Michigan's Kyle Whittingham laid out his objective in his first season as the Wolverines' head coach.
"Our team goal is to win the Big Ten," Whittingham said, according to On3's Anthony Broome. "And if you do that, then you're gonna have a chance to play beyond that. But right now at Michigan, how can it not be a goal to win the Big Ten?"
He added, "We expect to be in the hunt for the championship, and winning it is our ultimate goal. There are a bunch of teams in the league that feel the same way - maybe every team.
"If you're not trying to win a championship, there may be a few teams just starting to build, but at Michigan, you better have that in the back of your mind - or the forefront - every single year."
Whittingham joins Michigan after a 21-year run as Utah's full-time head coach. He went 176-88 during that stretch, winning two Pac-12 championships and owning a 10-6 record in bowl games.
The 66-year-old takes over for Sherrone Moore, whom the school dismissed in December for having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. In late July, Whittingham said he was trying to end the "drama" that surrounded the program in recent years.
Michigan went 9-4 last season, led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. The 19-year-old showed some flashes but struggled in the final two games against Ohio State and Texas. Over the campaign, Underwood racked up 2,820 total yards with 17 touchdowns and 12 turnovers and ranked 57th among 133 qualifying FBS quarterbacks in EPA/dropback, according to TruMedia.
Returning for his sophomore year, Underwood received praise from Whittingham during the offseason. But the pair will face a tough slate in 2026, as the Wolverines have six games against teams currently in the top 25, including a Week 2 showdown against No. 10 Oklahoma.
"Bring it on," Whittingham said of the schedule. "No complaints, no whining. We'll be there every single week. It's the Big Ten. I don't think there's ever gonna be a year where the schedule's a piece of cake. I just don't foresee that."
Michigan opens its season Saturday against Western Michigan.
