Would Michigan Football's Latest Bowl Projection Make for a Successful Season in 2026?

The College Football Playoff is the goal, but what if the Wolverines don't get there?

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Contending for a Big Ten title and making the College Football Playoff is the goal for Kyle Whittingham and Co. entering 2026. But during Big Ten Media Days, even Whittingham thought the Wolverines were a year away from really doing what they wanted.

But hearing Whittingham speak on Friday, his mindset has shifted.

"Yeah, the reason for that statement was a little bit of a shortage of depth at certain spots," Whittingham said. "There's been guys starting to come to the table there, and Channing Goodwin, as I mentioned, Shamari Earl, the corner, Mason Curtis, safety, guys are starting to elevate their play and feeling much better about things than back when I made that statement."

However, the Wolverines' daunting schedule this season won't make getting to the CFP easy. Michigan will have to earn it, and according to ESPN, neither analyst believes the Wolverines will get to the playoff in Year 1 under Whittingham.

Back to the ReliaQuest Bowl

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Both Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach believe the Wolverines will head back to the ReliaQuest Bowl, one spot Michigan has gotten used to.

Bonagura has the Wolverines playing LSU and Schlabach believes Michigan will get a rematch from Week 2 of this season, seeing Oklahoma for the second time.

Fans wouldn't mind seeing LSU, as the two programs have never faced one another before. It would be a bowl game featuring two new coaches. Kyle Whittingham is in his first season at Michigan, while Lane Kiffin has taken over the Tigers' program.

But for Oklahoma, that wouldn't be enticing for fans. The Wolverines played the Sooners in Norman last season, hosts Oklahoma this season, and playing it again in a bowl game would be overkill.

But would that be a successful season?

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In 2024, in Sherrone Moore's first season as the Michigan head coach, the Wolverines made the ReliaQuest Bowl, and the Wolverines won seven games in the regular season. It was a terrible season following Michigan's national title.

That doesn't mean either analyst is projecting Michigan to win only seven games. Alabama won nine games that season, and that's likely where the Wolverines are being projected.

Michigan has four big games this season: Oklahoma, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State. The Wolverines also have games against Iowa, Penn State, and Minnesota, that won't be a cakewalk. Michigan has to play at both the Ducks and Buckeyes, and those two games could certainly be losses for Kyle Whittingham's team.

While fans want to see wins and results, it's not going to be easy for the Wolverines to go unblemished this season. Seeing some hope entering Year 2 and Bryce Underwood play closer to his ceiling would be a win in of itself. Nine wins in Year 1 might not feel like a success, but it would lead up to big things in 2027.