11. Michigan Wolverines
- 2025 record: 9-4 (7-2)
- 2026 Title Odds: +4500
A major scandal broke at the tail end of the coaching cycle, and Michigan quickly fired Sherrone Moore and turned to trying to fill a leadership void and bring stability to the program. They brought in former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and, by most accounts, made the most of an ugly situation. Whittingham is not a long-term solution, but he is a very competent stopgap who should, at minimum, steady the ship and make Michigan a very tough team to beat. The Wolverines added a quartet of four-star recruits and a dozen three-star prospects, and I’m higher on their additions than most.
Difference-making pass rushers are tough to find, and John Henry Daley (Utah) is a proven commodity that will wreak havoc on opposing passers in the Big Ten. Whittingham also grabbed top cornerbacks Smith Snowden and Aisea Moa, receiver JJ Buchanan, and 6’5” defensive lineman Jonah Lea'ea from Utah. The class isn’t great after those Utah additions. Jaime Ffrench Jr. (Texas) is talented, but Texas let him walk, which tells me something, plus there were no impactful additions at running back, tight end, or on the offensive line.