Projecting Michigan’s Week 1 Starting Lineup Before Fall Camp: How the Wolverines Could Line Up Under Kyle Whittingham

Fall camp is right around the corner, and with Big Ten Media Days set for next week in Chicago, Michigan football is officially entering the final stretch before the 2026 season.

The Wolverines are coming off a nine-win campaign under former head coach Sherrone Moore. New head coach Kyle Whittingham, hired in late 2025, has done a strong job retaining key pieces of the roster while adding talent through the transfer portal. The result is a mix of returning experience and fresh faces that will take the field in Week 1 against Western Michigan.

While fall camp will settle many of the remaining position battles, it’s useful to look ahead and project how Michigan’s starting unit could look when the Wolverines come out of the tunnel for the opener.

Projected Starting Offense (11 Personnel)

For this projection we use a standard 11-personnel grouping (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers). Offensive coordinator Jason Beck has indicated the Wolverines will also use jumbo packages and adjust based on personnel strengths, but 11 personnel serves as a clean baseline for Week 1.

Key Notes on the Offense

Quarterback: Bryce Underwood enters his sophomore season as the clear starter. The former five-star prospect from Detroit showed both high-end flashes and inconsistency as a true freshman. With a full offseason under Whittingham and Beck, he is expected to take a noticeable step forward as the centerpiece of the offense.

Running Back: Jordan Marshall projects as the lead back. Michigan’s ground game was a strength last season, and the staff is expected to continue leaning on a physical, efficient rushing attack.

Receivers and Tight End: The wide receiver group features a blend of returning and new pieces. Andrew Marsh, JJ Buchanan, and Jaime Ffrench form a versatile trio, while tight end Zack Marshall adds size and reliability in the middle of the field.

Offensive Line: The projected starting five of Blake Frazier, Evan Link, Jake Guarnera, Nate Efobi, and Andrew Sprague will be critical. Continuity and physicality up front remain central to Michigan’s identity, and this group will need to establish dominance early against Western Michigan.

What to Watch in Fall Camp

Several position battles remain open, particularly along the offensive line and at the skill positions behind the projected starters. Whittingham’s staff will also evaluate how best to use multiple tight-end sets and heavier personnel groupings. Depth and health will be major themes throughout August.

On the defensive side, Michigan returns a solid core and will look to maintain the physical, gap-sound identity that has defined the program in recent years. Specific starting projections on defense will become clearer once camp practices open and the depth chart takes shape.

Looking Ahead to Week 1

Western Michigan provides a manageable opening opponent, giving the new staff time to evaluate combinations and install schemes without facing immediate elite competition. How quickly Underwood and the offensive line settle in will go a long way toward setting the tone for the early portion of the schedule.

As always, these projections are subject to change once pads come on and coaches evaluate live competition. Still, the current picture shows a Michigan team with a clear quarterback, a physical offensive identity, and enough returning talent to compete in the Big Ten under Kyle Whittingham.

Fall camp will provide the final answers. Until then, this is a solid snapshot of how the Wolverines could look when they take the field in Week 1.