The Michigan Wolverines are set to open the 2026 regular season with a trio of non-conference games in September. Here’s a look at upcoming matchups against Western Michigan, Oklahoma and UTEP as the upcoming campaign approaches.
Western Michigan (Sept. 5)
The season opener against Western Michigan will take place at Michigan Stadium after it was initially proposed to be an international game in Germany.
Historically, Michigan has completely dominated the in-state series with an unblemished 8-0 record against the Broncos, including a 47-14 win in the most recent meeting in 2021.
Western Michigan is coming off one of the best seasons in school history, compiling a 10-4 record and winning the MAC for the first time since 2016. The Broncos lost a lot of the production on defense, including MAC Defensive Player of the Year Nadame Tucker to the NFL Draft, but they did bring back starting quarterback Broc Lowry and star running back Jalen Buckley.
The debut under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham should serve as an opportunity for the Wolverines to work out the kinks and find a rhythm before a marquee matchup the following weekend. With that said, Michigan still can’t take the Broncos lightly. It should be an interesting battle as the Wolverines look to open the 2026 season and the Whittingham era with a bang.
Oklahoma (Sept. 12)
The following week pits two of the nation’s most storied programs against one another as Michigan hosts Oklahoma in a Big Noon battle on Sept. 12. The Wolverines suffered a 24-13 loss to Oklahoma in Norman a year ago, so this will be a chance for Michigan to enact some revenge in what is the first major test for Whittingham and the Wolverines.
Oklahoma returns most of the team from a season ago that went 10-3 and lost to Alabama in the opening round of the College Footbal Playoff, highlighted by quarterback John Mateer. Other players Michigan will be tasked with slowing down include leading rusher Tory Blaylock, leading receiver Isaiah Sategna III and leading tackler Kip Lewis.
Even though it’s so early in the season, the matchup is expected to have legitimate postseason implications. With the Big Ten schedule being so difficult, the Wolverines desperately need to avoid an early-season loss and pick up a quality win over a high-profile opponent in non-conference play.
UTEP (Sept. 19)
The final tune-up before Big Ten play is against UTEP in the first-ever meeting between the programs. UTEP is set to make its debut in the Mountain West this season, which will make it the fifth straight season that Michigan will face an opponent from the conference, holding a 12-1 all-time record against Mountain West opponents.
Similarly to the season opener, the Wolverines are set to be significant favorites over UTEP. The Miners are coming off an abysmal 2025 campaign, as they finished in last place in Conference USA with a 2-10 overall record and 1-7 in conference play. Despite such a poor season, UTEP is expected to be more competitive after bringing in transfer quarterback E.J. Colson.
According to Pete Thamel, Colson has already won the starting job. Colson is a former three-star recruit who started his career at UCF before transferring to Purdue and eventually playing at Incarnate Word last year. In addition to Colson, UTEP also brought in former Missouri running back Tavorus Jones, who could pose an early-season threat to Michigan’s run defense.
