the Wolverines last appearance in 2023. There are 12 teams that make the playoffs now, and with a schedule this difficult, the Wolverines would likely be in at 9-3 and a lock with anything better.

Several factors support this. Whittingham has a history of building physical, tough teams that improve as the season progresses. The defensive front and secondary have talent. The offensive line has depth. The backfield is one of the stronger units in the conference. And Underwood’s development, when (not if) it materializes, raises the ceiling for this team significantly. 

A realistic path looks something like this: Michigan handles its non-conference and mid-tier Big Ten games, splits the high-end matchups (for example, beating Indiana at home and one of Oregon or Ohio State), and finishes 10-2 or 9-3 with a strong computer profile. That is enough to get in, especially with the overall strength of schedule this team will have.

This take is far from guaranteed, as the margin for error, even allowing for three losses, is incredibly small over the course of a season. But for me, I think the Wolverines have the roster and chip on their shoulder to get over the hump.

Final Thoughts

While these are bold predictions, in order to call this season a success I think two of the three have to happen. If both Marshall and Underwood meet their prediction and somehow Michigan still misses the playoffs, it would give a lot of potential for next season. On the other hand, any scenario where the Wolverines make the playoffs is a win and would make me content regardless of other outcomes. 

Overall, the Wolverines don’t need to be perfect. They just need to live up to their potential and show the Big Ten and the rest of the country that things are going to be different under Whittingham. With the kickoff of the season for the Wolverines just under a month away, we’ll find out how these predictions hold up soon enough.