League: NCAAF Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Coaching

Michigan football hosts Western Michigan in season opener

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 4, 2026, 3:31 PM

Last updated Sep 4, 2026

Michigan football hosts Western Michigan in season opener

Summary

No. 16 Michigan opens its season against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 5. This game marks the debut of head coach Kyle Whittingham at Michigan following his tenure at Utah. The Wolverines face a Western Michigan team that features a new defensive coordinator in Greer Martini and a largely reconstructed front seven. Michigan defensive coordinator Jay Hill plans to rotate players on the defensive line and secondary to evaluate personnel during the game. Sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood returns to lead the offense as the team looks to balance immediate preparation for this opponent with long-term goals for the season.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Michigan enters the season ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press preseason poll.
•Kyle Whittingham leads Michigan in his first game as head coach at the school.
•Western Michigan features a new defensive coordinator and six new starters in the front seven.
•The game is scheduled for primetime at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 5.
•Defensive coordinator Jay Hill intends to use a rotation of players to assess the team depth.

Latest Updates

3:31 PMYahoo Sports — Michigan football ready to face 'bunch of unknowns' in season opener

What they're saying

"
In Week 1, Michigan is taking on a Western Michigan team that has a new defensive coordinator and had to replace six starters in the front seven.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

NCAAF College Sports