⚡ CFB Dashboard

Spring practices have come and gone, and the Michigan football team has taken the first steps toward contending in new head coach Kyle Whittingham's first season in charge of the Wolverines. But to make a move to the College Football Playoffs in the fall, Michigan is going to have to weather one of the nation's toughest regular-season schedules. That was further emphasized Wednesday, when CBS Sports released its post-spring top 138 rankings, breaking down all FBS teams after the transfer portal cycle and spring practices. Michigan, for its part, came in 16th in the rankings, and fifth among Big Ten teams. But the Wolverines' schedule includes plenty of heavy-hitters that could threaten Michigan's path back to the playoffs. At the top is Ohio State, who went 12-2 last season and will host the Wolverines for their annual rivalry clash Nov. 28. Michigan will also play another top-three team on the road, as it will travel to take on No. 3 Oregon Nov. 14.  Reigning national champion Indiana is slated to be the Wolverines' third-toughest game this season, and will visit Ann Arbor Oct. 24. No. 10 Oklahoma also comes to Michigan Stadium this fall, and gives Michigan four top-10 teams on its regular-season schedule. Outside of those top opponents, Michigan's schedule has more teams with uncertain outcomes in 2026. Penn State, who comes to town Oct. 17, is coming off a 7-6 season, but is ranked No. 18 by CBS Sports thanks to new head coach Matt Campbell and his Iowa State-heavy transfer portal class. Next behind them is Iowa, at No. 23, who makes the trip to Ann Arbor Sept. 26. The next-best team outside of the six projected top-25 opponents is Minnesota, who hosts Michigan Oct. 3 and came in No. 40 in the rankings. UCLA, also introducing a new head coach, came in at No. 49 in the post-spring rankings despite going 3-9 last fall.  Bringing up the rear of power-conference opponents on Michigan's schedule in the post-spring rankings are No. 64 Rutgers (5-7 last fall) and No. 66 Michigan State (4-8). In terms of non-conference games, Michigan's clash with the Sooners will be sandwiched between games against No. 91 Western Michigan and No. 131 UTEP, who went 2-10 last fall and is expected to be among the worst teams in the country this season.  In all, Michigan is slated to face four top-10 teams, six top-25 teams and eight top-50 opponents, with only two games against teams ranked in the bottom half of the rankings.  According to CBS Sports, Michigan's path to the College Football Playoff will largely be paved with its defensive front. "The spring game raised some eyebrows as Bryce Underwood was 3-for-9 for 22 yards with two sacks, but Whittingham made clear that means nothing, and Underwood is his guy," CBS Sports wrote in its Big Ten spring overreactions. "The bigger case for optimism is on the other side of the ball. Whittingham has repeatedly said this spring that the defensive line will be the strength of this team, and he spent 22 years at Utah turning defensive units into program identities. If he can do the same in Ann Arbor, the CFP conversation isn't crazy."