Before Michigan gets into the grind of Big Ten play, the Wolverines will have three opportunities to find out exactly what they have in 2026.
Michigan opens the Kyle Whittingham era with three straight non-conference games at the Big House, facing Western Michigan, Oklahoma, and UTEP before conference play begins against Iowa on Sept. 26.
On paper, Michigan should be favored to finish non-conference play 3-0. But one game stands far above the others and could give us an early idea of whether the Wolverines are ready to compete for a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff spot.
Week 1: Western Michigan
Sept. 5 — 7:30 p.m. — Michigan Stadium
Michigan starts the season under the lights against Western Michigan.
This is exactly the type of opener the Wolverines need with a new coaching staff. Michigan should have a clear talent advantage, but Western Michigan gives the Wolverines an in-state opponent that should bring some extra energy into the Big House.
The game was originally considered for an international matchup in Frankfurt, Germany, before Michigan ultimately decided to keep the season opener in Ann Arbor.
More than anything, Week 1 will be about seeing what Whittingham’s Michigan looks like.
How different does the offense look? How much has Bryce Underwood improved entering Year 2? Who emerges alongside Andrew Marsh in the passing game? And how quickly does Michigan adjust to its new coaching staff?
Michigan should win this game, but the bigger goal will be looking comfortable while doing it.
Expectation: Michigan win
Week 2: Oklahoma
Sept. 12 — Noon — Michigan Stadium
This is the big one.
Michigan welcomes Oklahoma to Ann Arbor in what should be one of the biggest non-conference games anywhere in college football during the opening weeks of the season. Michigan has already announced the matchup as a Maize Out, showing just how much attention will be placed on this game.
It’s also the return game from Michigan’s trip to Norman in 2025.
Unlike Western Michigan and UTEP, there shouldn’t be any question about what this game can tell us. Oklahoma gives Michigan an early Power Four opponent with enough talent to expose weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
For Underwood, it could be an early opportunity to make a national statement. He’ll be entering his second season as Michigan’s quarterback, and games like this are where expectations begin shifting from promising young quarterback to potential college football star.
It will also be Whittingham’s first major game as Michigan’s head coach.
A win would immediately give the Wolverines a quality non-conference victory for their playoff résumé and build serious momentum before Big Ten play.
A loss wouldn’t end Michigan’s season, but it would remove some of its margin for error later in the year.
Expectation: Michigan’s toughest non-conference game by far
Week 3: UTEP
Sept. 19 — 3:30 p.m. — Michigan Stadium
After the Oklahoma game, Michigan gets one more opportunity to clean things up before conference play.
UTEP comes to the Big House for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on Big Ten Network. It will also be the first-ever meeting between Michigan and UTEP.
This is a game Michigan should control.
The biggest challenge could simply be avoiding a letdown after what should be an emotional matchup against Oklahoma one week earlier. Michigan can’t allow itself to spend the entire week looking ahead to its Big Ten opener against Iowa.
For the Wolverines, UTEP should be an opportunity to get younger players involved, continue developing the offense and address any problems that showed up during the first two weeks.
If Michigan handles business, it should enter conference play with plenty of momentum.
Expectation: Comfortable Michigan win
Michigan Should Be 3-0 But Oklahoma Will Tell Us a Lot
Michigan’s non-conference schedule is set up well for a team entering a new era.
All three games are at home, there are no difficult road trips to deal with and the Wolverines get two matchups where they should have a significant talent advantage.
Then there’s Oklahoma.
That game changes the entire feel of the schedule.
Instead of playing three opponents Michigan is heavily expected to beat, the Wolverines get an early matchup that should show whether they’re actually ready to compete with the best teams on their schedule.
