Whittingham Debut Tests Underwood | Michigan Wolverines Football News

Michigan kicks off their 2026 season with a high-stakes showdown against Western Michigan, as new head coach Kyle Whittingham — a seasoned veteran from Utah — takes the reins for his first game. The Wolverines, coming off a nine-win 2025 campaign, are favored to dominate by over 27 points, but the real story lies in sophomore QB Bryce Underwood, the top recruit of the 2025 class, whose breakout performance could define the season. Western Michigan, champions of the MAC last year and still nationally relevant, bring a potent offense and a hungry coach in Lance Taylor, making this opener far from a walkover. Whittingham’s history of trusting young QBs early suggests Underwood will be thrust into action immediately — and Michigan’s success hinges on executing both on offense and defense to secure that crucial opening win. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/225923500a0655b9