It won’t take long for everyone to know whether or not Michigan football is legitimate in 2026 or not. The answer to that question will come as early as Week 2, when the Wolverines host Oklahoma at The Big House.
It’s a big game, especially for new head coach Kyle Whittingham, who will look to win what will likely be a ranked matchup in the early season. And a win in Week 2 could propel the maize and blue to a solid season in Whittingham’s first year.
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CBS Sports broke down some of the early betting lines and what they mean for the College Football Playoff in 2026. The Week 2 tilt between the Wolverines and Sooners was one of the games mentioned, and it appears that Michigan is getting a bit of a Whittingham bump, in CBS Sports’ eyes.
Oklahoma at Michigan
Line: Michigan -1.5Over/under: 45.5
A year ago, the Sooners were 4.5-point home favorites against the Wolverines and validated that line with a 24-13 win that helped propel Oklahoma to the College Football Playoff.
Michigan enters this matchup with a new coach in Kyle Whittingham — who arrives from Utah. With Bryce Underwood back for his sophomore season, the Wolverines carry lofty expectations as a potential CFP contender in 2026.
The total of 45.5 is no surprise given the defensive pedigrees of both coaches and could dip even lower as kickoff approaches. For Oklahoma, the question is whether a healthy John Mateer can make the offense more dynamic than it was late in 2025, or if the Sooners will again need to lean on a dominant defense.
Oddsmakers appear to trust Whittingham’s ability to elevate Michigan, and lingering concerns about Oklahoma’s offense have made the Wolverines a slight favorite in the Big House.
Of course, Whittingham has a history of doing more with less, and what he’s inheriting in Ann Arbor might be the most talented roster he’s ever worked with. From the aforementioned Bryce Underwood to wide receiver Andrew Marsh to a lot of unheralded but promising players on defense, he has a lot to work with. And that’s not even mentioning the transfers he brought in, mostly from Utah.
Should the maize and blue be able to get past Oklahoma in Week 2, even with the tough schedule ahead, it could show that Michigan will be a team that won’t be an easy out, at least, and contender, at best.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: Whittingham’s Wolverines face early Oklahoma test
