As fall camp progresses and the 2026 season continues to creep closer, several storylines are beginning to take shape in Ann Arbor.
At the center of it all is Bryce Underwood.
There has also been plenty of conversation surrounding some of the comments made by head coach Kyle Whittingham, particularly regarding Ohio State, while Michigan continues to sort through a few remaining questions on the offensive depth chart.
So, with the season approaching, let’s break down some of the biggest topics coming out of camp — beginning with Michigan’s quarterback.
Bryce Underwood Looks Like a Different Quarterback
There is no mystery surrounding Michigan’s QB1.
Bryce Underwood is the starter, and he should be.
What has stood out throughout camp, however, is just how different Underwood appears compared to the quarterback we saw a year ago.
His progression has been significant, and the work being done with Coach Detmer, offensive coordinator Jason Beck and Coach Whittingham appears to be paying off.
Underwood looks more comfortable throwing on the move. His pocket presence and composure have improved, and his footwork appears much more polished.
One of the biggest areas of development has been his ability to read RPO concepts.
That was something Underwood struggled with at times last season, but it has been a major point of emphasis throughout the offseason. If that part of his game continues to develop, it could completely change what Michigan is capable of offensively.
Another part of Underwood’s game that still does not receive enough attention is his ability as a runner.
Michigan has a quarterback who can hurt defenses with his arm but also has the athleticism to create when a play breaks down or when his number is called in the designed running game.
Beck and Whittingham appear to be tailoring this offense around Underwood’s skill set, similar to how Whittingham’s staff utilized Devon Dampier at Utah.
If Underwood can bring some of those same dual-threat elements to Michigan’s offense, Big Ten defenses could have a serious problem on their hands.
We saw flashes of that ability last season.
Now Michigan has to turn those flashes into consistency.
A Different Mindset From Underwood
Underwood’s comments have also sounded noticeably different this year.
He has talked about wanting Michigan to go 1-0 every week, and his comments describing Ohio State as another opponent wearing different-colored jerseys have created some discussion among the fan base.
Some Michigan fans have viewed those comments as concerning.
I see them differently.
Last season appeared to give Underwood a significant dose of humility. The confidence is still there, but some of the cockiness seems to have disappeared.
Instead, his focus seems centered on becoming the best quarterback he can be for Michigan and doing whatever is necessary to help his team win.
There is something to be said for that mindset.
Underwood was voted a unanimous captain for a reason, and his leadership could become one of the defining parts of Michigan’s season.
He is still only 19 years old, leading one of the biggest programs in college football while playing in arguably the deepest conference in the sport.
Nobody knows exactly where Underwood will be by the end of the season.
But I believe this is the year he begins showing everyone why he was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2025 class.
And if that happens, he could play a major role in bringing Michigan back where this program expects to be — competing at the top of college football.
Don’t Overreact to Whittingham’s Ohio State Comments
Now, let’s talk about Coach Whittingham.
Some of his comments regarding Ohio State have caused concern among portions of the Michigan fan base.
Whittingham has said he does not hate Ohio State and has occasionally approached questions about the rivalry more calmly than Michigan coaches have in the past.
That has rubbed some people the wrong way.
But context matters.
Whittingham has also made it clear that Ohio State is still in the back of Michigan’s mind constantly, and the Wolverines continue to incorporate Beat Ohio State periods and drills into practice.
That tells me far more than a quote at a press conference.
Whittingham has been around major rivalries throughout his coaching career. He understands their importance, and there is little reason to believe Michigan is suddenly going to stop taking The Game seriously.
His approach may simply be different.
So, for Michigan fans worried about some of the comments coming out of camp, I would not hit the panic button.
The rivalry still matters.
The preparation still reflects that.
Now Michigan simply has to prove it on the field.
Projecting Michigan’s Offensive Depth Chart
Michigan’s offensive picture is becoming clearer, although several position battles still have plenty of time to develop.
Here is where I currently see things heading.
Offensive Line
The offensive line remains one of the biggest areas to watch.
Michigan has talented pieces, but the question is how Coach Harding ultimately decides to arrange them.
Right now, my projected starting five would be:
Andrew Babalola
Evan Link
Blake Frazier
Andrew Sprague
Jake Guarnera
Exactly where each player lines up remains to be seen, but I believe those are the five players Michigan will ultimately want on the field.
The talent is there.
Now it is about identifying the best combination before Week 1.
Wide Receiver
Michigan’s wide receiver room has become one of the more interesting position groups on the roster.
There appear to be four or five players beginning to separate themselves, while several others should still earn opportunities throughout the season.
The names I expect to be heavily involved are:
Andrew Marsh
JJ Buchanan
Travis Johnson
Jaime Ffrench
Salesi Moa
Those five should all have opportunities to become legitimate contributors.
Another player to keep an eye on is Kendrick Bell.
Bell may not receive as much attention right now, but I believe he has a chance to carve out a role. If he brings anything close to the work ethic and toughness we have seen from his brother, Michigan could have another valuable piece in its receiver rotation.
The important thing for this group will be establishing chemistry with Underwood.
If two or three receivers emerge as reliable playmakers early in the season, the ceiling of this offense rises dramatically.
Running Back
There may not be a deeper room on Michigan’s offense than running back.
The Wolverines have three players capable of carrying the football at any point in a game, including two backs with the explosiveness to turn a small crease into a huge play.
Jordan Marshall remains my favorite to begin the season as the starter.
But right behind him is highly touted freshman Savion Hiter.
A Marshall-Hiter combination could become extremely difficult for Big Ten defenses to handle.
Marshall brings experience and proven ability, while Hiter brings another level of explosiveness and big-play potential.
Then there is Bryson Kuzdal, who gives Michigan another option when the Wolverines need to rotate backs and keep everyone fresh.
Kuzdal should not be viewed as simply someone giving the top two players a breather, either.
He has the ability to create explosive plays himself.
Michigan has legitimate options in the backfield, and Beck should have plenty of ways to utilize them.
Quarterback
The quarterback position begins with Underwood.
After that, things become much more interesting.
The battle for the No. 2 job appears to be between Tommy Carr and Fowler-Nicolosi.
That competition will be important throughout the remainder of camp because Michigan needs to identify a quarterback it can trust if Underwood ever has to leave a game.
There is obviously a significant gap between having your starting quarterback on the field and asking a backup to take over the offense.
Michigan’s hope will be that the question never has to be answered.
Keeping Underwood healthy will be one of the biggest priorities of the season.
Tight End
Tight end remains somewhat of a mystery.
This room does not currently have the proven star power we saw during the later Jim Harbaugh seasons, but that does not mean there is not talent waiting to emerge.
The three names I am watching are:
Zack Marshall
Hogan Hansen
Deacon Tonelli
All three should have opportunities to earn playing time.
Michigan has traditionally asked a lot from its tight ends, both as blockers and receivers, so establishing dependable options at the position will be important for the overall development of the offense.
Someone in this room is going to have to step forward.
The question is who.
How Good Can Michigan’s Offense Be?
There is plenty to like about this offensive roster.
Michigan has a potentially elite quarterback.
It has a deep running back room.
There is young talent at wide receiver.
And while there are still questions along the offensive line and at tight end, there is enough talent for those positions to develop into strengths as the year progresses.
The biggest challenge for Whittingham and Beck will be figuring out how all of these pieces fit together.
If they can do that — and if the offense plays up to its talent level — I believe Michigan has the potential to finish the season as a top-three offense in the Big Ten.
That is obviously a high expectation.
But the pieces are there.
Now it is about development, consistency and putting everything together when the games begin.
And everything starts with Bryce Underwood.
Next up: Michigan’s defensive depth chart, position battles and a full breakdown of Week 3 of fall camp as the Wolverines put the pads on and move another step closer to the 2026 season.