​EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN – OCTOBER 25: Bryce Underwood #19 of the Michigan Wolverines looks on at the line of scrimmage against the Michigan State Spartans at Spartan Stadium on October 25, 2025 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) | Getty Images Michigan comes into the 2026 football season with plenty of belief in a step forward in Year 1 under Kyle Whittingham. The optimism lies in improvement from the many returning players on the roster, as well as a veteran coaching staff that has developed and won at a high level. However, Michigan’s tough schedule has some believing that the improvement will be seen with the eye test rather than in the win column.To see how real that possibility might be, we’re going game-by-game to predict Michigan’s regular-season record for the 2026 season.Week 1 – vs. Western MichiganWestern Michigan is probably more formidable than your average MAC opponent coming off a 10-win season last year, so don’t expect much so much of a cakewalk. The Wolverines should get the Whittingham era off to a solid start, but perhaps this one will be a bit closer than the experts predict, much like the last two season openers. Prediction: Michigan wins 31-14Week 2 – vs. Oklahoma (No. 10)This one should play out similar to last year’s matchup with the Sooners in that the defenses should be the star of the show. Michigan does have home-field advantage this time, and the offense shouldn’t be as stuck in the mud (both in this game and for the season) like it was last year. The Wolverines have done more than enough this offseason to make up for the deficiencies they had against Oklahoma last year. Give me a close and gritty victory.Prediction: Michigan wins 23-16Week 3 – vs. UTEPUTEP should be a sizable step down from even what Western Michigan is in Week 1. There isn’t much to think about with this one, as the Wolverines should coast to victory.Prediction: Michigan wins 47-7Week 4 – vs. Iowa (No. 22)Michigan’s first Big Ten matchup of the year is a relatively stiff test against Iowa, but fortunately the Hawkeyes are coming to Ann Arbor and Michigan will already have played a tough game against Oklahoma two weeks earlier. Again, the defenses in this game should be the star of the show, but Michigan should have enough to pull off the victory in an old-fashioned Big Ten rock fight.Prediction: Michigan wins 23-14Week 5 – at MinnesotaHeading into the bye week, going on the road for the first time, and with two formidable opponents already defeated, Michigan’s game against Minnesota has the chance to be one of the sneakier games on the schedule. I’d liken it to last year’s trip to Nebraska, as this one might be also closer than the experts predict, especially against a Minnesota defense that projects to be one of the better ones in the Big Ten. But the Wolverines’ talent edge should still come through to give them a 5-0 start to the year.Prediction:Michigan wins 31-20Week 6 – Bye WeekWee