Michigan’s CFP run in Kyle Whittingham’s first season gets cold water dumped on it by ESPN

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Michigan football is heading in a new direction in 2026, with Kyle Whittingham coming in as the new head coach. Whittingham agreed to a five-year deal with Michigan after Sherrone Moore was fired.

Michigan made it to the College Football Playoff in 2021, 2022, and again in 2023, winning the National Championship in 2023. In the two seasons under Moore, before he was fired due to an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, was just 17-9. Now, Whittingham is looking to bring Michigan back to the playoffs, but Heather Dinich of ESPN does not think that will be happening this year.

“It’s not impossible for the Wolverines to make a run in the first season under coach Kyle Whittingham, but with Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State all on the schedule, it would be a surprise,” Dinich wrote.

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The biggest issue for Michigan is the schedule. It could play into their favor if the Wolverines get wins.

“The No. 16 schedule in the country. It starts Week 2 with the home game against Oklahoma, and two weeks later Michigan hosts what could eventually be a CFP top 25 Iowa team. ESPN’s FPI gives Michigan more than a 50% chance to win every game — except for the Big Three (Oregon, Ohio State and Indiana). If Michigan can beat Oklahoma and Iowa — and they’re both top-25 teams — and the Wolverines pull off at least one upset against the Big Three, a two-loss Michigan would be a good bet for the CFP,” Dinich added.

Michigan has a difficult schedule. They get Oklahoma in Week 2, and Iowa in Week 4, but both are at home. The Wolverines also host Penn State, Indiana, and Michigan State. Further, the team visits both Oregon and Ohio State in the last three weeks of the season.

“An 0-3 record against the Big Three. It’s not that a three-loss team can’t get into the CFP, but at some point, a team has to show the committee it can beat another playoff contender. The committee would consider how close the losses were — what if they were in overtime, by a field goal, and by a touchdown? — but Michigan would still be compared with other teams that have fewer losses and more wins against ranked opponents,” Dinich concluded.

Michigan opens its season on September 5 against Western Michigan at home.

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Michigan’s CFP run in Kyle Whittingham’s first season gets cold water dumped on it by ESPN

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