Western Michigan
Michigan #16
11:30 PM · Michigan Stadium

Western Michigan at Michigan (#16) — Michigan (#16) is favored by 27.5.

What’s at stake

Make the CFP field

Michigan · 29%29% → ▲31% if win29% → ▼19% if loss
Western Michigan · 3%3% → ▲6% if win3% → ▼2% if loss

Win the conference

Michigan · 5%5% → ▲6% if win5% → ▼5% if loss
Western Michigan · 24%24% → ▲24% if win24% → ▼23% if loss

Win it all

Michigan · 1%1% → ▲1% if win1% → ▼1% if loss
Western Michigan · 0%0% → ▲0% if win0% → ▼0% if loss

CFP odds as of September 5, 2026

See this week’s biggest postseason implications ›

The series

Michigan leads the series 8-0

8 meetings since 1917 · Michigan has won the last 8

  • 2021Michigan 47–14
  • 2018Michigan 49–3
  • 2011Michigan 34–10
  • 2009Michigan 31–7
  • 2002Michigan 35–12

Face-off

What each fanbase carries into this one.

Western Michigan

The chip · vs the national media

Bronco fans are sick of being a punchline about a coach who left and a rowing slogan he took with him. They say a program picked seventh and crowned champion proved Kalamazoo can win on its own terms — and that nobody's laughing now.

What this game touches

The nine years chasing 2016. P.J. Fleck went 13-1 and reached the Cotton Bowl in 2016, then left for Minnesota and took 'Row the Boat' with him — and Western Michigan spent the next nine seasons as a good MAC program that never quite got back to the top, the breakthrough always one game short.

Michigan

The chip · vs the national media

The fanbase has heard for two years that the 2023 title carries an asterisk and that Michigan is a story the rest of the sport gets to narrate; Michigan Men say the ledger answers all of it, and that the program that has done this longer than anyone doesn't need the panels' permission.

Best players

Michigan

  • Ernest Hausmann (LB) · 2025: 68 tackles
  • Jordan Marshall (RB) · 2025: 932 rushing yards — Heisman odds: 66th (+20000)
  • Bryce Underwood (QB) · 2025: 2,428 passing yards — Heisman odds: 16th (+4000)

Western Michigan

  • Corey Webb (CB) · 4 tackles
  • Tre' Hartwell (RB) · 52 rushing yards
  • Fitzroy Ledgister (DB) · 2 tackles

The line, and the room

Western Michigan fans are feeling better about their season (88th percentile) than Michigan fans are (9th) — even with Michigan favored here.

  • Model · 63%
  • Market · 99%
  • Michigan fans · 9th
  • Western Michigan fans · 88th

Home −27.5 · O/U 49.5

Conditions

74°F · 9 mph wind · Cloudy

Home-field advantage: Strong

Michigan is 87% at home, 69% on the road since 2018 (46-7 home, 25-11 away).