Michigan was flexing its recruitment wins over the last two weeks. Blue chip and legacy recruits were calling Ann Arbor their new home. The optimism surrounding these moves has run into a roadblock when oddsmakers released their predictions for Michigan’s game against Ohio State next season.

FanDuel recently updated the Big Ten Preseason spreads, and the outcome was not too favorable for Kyle Whittingham. The Wolverines are set to take on the Buckeyes on November 28, 2026, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Ahead of the game, the Buckeyes are heavy 12.5-point favorites to win. Per GBMWolverines’ John Buhler, things might be really bad for the Wolverines when both teams meet in November.

“The associated moneylines for this game are Ohio State -580 and Michigan +420,” Buhler wrote. “The projected point total for this game is a combined 45.5 points. A potential projected final score for this game could look something like Ohio State 29, Michigan 16.5.”

The prediction is not a reflection of his ability as a coach. It mirrors the true state of things at both programs. Kyle Whittingham did not find a stable team when he joined Michigan. The program was coming out of a coaching scandal, player losses in the transfer portal, and inconsistent field performances over the last two seasons.

Last year, even when the game was played in Ann Arbor and the Wolverines had the home advantage, they were embarrassed by Ryan Day and the Buckeyes. The game ended 27-9 in favor of Ohio State, as the Buckeyes finished the regular season with a 12-0 record. On the other hand, it was Michigan’s third loss of the season, and they finished with a 9-3 record.

A few weeks later, 30 players left Michigan via the transfer portal after the program fired Sherrone Moore for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a female staffer. While Whittingham has truly been putting in the effort to see things turn around for good in Ann Arbor, delivering so big in 2026 may be unrealistic at the moment.

He was only able to bring in 16 transfers in their 17th-ranked transfer portal class, per 247Sports. On paper, the program lost more than it gained during the transfer period, which is quite a bad sign. But how that turns out for them will only be decided during the regular season.

The focal point of Whittingham’s offense will be star sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood, who had a rough debut year after starting 13 games as a true freshman. But this time, Underwood is surrounded by a reliable backfield that features talented running back Jordan Marshall and an incredibly deep offensive line room returning six players with significant starting experience.

To bolster the passing game, the offense has integrated key incoming wide receiver weapons like Jaime Ffrench and JJ Buchanan. Coach Whittingham has particularly praised the roster’s strong trench presence, which will be developed by veteran offensive line coach Jim Harding.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Wolverines are pivoting to a physical scheme under defensive coordinator Jay Hill. The defense features building blocks like cornerback Jyaire Hill, while defensive end John-Henry Daley and defensive back Smith Snowden provide immediate star power after recently being named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List.

Linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the highly athletic younger brother of NFL star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, is widely projected as a defensive breakout candidate expected to anchor the middle of the field alongside North Dakota State transfer Nathan Staehling. Furthermore, Whittingham has capitalized heavily on his historic West Coast connections to completely revitalize Michigan’s future outlook. His staff has put together a red-hot recruiting wave, securing highly anticipated future commitments from top-tier talent like legacy defensive back Charles Woodson Jr. and four-star safety Tavaris Harrington.

Wolverines face three more difficult opponents

Beyond the Buckeyes, Whittingham has quite an uneasy ride in his first year. Alongside Ohio State, the Wolverines also face the Oregon Ducks on the road, while they host the Oklahoma Sooners and the Indiana Hoosiers. To be considered for the College Football Playoff, they must win at least two of these fixtures by all means.

The two home games do not seem like games where their home advantage will matter. On a good day, they may find a way around the game with the Sooners, but it is almost impossible with Indiana, which has only lost two games under Curt Cignetti in two years, with both losses coming as far back as his debut season.

Whittingham’s debut season could not be any more challenging, but there is hope when one considers the slim possibility of having a mind-blowing debut season. To his advantage, the first coach to deliver a national championship in his first season, Bennie Oosterban, did so while coaching the Wolverines in 1948. History might just be on the Wolverines’ side again.

And it’s not that the Wolverines won’t have a chance. Even if they are playing at Columbus, Michigan has a recent memory of going to their enemy’s den and defeating it despite being underdogs. Ryan Day had four straight losses against the team up North. On paper, the 2026 Buckeyes are heavily favored, but you never know!