5 looming questions surrounding Michigan Football this summer

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We’re in the dead of summer. No college sports, no NFL, no NBA. It’s the middle of the MLB season, and it’s leaving everyone anxiously awaiting the return of fall camp for college football and the first game a little less than two months away.

With the offseason blues still in full effect, there are many questions surrounding the Michigan Wolverines heading into the 2026 season. With fall camp on the horizon, fans are left with multiple looming questions this summer that could make or break the upcoming season. 

Here are five of the biggest questions surrounding the team that fans are thinking about this summer and why waiting for the answer is agonizing.

Will Bryce Underwood actually take the sophomore year jump?

There are multiple reasons Michigan fans should be eager to see what quarterback Bryce Underwood will show in Year 2. The least of which being the unspoken cliche that players take a huge jump from their freshman to sophomore seasons.

For starters, Michigan actually has a quarterback coach, Koy Detmer Jr. On top of that, offensive coordinator Jason Beck was a quarterback at BYU and a quarterback coach for 15 of his 18 total years coaching thus far. Underwood doesn’t lack any confidence when it comes to his ability — now it’s just time to wait and see if he actually takes that leap, and the players and coaches around him help him out.

How will Michigan’s running back rotation work? 

For years, the Wolverines have been known for their headline running backs. From Karan Higdon to Hassan Haskins to Blake Corum to Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, this year isn’t going to be any different. 

A two running back system has been commonplace in recent years. Chris Evans backed up Higdon, Corum backed up Haskins, and Donovan Edwards backed up Corum. Now, freshman running back Savion Hiter is expected to backup Marshall, who has established himself as a leader in the program. With head coach Kyle Whittingham emphasizing no stray from the norm of winning on the ground through physical football, the composition of this two-man rotation could be crucial for Michigan’s success.

Who will be WR2 behind Andrew Marsh?

Last season, Donaven McCulley served as the primary receiver for most of the season as then-freshman Andrew Marsh became more comfortable at the collegiate level. Now, Marsh has the opportunity to take complete control of the receiver room. But who will back him up?

It could be Texas transfer Jaime Ffrench Jr., Utah transfer JJ Buchanan, Utah transfer/true freshman Salesi Moa, or even guys returning to the program in Channing Goodwin and Jamar Browder. The sooner Michigan can figure out its rotation to minimize the drops that were commonplace last year, the better.

Who will be the breakout star on defense?

Michigan has multiple breakout candidates on defense. Obviously players like cornerback Jyaire Hill and edge rusher John Henry Daley are already anticipated to make major contributions this season. But there are also multiple players flying under the radar that will have bigger roles.

On the defensive line, it could be Enow Etta. Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng is in a similar position at linebacker, a position that was nearly entirely overhauled this offseason. The return of special teams and infrequent defense contributor Troy Bowles could lead to him having a big leap as well. In the secondary, it could be any of Memphis transfer safety Chris Bracy, sophomore cornerback Shamari Earls or sophomore safety Jordan Young. The Wolverines only need a few of the breakouts to stick, but the more the merrier.

How quickly will Kyle Whittingham establish his culture?

The one thing Michigan desperately needed going into hiring Whittingham was someone that would bring consistency and stability. Whittingham’s 32 years with the same program speak for itself, but how he uses that experience in Ann Arbor remains to be seen.

We’ve already seen Whittingham role into College GameDay on a motorcycle, or the story Joel Klatt told about him working out — now it’s time to see how Whittingham uses that charisma and aura to woo new recruits and develop existing stars. 

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