The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 119 also made a big splash by hiring Chip Kelly as of- fensive coordinator and pairing him with Michi- gan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles to go with All-Big Ten wideout Griffin Wilde and tailback Caleb Komolafe. This could be one of the more interesting teams in the projected bottom half of the standings, but the schedule could make it tough to push for a bowl bid. 15. Maryland (4-8, 2-7 Big Ten) It is hard not to look at Maryland's roster and be impressed with some of the young talent. But that has always been sprinkled into head coach Mike Locksley's program without the results to back it up. He is another coach who finds himself on the hot seat in the Big Ten this season. Every- thing hinges on the progress of Malik Washing- ton at quarterback heading into his sophomore year. The Terrapins also have a sneaky-dangerous pass rush with a pair of 2025 Freshman All-Amer- icans in Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis, and five-star recruit Zion Elee should add juice there, too. There are winnable games on the back half of the schedule. 16. Michigan State (3-9, 1-8 Big Ten) The Spartans were one of the most consis- tent teams in the Big Ten during the 2010s but are now on their third coach this decade in Pat Fitzgerald. Winning 110 games over 17 years at Northwestern is impressive, and Fitzgerald could bring some stability to East Lansing and get the program back on its feet again. This year's team feels light on playmakers and defensive line depth, but the schedule allows for some op- portunities to stack wins in October against more evenly matched teams. We would not bank on MSU cracking bowl eligibility, but it is not outside the range of outcomes. 17. Purdue (3-9, 1-8 Big Ten) While not the 50 new faces that last year's team had, Barry Odom and the Boilermakers will lean on 29 transfers to help push the rebuild forward in West Lafayette. Luckily, they avoid games against Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan and USC this year with a Big Ten slate that is a little more palatable. Purdue will face Wake Forest and Notre Dame in the nonconference slate, which will make it difficult to stack wins before the calendar flips to Big Ten play. A bowl game might not be in the cards, but neither is 10 straight losses to end the year like last season. 18. Rutgers (3-9, 0-9 Big Ten) Greg Schiano's second stint in Piscataway has turned the program into a far peskier version of itself and a trio of bowl appearances since 2020. However, the Scarlet Knights have struggled to reach the conference's middle tier and might be primed to go backwards this season. Running back Antwan Raymond and wide receiver KJ Duff are two of the best at their position in the confer- ence and could make Rutgers a tough out, but uncertainty at quarterback and question marks all over the defense could make for a season that spirals out of control. *Head-to-head win over Indiana Big Ten Championship Game Prediction: Oregon 28, Ohio State 24 Returning All-Big Ten Players From 2025 Offense Pos. Returning Honorees QB Jr. Julian Sayin, Ohio State – 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Jayden Maiava, USC – 3rd, coaches Sr. Dante Moore, Oregon – 3rd, media RB Jr. Antwan Raymond, Rutgers – 2nd, coaches and media So. Bo Jackson, Ohio State – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Jr. Jordan Marshall, Michigan – 3rd, coaches; 2nd, media WR Jr. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State – 1st, coaches and media Jr. KJ Duff, Rutgers – 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Griffin Wilde, Northwestern – 3rd, coaches C Sr. Iapani Laloulu, Oregon – 2nd, coaches Sr. Carson Hinzman, Ohio State – 3rd, media G Sr. Luke Montgomery, Ohio State – 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Dave Iuli, Oregon – 3rd, coaches Jr. Kade Pieper, Iowa – 3rd, media T Gr. Carter Smith, Indiana – 1st, coaches and media Sr. Austin Siereveld, Ohio State – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Sr. Phillip Daniels, Ohio State – 3rd, media Jr. Trevor Lauck, Iowa – 3rd, coaches Defense Pos. Returning Honorees DL Sr. Tyrique Tucker, Indiana – 1st, coaches and media Sr. Anthony Smith, Minnesota – 1st, coaches; 2nd, media Sr. Bear Alexander, Oregon – 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Teitium Tuioti, Oregon – 3rd, coaches and media Sr. A'Mauri Washington, Oregon – 3rd, coaches and media LB Jr. Rolijah Hardy, Indiana – 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Isaiah Jones, Indiana – 3rd, media So. Mason Posa, Wisconsin – 3rd, coaches DB Gr. Zeke Berry, Michigan – 3rd, coaches; 2nd, media So. Brandon Finney, Oregon – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Sr. Robert Fitzgerald, Northwestern – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Jr. Zach Lutmer, Iowa – 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Jr. Koi Perich*, Oregon – 3rd, coaches; 2nd, media Jr. Amare Ferrell, Indiana – 2nd, media Sr. Jermaine Mathews, Ohio State – 3rd, coaches Jr. Jaylen McClain, Ohio State – 3rd, media *at Minnesota Special Teams Pos. Returning Honorees K So. Sean O'Haire, Maryland – 1st, coaches; 2nd, media Jr. Nico Radicic, Indiana – 2nd, coaches; 1st, media So. Ryon Sayeri, USC – 3rd, coaches P Jr. Bryce McFerson, Maryland – 2nd, coaches and media Jr. Tom Weston, Minnesota – 3rd, media RS Jr. Kenneth Williams, Michigan State* – 3rd, coaches; 2nd, media Jr. Jacory Barney Jr., Nebraska – 3rd, media *at Nebraska Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith is widely regarded as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. He recorded 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL