The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546232
8 THE WOLVERINE ❱ SEPTEMBER 2026 U tah heard its fill about mighty Michigan. The Wolverines were headed to Salt Lake City brim- ming with tradition, sporting the winged helmets, and guided by one of the all- time greats in Jim Harbaugh in his U-M coaching debut. The year was 2015. The opposing head coach was Kyle Whittingham. The result was a punch in the nose for the visitors. Oh, Michigan competed, right to the end, with a team on its way to 10 victories. But in the season opener, Whittingham's crew played tough, more mistake-reduced football. Michigan quarterback Jake Ru- dock — brought in for his passing skills and ability to take care of the football — threw 3 interceptions, including a 55-yard, fourth-quarter pick-six that staked Utah to a 24-10 lead. Whittingham's Utes held on, 24-17, and the home coach couldn't resist a little his- tory lesson afterward. "We beat Michigan for the third time in a row," Whittingham said. "That's a heck of an accolade for our program." Those victories included: • A 25-23 cliffhanger in Ann Arbor that got one of Michigan's worst teams of the modern era off to a 3-9 season in Rich Ro- driguez's first season. • A 26-10 trouncing at Michigan Sta- dium in 2014, the final year of Brady Hoke's tenure. Now Whittingham calls The Big House home. He's arguably in a better spot than any head coach since Gary Moeller in 1990 to take over the winningest program in the history of college football. After all, Sherrone Moore never served as more than an interim head coach for four games prior to taking over for Har- baugh in 2024. Harbaugh took charge of a Michigan program that stumbled to a combined 12-13 record in Hoke's final two seasons. Hoke took over after the disastrous three-season Rodriguez swing-and-miss mini-era. Although Rodriguez inherited a strong Michigan program in 2008, his style necessitated massive changes from Michigan's roster beyond the already siz- able personnel defection after Lloyd Carr's exit. And Carr grabbed the reins in 1995 after Moeller's meltdown in a Detroit-area restaurant. Yes, Whittingham faces a significant challenge taking over after Moore's tu- multuous departure. But this roster ab- solutely doesn't lack talent, having won nine games last year despite the sad circus at the end. Plus, the Wolverines stand two seasons removed from a national cham- pionship. Given the proper guidance, this crew could be really good, really fast. Whittingham, offensive coordinator Ja- son Beck, defensive coordinator Jay Hill, director of football sports performance Doug Elisaia, etc., ARE the right guidance. They've experienced exceptional success with undeniably less talent. Now, they get to show what they can do on the biggest stage in all of college football. "He's one of the best X's and O's coaches in the game," Hill said of Whit- tingham. "He knows the game inside and out. Special teams, he knows the game. But what most people know him for is his toughness, his discipline. His teams al- ways play well, and they don't hurt them- selves. It's exciting for me to be with a head coach like that." Yes, sophomore quarterback Bryce Un- derwood and his supporting cast must be better in big games. That's why Whitting- ham's words a little over a week into fall camp warmed up an already hot August. "He's coming along well," Whitting- ham told the Big Ten Network about Un- derwood. "He's much further ahead than he was at the end of spring. He obviously worked hard this summer and did a lot of positive things, getting himself ready in the film room and on the field. So far, through six practices, I grade him an A- plus." Underwood will benefit from a largely experienced offensive line, along with one of the best receiving duos in the Big Ten in sophomores Andrew Marsh and JJ Bu- chanan. Hill's defense lacks experienced line- backers but has a whole lot to offer all around them, and a determination to play with as much grit as Whittingham's crew did in sending Harbaugh's first team home disappointed. "You're going to line up your guys, we're going to line up our guys, and we're going to win that battle every single time," se- nior defensive end John Henry Daley told BTN. "We're going to punch them in the face every single time. If you get us one play, we're going to get you the next play. We know we've got a fantastic secondary. They're going to hold the fort down on the back end. We've got to do our part and get after the QB." No doubt, the schedule looks nasty. An- alyst Phil Steele ranks it No. 2 in the nation in terms of toughness. But Whittingham's teams have a way of becoming mighty tough themselves. Just ask Harbaugh. It says here the Wolverines take some hits on the way through a slate that fea- tures potential land mines in Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, Penn State, Oregon and Ohio State. But if Michigan somehow finds a way to finish 4-2 in those games — and takes care of business in the rest — Whittingham's first crew in Ann Arbor becomes a College Football Playoff squad. No guarantees, but betting against the new boss hasn't enriched anybody in these parts. ❏ WOLVERINE WATCH ❱ JOHN BORTON Slate Looks Daunting; So Does U-M Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood's performance during a 2026 season filled with big games will be a very pivotal piece to a potentially historic campaign. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL Senior writer John Borton has been with The Wolverine since 1991. Contact him at jborton@thewolverine.com and follow him on X (Twitter) @JB_Wolverine.