Michigan is one week into fall camp, and despite the media not being allowed into practices, a real picture is starting to form of what the Wolverines’ offense will look like in 2026. Listening to Kyle Whittingham, offensive coordinator Jason Beck, and the players themselves speak throughout the week, it’s clear there are still real position battles happening as Michigan searches for its best five, ten and eleven players on offense.
After one week in the books, here’s how Michigan’s offense might line up for the season opener against Western Michigan.
Quarterback: Bryce Underwood Is the Easy Call
There are other cemented starters for Michigan entering 2026, but naming Bryce Underwood as the Wolverines’ starting quarterback is the easiest call in this entire projection. Underwood had a shaky 2025 season as a true freshman, but he was thrust into a difficult situation without the proper coaching infrastructure around him. Kyle Whittingham has since hired Koy Detmer Jr. to coach him this season, and by all accounts, Underwood is progressing nicely.
His footwork appears to be cleaning up, and with Jason Beck installing his offense, Underwood should be better utilized this season than he was a year ago. He’ll be allowed to run the football more often in 2026, and assuming he does a better job reading defenses, fans should see real progression from where he finished last season. Underwood has also worked with quarterback consultant Jordan Palmer and alongside NFL star Joe Burrow this offseason, additional reps that should only help as he enters his sophomore campaign.
Behind Underwood, Tommy Carr and Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi are competing for the backup job, with Whittingham indicating Carr currently holds a slight edge as the “clear” No. 2 heading into camp, despite Fowler-Nicolosi’s added starting experience.
Running Back: A True 1A-1B Situation
At running back, Jordan Marshall projects as the starter, but in name only — this is shaping up to be more of a true 1A-1B rotation alongside true freshman Savion Hiter. Marshall is one of the team’s most important leaders and is coming off a breakout sophomore season in which he rushed for 932 yards and 10 touchdowns. Hiter, meanwhile, has been every bit as good as advertised this offseason, bringing a rare combination of speed, power and receiving upside for a true freshman.
Beyond the top two, the depth thins out considerably. Bryson Kuzdzal projects as the clear third option after impressing in spot duty a season ago, with true freshman Jonathan Brown looking to carve out a role behind him. Micah Ka’apana, who could have played a bigger role in 2026, was ruled out for the season after a leg injury in the spring.
Wide Receiver: The Deepest Room in Years
Michigan’s receiver room looks as deep as it’s been in years heading into 2026. While the exact starting alignment is still being sorted out in camp, the Wolverines have a talented mix of proven sophomores and newcomers pushing for snaps, giving Jason Beck real flexibility in how he wants to deploy his personnel out of his standard 11-personnel sets. Expect the room to rotate multiple players early in the season as the staff continues evaluating who separates themselves once real game action begins.
Offensive Line: Only Two Spots Fully Settled
Up front, Michigan’s offensive line still has real question marks. Only center and right tackle appear fully cemented at this point in camp, leaving three jobs up for grabs as Whittingham looks to field his best possible five linemen regardless of where each player lined up a season ago. Evan Link, who started at left tackle in 2024 before a season-ending injury allowed Blake Frazier to close out last season in that spot, is back in the mix and has experience at both tackle spots. Nathan Efobi, Brady Norton and Avery Gach are also squarely in the competition, and fall camp will ultimately determine which five linemen the coaching staff trusts to open the season together.
Why These Battles Matter Heading Into Week 1
With a new coaching staff, a new offensive coordinator, and several key returning starters looking to prove themselves under a completely different system, Michigan’s offensive identity in 2026 is still very much a work in progress just one week into camp. Underwood’s development remains the central storyline, but how the coaching staff resolves the ongoing competitions at running back depth, wide receiver, and especially along the offensive line will go a long way toward determining how effective this offense can be right out of the gate against Western Michigan.
Final Thoughts
One week into fall camp, Michigan’s offensive picture for 2026 is coming into sharper focus, even if several key battles remain unresolved. Bryce Underwood’s status as the unquestioned starting quarterback gives the Wolverines a clear foundation to build around, while a deep, talented backfield and receiver room provide real flexibility for Jason Beck’s system. The biggest lingering question remains up front, where Michigan is still searching for its best five along the offensive line. How those competitions shake out over the next several weeks will shape what kind of offense the Wolverines bring into their season opener against Western Michigan.
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