5 players that could swing Michigan Football’s 2026 season
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While we’re expecting the Michigan Wolverines to improve from its finish in 2025, the schedule isn’t doing them any favors. Half of Michigan’s schedule could feature teams ranked inside the top-25, including teams like Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Penn State and Oklahoma. But if there’s anything the offseason is good for, it’s optimism.
While everyone on the team is going to need to step up, here are five players we think have the potential to swing Michigan’s season.
QB Bryce Underwood
There’s always so much riding on the success and failure of the starting quarterback, and that’s true for Michigan. Underwood came in last season with so much hype, but now he’s got to put it all together. Given the coaching change, it’s reasonable to expect some growing pains, but if he can’t find open receivers or move the ball well on the ground, it’s going to be a long season.
On the flip side, if Underwood can manage to make his reads and threaten opponents with his legs, this team could really be a force. The returning offensive line should give him better protection in 2026, so Underwood just needs to put it all together.
WR Andrew Marsh
The sophomore wide receiver should be the top target for Underwood this season. While it took Marsh a few weeks to settle in, he ended up with 45 receptions, 651 yards and four touchdowns. It seems reasonable to believe those stats will improve in the fall. While he might be competing for snaps with better receivers this offseason, he has a year of building trust with Underwood that guys like JJ Buchanan and Jaime Ffrench just don’t have.
If Marsh isn’t able to put it together, this feels like a season where Michigan doesn’t have the same kind of flexibility at a position like tight end to really help spread out those targets. What good is having a deeper receivers room if you’re not getting much improvement from your returners?
CB Zeke Berry
It’s a new year for Berry, and maybe playing under defensive coordinator Jay Hill can help him put everything together. Berry finished last season with 33 tackles and one interception, and it feels like there is still room for growth. So much of what Hill does revolves around a threatening secondary, and his ability to disguise coverages should help Berry take a leap.
If Berry isn’t able to string things together, the Wolverines could have a season where they’re struggling and giving up big plays. They’ll really need a veteran player in the secondary like Berry given the tough schedule and quality quarterbacks and wideouts they will play against.
S Rod Moore
This is a big one. The coaches are talking about how much talent Moore brings to the table, but we know he’s been dealing with a recovery process that has taken longer than anticipated. There isn’t as much worry about if he’ll be able to play when he’s back, we saw his ball hawk skills in limited snaps last fall. It’s just how long he’ll be on the field. If Moore is good to go and on the field like they’re not worried about his health, Michigan will have a much scarier secondary.
If Moore isn’t healthy, it isn’t just that he’s a step above the other guys, but the Big Ten season is long, and the Wolverines will be playing a few pass heavy offenses. They really need Moore back a full strength if they want the season to swing in the positive direction.
DE John Henry Daley
The transfer from Utah is going to be a difference maker on the defensive line as long as he is healthy. While there’s arguably more concern at the linebacker position than the defensive line, Daley is a clear difference-maker if he is on the field — he tallied 48 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 2025.
If he’s able to replicate his performance from 2025, Michigan’s defense should be in great shape shape. He could help swing momentum Michigan’s way and take some pressure off the offense. He was supposed to be fully cleared ahead of summer workouts, which started this month, so hopefully he is good to go now and will be 100 percent healthy by Week 1.
Who do you think could swing the season for the Wolverines? Let us know in the comments below!
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