The 2026-27 college football season is on our doorstep, and handicapper Paul Stone just dropped some insights that Michigan fans are not going to like. Forget whatever futures you thought you had, because Stone is calling for the Wolverines to go *under* 8.5 wins this season, even at -170. Yeah, you read that right. Stone isn’t necessarily bearish on Michigan, he’s excited to see what Kyle Whittingham does in his first year, but the strength of schedule is a monumental problem.
Wolverines Face a Gauntlet That Could Crush Their Season
This isn’t just tough talk. One publication actually ranks Michigan’s schedule as the second-toughest in the entire nation. Think about that for a second. In Week 2, they host Oklahoma in what is already being called a virtual toss-up game. That’s just the start. They also draw Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State in conference play. And the real kicker? Those Oregon and Ohio State games are both on the road. Whittingham stepping into this fire for his first season? Stone believes eight wins would be a huge accomplishment. Seriously, with that kind of schedule, getting to eight wins is an uphill battle that feels more like climbing Mount Everest without a guide. If you thought it was going to be an easy ride, you need to check that schedule again.
Arkansas and Iowa State Are Heading for Some Serious Heartbreak
It’s not just Michigan facing a rough road. Stone also put the magnifying glass on Arkansas and Iowa State, and the outlook for both is just as grim. Arkansas is coming off a brutal 2-10 record, which included going winless in SEC play last year. Now they’ve got a first-year head coach in Ryan Silverfield, who wasn’t even the program’s first choice. Stone looks at their roster and sees it as “devoid of frontline , or even mid-level , SEC-caliber talent.” They’ll beat FCS Northern Alabama in their opener, and should take down Tulsa in Week 4, but those are literally the *only* clear victories on the schedule. He projects Arkansas to be a double-digit underdog in eight of their other ten games, and getting at least a touchdown in the remaining two. Stone simply can’t see them scraping together five wins.
Over in Ames, Iowa State is in a similar mess. After Matt Campbell left as the school’s all-time winningest coach, Jimmy Rogers is the new leader. Rogers spent last season at Washington State after winning the FCS national title at South Dakota State in 2023, but he’s got his work cut out for him in Week 1. Twenty-four Iowa State players, including three-year starting quarterback Rocco Becht, followed Campbell to Penn State. The Cyclones don’t even return a running back who gained 100 yards last season, or a receiver with 10 catches. Their offensive and defensive lines are “extremely green,” and only one of their top 21 tacklers returns. Stone says this roster “simply isn’t built for success in the Big 12 at this point.”
So, as the college football season kicks off, these teams are staring down some serious challenges. Michigan has a brutal schedule, and Arkansas and Iowa State are basically starting from scratch with major talent drains. It’s going to be a fascinating, and likely frustrating, season for fans of these programs.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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