Michigan Football is Back Saturday Night
No. 16 Michigan opens the Kyle Whittingham era at 7:30 on NBC against a Western Michigan team that won the MAC last season. This is the first look at Team 147.
Michigan Football vs Western Michigan 2026
No. 16 Michigan opens the Kyle Whittingham era under the lights at the Big House. The Wolverines will face Western Michigan at 7:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock. This will be fans' first chance to see Team 147.
It's important to remember that this game is not a throwaway. The Broncos won the MAC last season at 10-4, beating Miami (OH) 23-13 in the championship game for their first conference title since 2016, then closing the year with a 41-6 win over Kennesaw State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. They bring back quarterback Broc Lowry and running back Jalen Buckley. Whittingham already flagged their run game, as they averaged more than 300 rushing yards per game in the second half last year.
The setup
When: Saturday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Michigan Stadium
TV: NBC / Peacock
Records: Both 0-0
Series: Michigan has never lost to Western Michigan (8-0), and this is the ninth meeting
The next week is Oklahoma at noon on FOX.
What Michigan needs to show
Bryce Underwood starts Year 2 as the quarterback. The staff has been careful with him all camp, but he's shown flashes. The standard is simple: take care of the ball, push the offense down the field, and look faster than he did as a freshman.
Jordan Marshall leads the backfield. Andrew Marsh and JJ Buchanan are the top two receivers. Channing Goodwin won the WR3 job coming out of camp. Tommy Carr is the backup quarterback.
On the line, Andrew Babalola will miss the opener. That is the one notable absence. John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols are full go on the edge. The defense should be the identity piece of this team. If the front wins early and the secondary looks settled, this game gets comfortable in a hurry.
What Western Michigan will try
Lance Taylor's group is not walking in to take a beating on purpose. Now in his fourth season in Kalamazoo, Taylor has a quarterback who can run and a back who can finish runs — Buckley went for 193 yards on 19 carries in the MAC Championship Game and was named Offensive Player of the Game. They will try to stay on schedule, chew clock, and keep the score from getting out of hand before the fourth quarter.
That only works if Michigan lets them. The Wolverines should win the line of scrimmage on both sides. If they do what they do best, the night gets loud and the scoreboard starts moving.
It All Starts Here
Whittingham said this team's goal is to win the Big Ten in Year One. If that's truly the aspiration, then we shouldn't see a team that needs much gelling this Saturday. We should see a team that looks like it would be a shock if it missed the playoffs.
Western Michigan isn't Oklahoma or Ohio State, but it's where this season begins and should give us an idea of where it will end.
Hopefully in Indy.
Written by
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