The dates and opponents are set for Michigan\u2019s 2026 football season.<\/p>\n
Takeaways from Michigan\u2019s schedule release<\/p>\n
Another Week 2 Tilt vs. Oklahoma<\/p>\n
The Sooners head to Michigan in Week 2 after beating the Wolverines 24-13 in Norman last season, which was a Week 2 tilt as well. The 2025 loss occurred in the first road start of Bryce Underwood\u2019s career. Quarterback John Mateer returns for his second season at Oklahoma after an up-and-down \u201825 campaign that featured a hand injury, 14 passing touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.<\/p>\n
Two tough home games in October<\/p>\n
Michigan faces Penn State (Oct. 17) and Indiana (Oct. 24) at Michigan Stadium.<\/p>\n
Penn State had a horrible 7-6 2025 season, which featured an in-season firing of James Franklin after many outlets considered the Nittany Lions a national championship favorite. However, there\u2019s optimism with former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell now in charge, and has 24 Iowa State players joining him, including quarterback Rocco Becht.<\/p>\n
Indiana, which just won the national championship, will lose Fernando Mendoza to the NFL but will replace him with TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who\u2019s thrown for 71 career passing touchdowns and 9,629 yards.<\/p>\n
The firsts will come in back-to-back weeks. Michigan will face Oregon for the first time in Eugene on Nov. 14 as a Big Ten opponent. Michigan will then face UCLA at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 21, marking the first time Michigan has played UCLA as a Big Ten opponent.<\/p>\n
A new head coach at Michigan State<\/p>\n
Pat Fitzgerald is the new head coach at Michigan State, who will be facing the Wolverines at Michigan Stadium on Nov. 7. Fitzgerald was just 1-9 against Michigan during his time as Northwestern\u2019s head coach.<\/p>\n
Five games vs. ranked 2025 teams<\/p>\n