The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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120 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW S C H E D U L E B R E A K D O W N 2026 SP+ Returning Previous Opponent 2025 Record Ranking Starters (Out of 24) Opponent Western Michigan 10-4 95 13 — Oklahoma 10-3 12 6 UTEP UTEP 2-10 129 4 Texas Southern Iowa 9-4 22 7 Northern Iowa Minnesota 8-5 45 13 Washington Penn State 7-6 17 5 USC Indiana 16-0 5 9 Ohio State Rutgers 5-7 62 9 Northwestern Michigan State 4-8 67 6 UCLA Oregon 13-2 2 13 Ohio State UCLA 3-9 46 7 Illinois Ohio State 12-2 1 11 Nebraska OPPONENT OVERVIEW OPPONENT OVERVIEW BY CLAYTON SAYFIE BY CLAYTON SAYFIE 1. Ohio State Heading into the 2022 meeting, the Wolver- ines hadn't won in Columbus since 2000. Now, Michigan has pulled out two in a row there, winning 45-23 in 2022 and 13-10 in 2024. The Buckeyes have question marks on the offensive line and with how they'll reload on defense, but there's a lot of offensive firepower and a team that intends on winning the rivalry game in front of its own fans. The Nov. 28 showdown will be a major challenge, to say the least, but one Michigan has overcome in the recent past. 2. Oregon This Nov. 14 trip is much closer to No. 1 than No. 3. The Wolverines haven't won a regular- season game on the West Coast since beating UCLA in 1989, losing six straight road contests against Pac-12 teams or former members of the conference. Oregon's defense is one of the best units Michigan will face all season, and Dante Moore is a top-flight quarterback. 3. Indiana Indiana will come to Ann Arbor Oct. 24, and you know it's a tough schedule when the reigning national champions check in third on this list. The Hoosiers have a proven system under head coach Curt Cignetti and will be a force in the Big Ten for years to come. The 16-0 campaign in 2025 was one of the most impres- sive in college football history, for a number of reasons, including the Hoosiers' awful history on the gridiron. 4. Oklahoma Michigan's offense will have to be ready for a huge test Sept. 12 at The Big House, with the Sooners touting an elite defense with playmak- ers at every level. The OU offense, meanwhile, was what held it back last season, and John Mateer is still the quarterback. 5. Penn State Matt Campbell (Iowa State) was a solid hire, and Penn State should be much better than its 7-6 season a year ago. The concern for the Nittany Lions is how well a new group of play- ers, including 24 transfers from Iowa State, will come together. Michigan's annual showdown with Ohio State will take place Nov. 28 this season. Winner of four of the last five meetings with the Buckeyes, U-M is looking for its third straight victory at Ohio Stadium. PHOTO COURTESY OHIO STATE ATHLETICS Michigan's Five Toughest Games 2026 Opponents In 1-138 Rankings Team Athlon Lindy's Avg. Ohio State 1 3 2 Oregon 6 1 3.5 Indiana 5 5 5 Oklahoma 8 13 10.5 Penn State 18 23 20.5 Iowa 25 21 23 Minnesota 42 33 37.5 UCLA 43 54 48.5 Michigan State 72 65 68.5 Western Michigan 87 67 77 Rutgers 69 98 83.5 UTEP 130 132 131