Michigan Football: Game-by-game predictions for the 2026 season

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Michigan comes into the 2026 football season with plenty of belief in a step forward in Year 1 under Kyle Whittingham. The optimism lies in improvement from the many returning players on the roster, as well as a veteran coaching staff that has developed and won at a high level. However, Michigan’s tough schedule has some believing that the improvement will be seen with the eye test rather than in the win column.

To see how real that possibility might be, we’re going game-by-game to predict Michigan’s regular-season record for the 2026 season.

Week 1 – vs. Western Michigan

Western Michigan is probably more formidable than your average MAC opponent coming off a 10-win season last year, so don’t expect much so much of a cakewalk. The Wolverines should get the Whittingham era off to a solid start, but perhaps this one will be a bit closer than the experts predict, much like the last two season openers.

Prediction: Michigan wins 31-14

Week 2 – vs. Oklahoma (No. 10)

This one should play out similar to last year’s matchup with the Sooners in that the defenses should be the star of the show. Michigan does have home-field advantage this time, and the offense shouldn’t be as stuck in the mud (both in this game and for the season) like it was last year. The Wolverines have done more than enough this offseason to make up for the deficiencies they had against Oklahoma last year. Give me a close and gritty victory.

Prediction: Michigan wins 23-16

Week 3 – vs. UTEP

UTEP should be a sizable step down from even what Western Michigan is in Week 1. There isn’t much to think about with this one, as the Wolverines should coast to victory.

Prediction: Michigan wins 47-7

Week 4 – vs. Iowa (No. 22)

Michigan’s first Big Ten matchup of the year is a relatively stiff test against Iowa, but fortunately the Hawkeyes are coming to Ann Arbor and Michigan will already have played a tough game against Oklahoma two weeks earlier. Again, the defenses in this game should be the star of the show, but Michigan should have enough to pull off the victory in an old-fashioned Big Ten rock fight.

Prediction: Michigan wins 23-14

Week 5 – at Minnesota

Heading into the bye week, going on the road for the first time, and with two formidable opponents already defeated, Michigan’s game against Minnesota has the chance to be one of the sneakier games on the schedule. I’d liken it to last year’s trip to Nebraska, as this one might be also closer than the experts predict, especially against a Minnesota defense that projects to be one of the better ones in the Big Ten. But the Wolverines’ talent edge should still come through to give them a 5-0 start to the year.

Prediction:Michigan wins 31-20

Week 6 – Bye Week

Week 7 – vs. Penn State (No. 18)

Coming off the bye week, the Wolverines enter their toughest two-game stretch of the year. The good news is that Penn State will also be in the midst of a tough stretch following a home game against USC. Regardless of the outcome the previous week, the Nittany Lions will need to put their best foot forward in this game to pad their resume with a light schedule. This one could again be close, but playing at home and with an advantage in talent, the Wolverines should come out on top to stay unbeaten.

Prediction: Michigan wins 27-17

Week 8 – vs. Indiana (No. 6)

I’ll spare the suspense with Michigan picking up its first loss of the year against Indiana. The defending national champions are once again loaded with talent and experience on both sides of the ball, even after losing a handful of contributors this offseason. Michigan might not be that far behind in the talent department, but the lack of experience might show in a hard-fought game.

Prediction: Indiana wins 28-23

Week 9 – at Rutgers

After back-to-back tough matchups, Michigan gets a bit of a break by facing Rutgers. It’s understandable for there to be some concern about heading on the road for just the second time at this point in the season and with a rivalry game the following week against Michigan State. However, the Wolverines will bounce back against one of the lower-tier teams in the conference.

Prediction:Michigan wins 41-13

Week 10 – vs. Michigan State

Kyle Whittingham and Pat Fitzgerald will both be competing for Paul Bunyan for the first time this season in a matchup of two of the more respected coaches in the conference. While the Spartans will be better coached than they have been recently, so too will Michigan, and there’s still a sizable talent gap between the rosters. Michigan makes it five state championships in a row.

Prediction: Michigan wins 44-10

Week 11 – at Oregon (No. 2)

Michigan gets the benefit of playing Oregon just a week after the Ducks make a trip to Columbus to play Ohio State. The bad news is Michigan will be the one doing the travel this time, and the West Coast has not been kind to the Wolverines the last two years. Oregon enters the season with the most talented roster in the country and shouldn’t have a problem handling Michigan, even if it does enter the game with a good record.

Prediction: Oregon wins 34-20

Week 12 – vs. UCLA

The game before The Game has caused some discomfort for Michigan before, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if it did again this year with UCLA projected to be a team that takes a step forward this year. Bob Chesney’s team does have to make the long trip into the late-November cold for this matchup, but that’s no reason to overlook the Bruins and what has the chance to be a pretty exciting offense. Michigan should win this game, but don’t be surprised if it’s a bit of a nail-biter.

Prediction: Michigan wins 31-23

Week 13 – at Ohio State (No. 1)

Ohio State enters the year ranked No. 1 team in the country by pretty much every outlet you could find, and Michigan will be heading back into the hornet’s nest looking to avoid back-to-back losses to the Buckeyes for the first time since 2018-19. These teams are definitely closer in talent and coaching than many folks have been projecting this offseason, but Ohio State still does have the edge in this one.

Prediction: Ohio State wins 24-16

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