Michigan football has a tough, tough schedule in 2026, with many top-tier games on the docket. But not all are necessarily the ones that people have circled on their calendars across the country. However, Joel Klatt has two he's excited to see this year, and both happen to be games he'll be calling.
While it's no surprise that he has The Game atop his list, as it's arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports, Klatt starts out with his top 10 list of the '10 games that will shape the 2026 season' with the Wolverines' game in Week 2 against Oklahoma at The Big House.
"Let's start September 12th, Week 2, Oklahoma at Michigan," Klatt said. "This will be a Fox game. Gus, Jenny, and I will be there in Ann Arbor as Kyle Whittingham gets his first crack at a monster game as the coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Obviously, this is a rematch of last year's game in Norman. And that's the game that I thought Venables -- Mateer, maybe more specifically -- kind of announced himself to the country as a Heisman contender. OU was a legitimate playoff contender after that win at home over Michigan, even if they had a true freshman quarterback in that one, that was a big statement win. And I think a win in this game for either of these programs would do the exact same thing that it did for Oklahoma a year ago. So that's why this is one of the games that will shape the year.
"This is the first big game for Kyle Whittingham. Like I said, and it's going to be an indication of whether Michigan's going to be back in playoff form. Are they going to compete for a Big Ten ***** le? We're going to find out really quickly Week 2 on September 12th."
Michigan lost the first contest of the home-and-home, with the game in Norman being relatively close until the Sooners put it away on their final drive. That win for OU was something of a springboard for the 2025 season and a College Football Playoff inclusion for Oklahoma, and Klatt reiterated that there's a high likelihood that will be the case again this upcoming season.
While it's no surprise that he has The Game atop his list, as it's arguably the greatest rivalry in all of sports, Klatt starts out with his top 10 list of the '10 games that will shape the 2026 season' with the Wolverines' game in Week 2 against Oklahoma at The Big House.
"Let's start September 12th, Week 2, Oklahoma at Michigan," Klatt said. "This will be a Fox game. Gus, Jenny, and I will be there in Ann Arbor as Kyle Whittingham gets his first crack at a monster game as the coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Obviously, this is a rematch of last year's game in Norman. And that's the game that I thought Venables -- Mateer, maybe more specifically -- kind of announced himself to the country as a Heisman contender. OU was a legitimate playoff contender after that win at home over Michigan, even if they had a true freshman quarterback in that one, that was a big statement win. And I think a win in this game for either of these programs would do the exact same thing that it did for Oklahoma a year ago. So that's why this is one of the games that will shape the year.
"This is the first big game for Kyle Whittingham. Like I said, and it's going to be an indication of whether Michigan's going to be back in playoff form. Are they going to compete for a Big Ten ***** le? We're going to find out really quickly Week 2 on September 12th."
Michigan lost the first contest of the home-and-home, with the game in Norman being relatively close until the Sooners put it away on their final drive. That win for OU was something of a springboard for the 2025 season and a College Football Playoff inclusion for Oklahoma, and Klatt reiterated that there's a high likelihood that will be the case again this upcoming season.
1 month ago
