Michigan will enter Kyle Whittingham's first season ranked No. 16 in the country, according to the preseason AP Top 25 poll released Monday, Aug. 17. The Wolverines earned 718 points from voters, slotting in as the fifth-highest Big Ten team behind No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, No. 6 Indiana and No. 15 USC.

The ranking places Michigan ahead of three other ranked Big Ten programs: No. 17 Washington, No. 18 Penn State and No. 22 Iowa.

It also previews a punishing schedule. Michigan will face six preseason-ranked opponents in 2026, including four in the top 10: Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana and No. 10 Oklahoma. The Wolverines draw Oklahoma, Indiana, Iowa and Penn State over the season's first seven weeks, according to MLive.

Whittingham, who spent 21 seasons leading Utah before taking the Michigan job, has set measured expectations since arriving. At the opening of fall camp on Aug. 13, he told reporters: "I think we got a good football team. I can't predict how good we can be or where we'll end up. But if we're playing meaningful games in November, then that's probably for us a successful season and a chance to have something to build on."

The Wolverines went 9-4 last season and finished No. 21 in the final AP poll but have missed the College Football Playoff in each of the last two years after reaching it from 2021 through 2023.

Whittingham's staff includes nine new on-field assistants, among them offensive coordinator Jason Beck and defensive coordinator Jay Hill, who spent the previous three seasons at BYU after 12 years on Whittingham's staff at Utah. Hill echoed his boss's tone at the Aug. 13 camp opening, saying the team is "in the business of letting our actions show it."

On the field, sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood has drawn early praise. Whittingham gave him an A-plus grade through the first six fall camp practices on Aug. 13, noting Underwood is "much further ahead than he was at the end of spring." Underwood completed 60% of his passes for 2,428 yards as a freshman, with 17 total touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The new strength program has produced measurable gains. First-year director of football sports performance Doug Elisaia overhauled lifting regimens, boosting core squad lifts by 100 to 200 pounds, according to Yahoo Sports. Team captain and running back Jordan Marshall pushed his bench press to 375 pounds under the new program, and 97% of players set personal bests in summer running metrics.

Michigan also debuted at No. 16 in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, released before the AP version.

The Wolverines open the season Saturday, Sept. 5, against Western Michigan at Michigan Stadium. Their first ranked opponent comes within the opening month.