Michigan football has a tough, tough schedule in 2026, with many top-tier games on the docket. But not all are necessarily the ones that people have circled on their calendars across the country. However, Joel Klatt has two he’s excited to see this year, and both happen to be games he’ll be calling.
While it’s no surprise that he has The Game atop his list, as it’s arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports, Klatt starts out with his top 10 list of the ’10 games that will shape the 2026 season’ with the Wolverines’ game in Week 2 against Oklahoma at The Big House.
“Let’s start September 12th, Week 2, Oklahoma at Michigan,” Klatt said. “This will be a Fox game. Gus, Jenny, and I will be there in Ann Arbor as Kyle Whittingham gets his first crack at a monster game as the coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Obviously, this is a rematch of last year’s game in Norman. And that’s the game that I thought Venables — Mateer, maybe more specifically — kind of announced himself to the country as a Heisman contender. OU was a legitimate playoff contender after that win at home over Michigan, even if they had a true freshman quarterback in that one, that was a big statement win. And I think a win in this game for either of these programs would do the exact same thing that it did for Oklahoma a year ago. So that’s why this is one of the games that will shape the year.
“This is the first big game for Kyle Whittingham. Like I said, and it’s going to be an indication of whether Michigan’s going to be back in playoff form. Are they going to compete for a Big Ten title? We’re going to find out really quickly Week 2 on September 12th.”
Michigan lost the first contest of the home-and-home, with the game in Norman being relatively close until the Sooners put it away on their final drive. That win for OU was something of a springboard for the 2025 season and a College Football Playoff inclusion for Oklahoma, and Klatt reiterated that there’s a high likelihood that will be the case again this upcoming season.
“Now, if you look at the rest of the schedule for each of these teams, this game becomes even more important,” Klatt said. “There’s the obvious reasons, right? It’s a Big Ten-SEC showdown. We talk about these two conferences all the time. It’s Michigan, it’s Oklahoma. The expectations are sky-high. There’s no doubt. Both of these programs want to raise their level this year to the upper echelon of these conferences. OU wants to be an upper-crust SEC title contender. Michigan would like to do the same in the Big Ten. This game is obviously a monster game in that direction. Even if it’s not directly tied to the standings of each conference, it’s also the individuals in this game.”
Looking more specifically at Michigan, rather than the overall matchup, Klatt believes that this game can be the one where we’ll get more of an idea of what new offensive coordinator Jason Beck will bring to the table for the maize and blue.
Noting his track record at previous stops with quarterback Devon Dampier, it will be in this Week 2 contest that we’ll learn whether or not Underwood is up to the task more than any other early-season game, given how solid the (defensive) competition is. But there are other players that could be interesting to watch, including a true freshman who could burst onto the scene.
“Is Bryce Underwood going to turn into a Devon Dampier-style runner? Do you think it’s going to be a jump?” Klatt said. “I do think that he’s going to be a threat, more of a threat in the run game and not just the scramble game. They really tried to keep him in the pocket at times last year. And to be honest with you, I thought to their detriment, when he was out and elusive, they were at their best. I believe that that’s what Jason Beck is going to do with him. And this offense, they should be able to run the football really well this year, at least in my estimation. I can’t wait to see Savion Hiter, the freshman — rave reviews about him.
“We know what beating Michigan did for Oklahoma a year ago, and it sent them, it gave them a springboard into a year in which they dealt with a really difficult conference schedule. And they were able to still make the playoff. Both of these teams have very different, difficult conference schedules. Is this the game that springboards them through that schedule and potentially into the playoff? I can’t wait. And by the way, all the undertones of the Big Ten-SEC, that’s dripping there as it always is. Obviously, it was last year, and it will be again this year. “
Klatt started his podcast by talking about a Michigan football game (this one vs. Oklahoma), and he concluded it by discussing The Game. With games also against Iowa, Penn State, Indiana, and at Oregon, all eyes will be on the Wolverines in some capacity this season.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Joel Klatt names the Michigan game that shapes 2026
Reporting by Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire / Wolverines Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Isaiah Hole, Wolverines Wire | USA TODAY Network
