Michigan football enters new era under coach Kyle Whittingham

Michigan football enters a new era under head coach Kyle Whittingham following the departure of Sherrone Moore. Despite Whittingham's successful history at Utah, some analysts predict an underwhelming inaugural season, projecting an 8-4 record that may fall short of the College Football Playoff baseline. The team's success will likely depend on sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and a daunting schedule featuring opponents such as Oklahoma, Penn State, Oregon, and Ohio State.

To bolster the roster, Whittingham retained Kerry Coombs to lead the special teams unit. Coombs aims to rectify the regression seen in the 2025 season, specifically regarding the kicking and return games. A key addition to the special teams is transfer kicker Trey Butkowski, who has been named to the Lou Groza Award watch list.