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Just over a month after corn and blue confetti filled Lucas Oil Stadium following their national championship victory, Dusty May and the Michigan Wolverines have turned their attention to next season and announced their Big Ten opponents for the 2026-27 campaign.
Michigan will play 20 conference games in 2026, with home-and-home matchups against Minnesota, Ohio State and Michigan State. The Wolverines’ home slate features a group of Big Ten contenders including Illinois, Purdue and Maryland. On the road, Michigan will face Wisconsin, UCLA and Indiana.
Below are Michigan’s top ten opponents for the 2026-27 season:
Home Opponents:
Illinois battles the Illini
2025-26 Record: 28-9
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Stefan Vaaks
Key Returners: Andrej Stojaković (testing NBA Draft waters), Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, Jake Davis
Iowa Hawkeyes
2025-26 Record: 24-13
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Ty’Reek Coleman, Andrew McKeever
Key Returners: Kael Combs, Cam Manyawu and Cooper Koch
Maryland Terrapins
2025-26 Record: 12-21
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: DJ Wagner, Tomislav Buljan
Key Returners: Andre Mills, Pharrell Payne
Michigan State Spartans
2025-26 Record: 27-8
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Anton Bonke
Key Returners: Jeremy Fears Jr. (testing NBA Draft waters), Coen Carr, Jordan Scott
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2025-26 Record: 15-18
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Malachi Palmer, Kyan Evans
Key Returners: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Isaac Asuma
Northwestern Wildcats
2025-26 Record: 15-19
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Jack Karasinski, LA Pratt
Key Returners: Angelo Ciaravino, Jake West
Ohio State Buckeyes
Record 2025-26: 21-13
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Andrija Jelavic, Justin Pippen
Key Returners: John Mobley Jr., Amare Bynum
Oregon ducks
2025-26 Record: 12-20
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Dwayne Aristode, Tyrone Riley
Key Returners: Sean Stewart
Purdue Boilermakers
2025-26 Record: 30-9
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Caden Pierce
Key Returners: CJ Cox, Daniel Jacobsen
Washington Huskies
2025-26 Record: 16-17
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Ryan Beasley, LeJuan Watts
Key Returners: Wesley Yates III, Lathan Sommerville
Outside opponents:
Indiana Hoosiers
2025-26 Record: 18-14
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Markus Burton, Aiden Sherrell
Key Returners: Trent Sisley
Michigan State Spartans
2025-26 Record: 27-8
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Anton Bonke
Key Returners: Jeremy Fears Jr. (testing NBA Draft waters), Coen Carr, Jordan Scott
Minnesota Golden Gophers
2025-26 Record: 15-18
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Malachi Palmer, Kyran Evans
Key Returners: Jaylen Crocker-Johnson, Isaac Asuma
Nebraska Cornhuskers
2025-26 Record: 28-7
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Damon Wilkinson, Sam Orme
Key Returners: Pryce Sandfort, Braden Frager
Ohio State Buckeyes
2025-26 Record: 21-13
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Andrija Jelavic, Justin Pippen
Key Returners: John Mobley Jr., Amare Bynum
Penn State Nittany Lions
2025-26 Record: 12-20
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Brant Byers, Thomas Allard
Key return: Ivan Juric
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
2025-26 Record: 14-20
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Christian Gurdak, Dorin Buca
Key Returners: Tariq Francis, Darren Buchanan Jr.
UCLA Bruins
2025-26 Record: 24-12
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Jaylen Petty, Filip Jovic
Key Returners: Trent Perry, Eric Dailey Jr.
USC Trojans
2025-26 Record: 18-14
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: KJ Lewis, Eric Reibe
Key Returners: Jacob Cofie (testing NBA Draft waters), Alijah Arenas, Rodney Rice
Wisconsin Baskers
2025-26 Record: 24-11
Key Transfer Portal Add-ons: Eian Elmer, Trey Autry
Key Returners: Nolan Winter, Austin Rapp
