The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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12 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2025 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS FOOTBALL NO LONGER OPENING 2026 SEASON IN GERMANY Michigan football and the Western Michigan Broncos will no longer open the 2026 season in Frankfurt, Germany, the U-M athletics department announced on Nov. 5. In July, Michigan announced its intention to pursue a chance to open next season at Deutsche Bank Park in Frank- furt against the Broncos, moving the game up to Week 0. Ultimately, they have decided to keep the game between in-state programs as is, with the season kicking off on Sept. 5 as originally slated. "We did a thorough and exhaustive evaluation in relation to playing an international game," athletics director Warde Manuel said in a statement. "Based on the analysis of all the factors, we felt it was best to keep the game in Ann Arbor as it was originally scheduled for the 2026 season. I want to thank Eintracht Frankfurt and their Stadium Management company for all the work that they did in partnership with our staff to try to make this game a possibility." However, the possibility of playing a game on international soil is still something that will be explored down the road, Manuel said. No timetable has been given for when that could occur. "We have fans and alumni around the globe, and many have expressed excitement about attending a game on for- eign soil," Manuel said. "We remain open to exploring the right opportunities for our teams to play internationally." The move helps Michigan preserve eight home games for the 2026 season with Western Michigan, Oklahoma, UTEP, Penn State, Michigan State, UCLA, Indiana and Iowa all set to come play in Ann Arbor next year. U-M will play Min- nesota, Oregon, Rutgers and Ohio State on the road. Dates have not been set yet outside of Western Michigan (Sept. 5), Oklahoma (Sept. 12) and UTEP (Sept. 19). Michigan announced over the summer it was in discus- sions for a trip to Germany to play in the home of Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga, citing an opportunity to spread the brand. "We are in advanced discussions to create this first-of-its- kind opportunity for our student-athletes and fans," Manuel said originally. "The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique. This would be a great opportunity to teach 'Go Blue' to a new group of fans in Germany." Head coach Sherrone Moore will serve a one-game sus- pension to start the season against Western Michigan as the final sanction for his case with the NCAA over deleted texts in the sign-stealing saga. MORGAN WALLEN TO HEADLINE TWO BIG HOUSE CONCERTS IN JULY Country music superstar Morgan Wallen is coming to the Big House in July 2026. Wallen announced Oct. 30 his 2026 "Still The Problem Tour," which will make an appearance at the Big House on July 24-25 for back-to-back shows in Ann Arbor. The July 24 show will see Wallen headlining with guest Thomas Rhett as direct support and Hudson Westbrook and Blake Whiten as the other performers. The July 25 concert will have HARDY as direct support, with Westbrook and Whiten rounding out the lineup. The 11-city, 21-date stadium tour kicks off in April and plays for two nights at most stops, including two other iconic college football stadiums, including Florida's Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and a night at Alabama's Saban Field at Bryant- Denny Stadium. A portion of all tickets sold will benefit the Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF), supporting youth music and athletic programs, along with community access to "essentials in times of crisis." Tickets are being sold through the AXS platform. The Michigan Athletics account on social media teased a Wallen announcement on Oct. 29, posting a shot of a football with a Maize and Blue-specific mascot sporting the initials "MW" on its sleeve. There also was a countdown clock on Wallen's website teasing an announcement. The Zach Bryan concert on Sept. 27 brought in an audi- ence of 112,408 people to Michigan Stadium, making for the largest ticketed concert in U.S. history. The previous record was held by George Strait on June 15, 2024, when he played a show at Texas A&M's Kyle Field. — Anthony Broome MAIZE AND BLUE NOTEBOOK Athletics director Warde Manuel ultimately decided to keep U-M's 2026 football game with Western Michigan in Ann Arbor, after con- sidering an option to play in Frankfurt, Germany. "We remain open to exploring the right opportunities for our teams to play internationally," he said. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL