The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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1. Oregon (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) The Ducks have been dominant the last two seasons with a 26-3 overall mark and a confer- ence title in their first Big Ten season, but that success has not paid off in the postseason. Or- egon got blown out as an undefeated No. 1 seed in 2024, and last year, head coach Dan Lanning helmed the program to a pair of CFP wins be- fore getting blown out by eventual undefeated national champion Indiana in the Peach Bowl. Oregon brings back a loaded roster, including star quarterback Dante Moore, with a plethora of talent on both sides of the ball, including a nasty defensive line. Despite losing both coordinators to head coaching jobs, the program is well-posi- tioned for a run at the first football national title in school history. 2. Ohio State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten)* There is never a whole lot of projection needed with the Buckeyes. OSU will be in the mix for a Big Ten title and a College Football Playoff berth, and it has what it needs to make a push for its second crown in three seasons. However, the Buckeyes have one remaining monkey on their back, looking to win their first conference crown since the COVID-19 season. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is the best player in the country, and quarterback Julian Sayin should lead another explosive offense, now overseen by coordinator Arthur Smith, return- ing four offensive line starters from last year. Matt Patricia returns on defense, but with sev- eral new faces to replace. Games at Texas and Indiana and home contests against Oregon and rival Michigan will define the season. 3. Indiana (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) At some point, maybe we will learn to stop sleeping on Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers. They were expected to be bottom dwellers in 2024 and made the CFP, and few expected them to run the table en route to a national championship last season. There is a Fernando Mendoza-sized hole to fill at quarterback, but TCU transfer Josh Hoover could be up for the task with Michigan State defector Nick Marsh stepping into the wide receiver room alongside Charlie Becker. Both coordinators return from last year's 16-0 squad, and several contributors from 2025's No. 4 total defense are back. If Indiana takes down both Ohio State and Michigan on consecutive October Saturdays, it has the goods to enter the postsea- son undefeated for the second straight year. 4. Michigan (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) Coming off a tumultuous bottoming-out of the Sherrone Moore era, the Wolverines fell upwards into Kyle Whittingham, who spent three decades at Utah's helm and turned the Utes into one of the most consistent and respected pro- grams in the country. He brought many of his key staffers over from Salt Lake City, and has a roster 1. WR Jeremiah Smith, Jr., Ohio State Arguably the best player in college football regardless of position and the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, Smith recorded 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. 2. QB Dante Moore, Sr., Oregon The Detroit native turned down a potential top-five selection in the 2026 NFL Draft to return to Oregon for one more season, and he is in the mix for the No. 1 pick next spring. 3. QB Julian Sayin, Jr., Ohio State The Alabama transfer threw for 3,610 yards with 32 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2025, was third in ESPN's quarterback rating metric (88.4) and protects the football with a 1.4 percent turnover-worthy play rate, second among FBS signal-callers. 4. OT Carter Smith, Gr., Indiana The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and consen- sus All-American is currently pegged as a first-round NFL Draft prospect after allowing just 9 pressures and 2 sacks in 16 games for the national champions. 5. DE John Henry Daley, Sr., Michigan Pro Football Focus' highest-graded returning EDGE in 2026 recorded 11.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss at Utah under Kyle Whittingham in 2025. He was rated as the No. 12 overall player during the transfer portal cycle. 6. DE Anthony Smith, Sr., Minnesota The versatile defensive lineman is coming off a monster season for the Gophers, recording 12.5 sacks. He was an All-Big Ten first-team selection by the conference's coaches. 7. DE Matayo Uagalelei, Sr., Oregon His sack numbers fell from 10.5 in 2024 to 6 last sea- son, but his 52 pressures ranked 11th among Power Four pass rushers, and he should be the highest player drafted from a stacked defensive line. 8. QB Jayden Maiava, Gr., USC Maiava threw for 3,711 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his first full season as USC's starter, ranking second in the country in QBR at 89.9. Also added 54 carries for 157 yards and 6 touchdowns. 9. S Koi Perich, Jr., Oregon The 2024 Freshman All-American spent his first two seasons at Minnesota before transferring to Eugene this offseason. His production dipped last year, but he has elite safety traits and explosive return chops. 10. WR KJ Duff, Jr., Rutgers The 6-6, 225-pounder is one of the best perimeter receivers in the country, recording 60 catches for 1,084 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2025. His 22 con- tested catches led all FBS wideouts last season. 11. CB Jyaire Hill, Sr., Michigan 12. CB Brandon Finney Jr., Oregon 13. RB Jordan Marshall, Jr., Michigan 14. QB Demond Williams, Jr., Washington 15. G Luke Montgomery, Sr., Ohio State 16. DT A'Mauri Washington, Sr., Oregon 17. WR Andrew Marsh, So., Michigan 18. DT Bear Alexander, Sr., Oregon 19. DT Tyrique Tucker, Sr., Indiana 20. C Iapani Laloulu, Sr., Oregon 21. LB Teitum Tuioti, Sr., Oregon 22. OT Austin Siereveld, Sr., Ohio State 23. RB Antwan Raymond, Jr., Rutgers 24. OT Trevor Lauck, Jr., Iowa 25. WR Charlie Becker, Jr., Indiana Best In The Big Ten By Position QB – Dante Moore, Oregon* RB – Jordan Marshall, Michigan WR – Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State* TE – Jamari Johnson, Oregon* OL – Carter Smith, Indiana* DL – John Henry Daley, Michigan LB – Teitum Tuioti, Oregon* CB – Jyaire Hill, Michigan S – Koi Perich, Oregon* *on Michigan's schedule in 2026 Ohio State junior quarterback Julian Sayin is back for another season as a starter. He threw for 3,610 yards with 32 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 2025. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Top 25 Players In The Big Ten The Wolverine's Predicted Order of Finish THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 117