The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545685
THE WOLVERINE 2026 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ■ 23 controlling the game with the rushing at- tack. Despite many new faces, the defense is expected to again to be the Wolverines' strength." Lindy's projects that Michigan will face six ranked teams in 2026, and that its sea- son hinges on three big questions: 1) How quickly will Underwood develop? 2) Will the staff be able to do more with more? 3) Will Jason Beck continue his offensive magic? Phil Steele's 2026 College Football Phil Steele, the most accurate forecaster among college football analysts over the past 14 years, pegs Michigan to finish in a tie for fifth place in the Big Ten this season along with Penn State. He graded U-M as the 14th-strongest team in the country in his power poll but picked the Wolverines to finish No. 15 in the rankings. Although that's below the 12-team cut line for the College Football Playoff, Steele called Michigan "a legitimate Big Ten and Play- off contender." Steele labeled head coach Kyle Whit- tingham as "the perfect hire" for Michigan since "he believes in being strong at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and having a top-notch D, and that is the Michigan Way." The veteran prognosti- cator ranked Michigan's 2026 schedule as the second-hardest in the nation, be- hind only Texas. Steele noted that U-M will face the top three of the Big Ten (Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon) plus Okla- homa, while also ranking the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference in a tie for the toughest conference in the land. Steele's computer analytics calls for the Wolverines to average 32.2 points per game, which would be an improvement from last year's 27.5-point scoring aver- age. "This year they have a veteran OL and RB, their top WR and QB Underwood now has experience," he explained. ❑ ATHLON 1st 2nd 3rd School Team Team Team Total Indiana 7 * * 7 Oregon 7 * * 7 Ohio State 4 * * 4 Michigan 3 * * 3 Iowa 2 * * 2 Maryland 2 * * 2 Rutgers 2 * * 2 Minnesota 1 * * 1 Nebraska 1 * * 1 USC — * * — Washington — * * — Penn State — * * — Illinois — * * — UCLA — * * — Wisconsin — * * — Northwestern — * * — Michigan State — * * — Purdue — * * — * Athlon only published first-team picks in magazine LINDY'S 1st 2nd 3rd School Team Team Team Total Oregon 6 4 3 13 Indiana 5 5 2 12 Ohio State 1 6 5 12 Michigan 4 — 3 7 Iowa 3 1 1 5 Minnesota 1 2 2 5 USC — 2 3 5 Penn State 1 2 1 4 UCLA 1 — 1 2 Northwestern 1 — 1 2 Maryland 1 — 1 2 Rutgers 1 1 — 2 Nebraska — 1 1 2 Washington — 1 — 1 Illinois — — 1 1 Michigan State — — — — Purdue — — — — Wisconsin — — — — PHIL STEELE 1st 2nd 3rd 4th School Team Team Team Team Total Ohio State 5 4 5 1 15 Oregon 5 5 3 2 15 Indiana 7 — 3 3 13 Michigan 2 2 2 2 8 Minnesota 2 1 2 3 8 Northwestern 1 1 4 2 8 Michigan State 1 5 — — 6 USC — 1 2 3 6 Iowa 1 2 1 1 5 Penn State 1 1 2 1 5 Washington — — 2 2 4 Maryland 2 1 — 1 4 Rutgers 1 1 1 1 4 Wisconsin — 1 — 3 4 Nebraska 1 — — 2 3 Illinois — — 2 — 2 UCLA — — — 2 2 Purdue — 1 — — 1 Preseason All-Big Ten Selections By School Michigan's Preseason All-Americans DL John Henry Daley — first-team (Ath- lon), second team (Lindy's), third team (Phil Steele) DB Jyaire Hill — second-team (Lindy's) ATHLON OL — 7th DL — 9th RB — 10th DB — 10th LINDY'S DL — 6th OL — 8th DB — 9th PHIL STEELE DL — 7th OL — 11th RB — 13th DB — 17th QB — 29th REC* — 33rd ST — 37th LB — NR * Receivers unit includes tight ends ATHLON SPORTS 1. Ohio State 2. Indiana 3. Oregon 4. Michigan 5. USC 6. Washington 7. Penn State 8. Iowa 9. Illinois 10. Nebraska 11. Minnesota 12. UCLA 13. Wisconsin 14. Northwestern 15. Maryland 16. Rutgers 17. Michigan State 18. Purdue LINDY'S 1. Oregon 2. Ohio State 3. Indiana 4. USC 5. Michigan 6. Washington 7. Iowa 8. Penn State 9. Illinois 10. Minnesota 11. Nebraska 12. Northwestern 13. Wisconsin 14. UCLA 15. Michigan State 16. Maryland 17. Purdue 18. Rutgers PHIL STEELE T1. Ohio State Indiana Oregon 4. USC T5. Michigan Penn State T7. Washington Iowa T9. Nebraska Minnesota Illinois T12. Wisconsin Northwestern UCLA 15. Maryland 16. Rutgers 17. Michigan State 18. Purdue Preseason Magazines Predict The Big Ten Michigan In National Unit Rankings