Michigan\u2019s offense figures to take a step forward in 2026 after back-to-back seasons of average-to-below-average play. Jason Beck is the new man in charge of the group, and he brings plenty of experience as an offensive coordinator, including a turnaround at Utah last year that had the Utes scoring 41.3 points per game.<\/p>\n
Despite his track record, Beck has plenty to prove in a position where the spotlight will be brighter than it has been at any other point in his career. His new players, though, will have some pressure on them as well to try and make things click, hopefully en route to a more successful season.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at the three players in Michigan\u2019s offense that have the most to prove in 2025.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s crazy to put a true freshman on a list like this, right? Probably, but we\u2019re going to do it anyway. Running back Savion Hiter comes to Michigan as one of the highest-rated recruits in the nation. He\u2019s 6-foot and 210 pounds, with a chiseled frame and bruising running style that should help him adapt to the physicality of the college game. Combining his physical traits with the fact he enrolled early and has been impressing the coaching staff for months already has many believing he can be a major success right away.<\/p>\n
Despite all the positives Hiter brings to the table, it\u2019s not like he\u2019ll have the luxury of being eased into the action. He\u2019ll be asked to be the \u201c1B\u201d to Jordan Marshall\u2019s \u201c1A\u201d right away, so he\u2019ll get immediately tested against the best the Big Ten has to offer, not to mention a tilt against Oklahoma in Week 2. If Hiter lives up to the hype, it should mean great things for the rushing attack, but the monstrous expectations are a lot to place on any freshman\u2019s shoulders.<\/p>\n
Michigan was pretty active in the transfer portal this offseason, making a handful of additions to the offense. One of those additions was former Texas wide receiver Jaime Ffrench. He was a highly-rated four-star recruit, but played sparingly for the Longhorns as a freshman, even in an offense that wasn\u2019t able to do much early in the season. On the year, he had just one reception for six yards.<\/p>\n
Coming to Michigan signifies he\u2019ll get more playing time in an offense that should be plenty productive (even if it\u2019s not at Texas\u2019 level), but it\u2019s not going to be a cakewalk to be one of the more productive receivers on the team. He likely sits behind Andrew Marsh and fellow transfer J.J. Buchanan in the pecking order, but Michigan also has others right behind him, including freshmen Travis Johnson and Salesi Moa, who have both received some praise by the coaches this offseason.<\/p>\n
Obviously the quarterback was going to be on this list; we just wanted to save him for the end for dramatic effect. There\u2019s no player on Michigan\u2019s offense \u2014 or the whole roster, for that matter \u2014 that has more to prove this season than Bryce Underwood. He came into his freshman year with some major expectations, perhaps unfairly so given the infrastructure around him and his youth, but things are set up for him to be more successful in 2026, so the pressure and expectations are going to return.<\/p>\n
In 2025, Underwood showed some positive flashes with his arm and legs, but eventually hit a wall and fell into some bad habits, including poor footwork and decision-making that led to an increase in turnovers and questionable throws. The \u201cwow\u201d plays still happened on occasion, but not frequently enough to inspire much confidence that he could take over a game when needed.<\/p>\n