Michigan enters its first season under head coach Kyle Whittingham at 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the Big Ten after a 21-18 home win over Penn State in which starter Bryce Underwood was benched for Tommy Carr. The offense ranks near the bottom nationally in scoring and total yards while the defense remains a strength, limiting opponents to under 17 points per game on average. A brutal remaining schedule features home games against ranked Indiana and Michigan State plus road trips to Oregon and Ohio State, with ongoing offensive line injuries and questions at quarterback further complicating efforts to reach or exceed a typical preseason win total projection near 8.5. Recent close results and special teams issues have traders focused on whether the program can secure enough victories in winnable spots to avoid a sub-.500 Big Ten finish.