Media types suggest Michigan football will be vastly improved but worse off due to the opponents on the 2026 schedule. However, there are people around college football who believe otherwise. Notably, some coaches within the Big Ten believe that.
Every year, Athlon Sports solicits anonymous quotes from coaches across the Big Ten who share their thoughts about the other teams in the conference. Though most expect the Wolverines to finish fourth or fifth in the Big Ten this year, one coach at another conference school wouldn’t be surprised if something else happened, entirely.
“The 2027 season was the target because they really liked that 2025 class, so the thought was to build it for that third year and focus on retaining those guys while bringing in younger players,” the anonymous coach told Athlon. “I think they can win the conference. It’s not a group with a lot of household names, but there’s a lot of depth with really good players.”
One of the misconceptions about the Wolverines is that they just aren’t talented enough compared to other top tier teams. Yet, Michigan had solid recruiting classes under Sherrone Moore, and Kyle Whittingham supplemented strategically through the transfer portal.
Though there’s inexperience, there is talent. And the maize and blue are arguably as talented as the teams that took the field in the College Football Playoff for three straight years — it just hasn’t proven itself to be able to operate at as high a level as those teams had.
Still, coaches see what Michigan has built and know that if they come along, it could spell trouble for their teams.
“I love that roster,” one coach said. “The second that (ex-Michigan head coach) Sherrone Moore was gone, they actually got to run that roster. There are four or five players in that freshman class who’ll contribute immediately, and they had a bunch of freshmen last year who contributed.”
The defense has long been the linchpin for the maize and blue, and that likely will not be any different this year. The hope is with Jason Beck leading the charge, the offense will take a big step forward. But it will not just be Beck’s prowess that will improve the offensive standing of these Wolverines, it will be players. And one coach believes they have the players to do it.
“On offense, you’re gonna have Bryce (Underwood), Andrew Marsh and Jaime Ffrench and JJ Buchanan out of the portal. There’s a lot of excitement for what that team can be this year.”
Michigan is off until June 1 when it will begin its summer conditioning program. Fall camp begins roughly eight weeks later and the season opener is Sept. 5.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Big Ten coaches believe Michigan football can win conference
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
