The Big Ten schedule is finally out for the 2026 football season! While the opponents for the Michigan Wolverines have been known for a few years, the order the games are played really matter, and it will
be a challenging year for the Wolverines.
Michigan will face five teams ranked in the final AP Top-25 of the 2025 season — No. 1 Indiana, No. 4 Oregon, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 13 Oklahoma, and No. 17 Iowa. With a ton of talent on the opposing rosters, we must start with arguably the most important position to evaluate, the quarterback.
Here are the five best quarterbacks Michigan will play against in 2026.
No. 5: Penn State QB Rocco Becht (Week 7, Oct. 17)
When former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell made the decision to leave Ames for State College, it was only a matter of time before his quarterback, Rocco Becht, joined him. Within Campbell’s system, Becht has been one of the most steady quarterbacks in recent years.
Becht brings 26 career wins as a starter to Penn State, the most of any returning quarterback in college football in 2026. He led Iowa State to 11 wins in 2024, finishing with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. In his career, he has 9,275 passing yards and 64 touchdowns, and 499 rushing yards and 19 rushing touchdowns.
No. 4: Indiana QB Josh Hoover (Week 8, Oct. 24)
Straight off a national championship, Indiana hit the portal and picked up one of the most experienced and established quarterbacks in TCU’s Josh Hoover.
Hoover has come a long way since high school, where he almost went to Indiana before getting offered in his home state by TCU. In 36 appearances for the Horned Frogs, Hoover completed 65 percent of his passes for 9,629 yards, 71 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. His 8.4 yards per attempt last season led the Big 12. As a junior in 2025, he threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
With his experience, strong mechanics, and an elite coaching staff led by Curt Cignetti, Hoover could have similar success to many portal quarterbacks we have seen in recent years. It is going to be tough for the Michigan defense to face Becht and Hoover in back-to-back weeks.
No. 3: Ohio State QB Julian Sayin (Week 13, Nov. 28)
Julian Sayin had a great start to his college career, leading Ohio State to a No. 1 overall ranking for the entire season before losing to Indiana in the Big Ten Championship and then to Miami in the College Football Playoff.
There is no question Sayin has the ability to win a championship in Columbus and even go at the top of the NFL Draft. He led the nation all season in completion percentage (78.4 percent) and passing efficiency (182.05). Just to put it in perspective, his regular season completion percentage eclipsed the all-time NCAA record of 77.4 percent by Bo Nix in 2023.
However, with the high expectations Ohio State always has, plus adding NFL offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the staff, all eyes will be on Sayin to deliver even more in 2026.
No. 2: Oklahoma QB John Mateer (Week 2, Sept. 12)
John Mateer announced he was forgoing the NFL for one more season to attempt to get to the promised land with the Sooner. Mateer’s start to 2025 was arguably the best in college football, throwing for six touchdowns and rushing for five in the first four games. Against Michigan, he threw for 270 yards and a touchdown to go along with 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
However, a hand injury against Auburn two weeks later derailed his momentum. Mateer missed three games following surgery, and when he returned, he struggled to find consistency. From that point on, he threw six touchdowns compared to seven interceptions and only rushed for two more scores. The Wolverines will get another crack at Mateer, but a full bill of health could help him get back to where he was at pre-injury.
No. 1: Oregon QB Dante Moore (Week 11, Nov. 14)
The projected No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft decided to return to college, and that’s who tops our list today. Dante Moore ranked in the top-15 nationally in completion rate (71.8 percent), passing touchdowns (30), passing yards (3,565) and QBR (78.5) in his first full season as a starter.
In addition to his success in 2025, what makes Moore so dangerous in 2026 are the weapons he will have around him. Running backs Jordon Davison and Dierre Hill, as well as wide receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Dakorien Moore all shined as freshmen and should take a sophomore leap. That will only help Moore elevate his own game.
Oregon should get some votes to be the preseason favorite to win the National Championship, and with Moore at the helm, Michigan may have the toughest final stretch playing on the road at Oregon and Ohio State in the final month.
