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Live updates: Michigan leads Western Michigan by a point at halftime

Michigan and Western Michigan are set to kickoff the 2026 season with a primetime showdown at The Big House.

(Andrew Graham/Mitten Football)

Ann Arbor — Western Michigan and Michigan start the 2026 season in earnest at 7:30 p.m. tonight, when the ball is kicked at Michigan Stadium.

It’s a game with plenty of storylines, brewing over the course of the last nine months: Kyle Whittingham’s debut as Michigan’s head coach, the Broncos defending a MAC title, Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood improving, WMU remaking the defense — among myriad others.

And it’s all wrapped up in a football game on Saturday night on NBC.

Follow along here for live updates from Mitten Football, with reported coverage to follow — particularly on the WMU side.

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HALF: Michigan 7, Western Michigan 6

Dieter Kelly is good from 45 yards out to end the half and the boo birds are out for Michigan as the Wolverines return to the tunnel. WMU gets the ball to start the second half.

The two teams combined for two red zone trips that half, one each. Michigan's resulted in its lone touchdown, but the offense hasn't been back since the opening script ended.

WMU got to the Michigan 19 on a series after a muffed punt, but went for it on 4th and short and got denied.

The two teams have combined for 210 yards (106-94, Michigan) and the quarterbacks are collectively 17-of-26 for 129 yards and an interception. Neither team is running much, either: 46 yards on 16 carries for Michigan, 35 on 19 for WMU.

Western Michigan comes up with late 1st half interception

Underwood came to a backside out route a bit late and LB Jermar McCarter undercut the route and looked like he was about to return the pass for a pick six, but he stepped out of bounds.

With :09 seconds left int he half, WMU centers the ball and takes a timeout with :02 left in the half, setting up Dieter Kelly for a 45-yard attempt.

Kelly hit his first try from 52-yards out earlier.

Michigan's defense: Also hoopin'

The Wolverines haven't given up a touchdown, stopping WMU for a 52-yard field goal on the first series of the game.

As a whole, Western Michigan has 95 total yards at 3.1 yards per play and has struggled to move it through the air since Broc Lowry went 3-for-3 for 35 yards on the opening drive.

Since then? Lowry is 6-for-10 for 24 yards. WMU also has 36 rushing yards on 18 attempts with a long of eight. The longest play, overall, for WMU is 17 yards.

The Broncos have been aces on special teams, though, with the latest success being a punt downed at the Michigan 2 with :56 until halftime.

Western Michigan's defense is hoopin'

After giving up 75 yards and a touchdown in 11 plays on the first drive of the game, the Western Michigan defense has battened down the hatches.

The four following drives for Michigan: 13 plays for 26 yards, with one first down.

On the most recent three-and-out, Scoop Gardner Jr. and Dillon Moore combined for a sack of Bryce Underwood on third down.

WMU trails, 7-3, with 2:00 until halftime. The Broncos offense currently has the ball and will have 3rd and 3 from the 50 out of the stoppage.

Western Michigan can't cash in on penalties, punts

WMU got as far as the Michigan 30, but a false start and then tackle for loss by the Michigan defense on 3rd down set up 4th and 17, and a potential field goal beyond Dieter Kelly's range.

The Broncos ended up taking a delay of game to get some more room, and Ryan Millmore's punt is fair caught by Andrew Marsh at the Michigan 8.

Michigan leads, 7-3, with 5:08 until the half. Western Michigan starts the second half with the ball.

Michigan melting down with penalties

Michigan looked to have an interception as Jyaire Hill tiptoed the sideline and hauled in a Broc Lowry pass, but flags came out to nullify it as he pushed Aveion Chenault out of bounds — perhaps not egregiously, but with two hands and enough to draw the flag.

The next play, WMU ran an end around to true freshman Harper Hughes and got a meager gain as the wideout ran out of bounds. Then Michigan safety Chris Bracy chucked him several steps ou of bounds to tack on 15 more yards.

The penalties helped move WMU into scoring territory.

Both of these offenses are stuck in neutral

It's not that either defense is playing out of its mind, either, though both the Wolverines and Broncos are doing well at keeping things in front of them and making timely defensive plays.

But it's been a ball thrown behind a target here or a slightly mis-blocked run there keeping these offenses from really producing.

WMU had a 2nd and short on its previous series but Broc Lowry got sacked and the Broncos ultimately punted; Michigan had 3rd and short the ensuing drive and Bryce Underwood was off target to Savion Hiter, when an accurate pass would've at least gotten a first down.

With more than 20 minutes played in the first half, the teams have combined for 169 yards.

Western Michigan gambles on 4th and 2, comes up empty

The Broncos ran what looked like a play action pass designed to hit in the end zone on 4th and 2, but Lowry faced quick pressure and had to haphazardly toss it toward a covered Baylin Brooks.

The ball didn't even get close and landed short, as Lowry got hit while he threw.

It's a big win for the Michigan defense, though, holding for no points in that quick change scenario. 7-3, Michigan still leads early in the second quarter.

End 1st quarter: Michigan 7, Western Michigan 3

Michigan took its first drive for a relatively simply 75-yard touchdown march, punching in the score via a Bryce Underwood sneak on 4th and goal from inside the 1. Western Michigan responded with a solid opening series that fizzled out in long field goal range, with JUCO transfer Dieter Kelly blasting a 52-yard field goal on his first FBS attempt — starter Palmer Domschke was questionable and won't kick.

The Wolverines and Broncos both came up empty on respective second drives. But a muffed punt by Andrew Marsh on what should've been the start of Michigan's third offensive possession set up Western Michigan with a golden scoring chance, taking over at the Michigan 27.

It'll be 4th and short and a decision for the Broncos to open the second quarter.

Andrew Marsh muffs punt, WMU set up at Michigan 27

Ryan Millmore put a charge into a punt from deep in WMU territory and it turned over perfectly to slip through Andrew Marsh's arms as he tried to eye a return. It looked like he may have taken his eye off the ball at the last moment.

Safety Braden Steely recovered it for Western Michigan to set up the instant scoring opportunity late in the first quarter, with Michigan leading 7-3.

WMU looked like it had an INT, but forces a Michigan punt

Bryce Underwood rolled right to escape pressure on third down and heave an ill-advised throw down the right sideline that got tipped up by WMU defensive back Jordan Thomas and intercepted by safety Joey Pope.

But review showed Thomas' foot was on the white out of bounds turf as he touched the ball, rendering the play dead. Even still, WMU managed to force a punt from the Michigan offense after that unit marched into the red zone on its first drive.

The Broncos go three and out, though, and punt it back to Michigan with 1:20 remaining.

WMU opening drive starts smooth, peters out with 52-yard FG

The opening script looked clean for WMU, asking Broc Lowry to make a series of simple reads to receivers who were getting quite open, and he obliged with a nice start to his evening: 3-for-3 for 35 yards.

But a backwards pass that a tailback had to fall on to protect the possession got WMU behind the sticks and with 4th and medium, Lance Taylor sent out Dieter Kelly for a career-long 520yard attempt — actually, the first career FBS attempt for the JUCO transfer.

It's the longest WMU field goal since Palmer Domschke boomed one in 2022.

And while Kelly might not've made from too much further out, he did make his first attempt and now it's 7-3, Michigan, with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

Western Michigan's offensive starters

WMU's starting OL:

LT Chad Schuster
LG Hunter Whitenack
C Spencer Beckeman
RG Gavin Dabo
RT Ben Roebuck

At skill, WMU went with 11 personnel to begin, with RB Jalen Buckley, TE Adam Parks and three WRs: Aveion Chenault, Baylin Brooks and Egypt Nelson.

Brooks already has a catch and run for a first down.

No Palmer Domschke for WMU tonight

Listed as questionable coming in, Domschke warmed up but won't kick.

Freshman Zak Zeman is handling kickoffs and Dieter Kelly will kick PATs and any potential field goals, per a WMU spokesperson.

Highlighted by Bryce Underwood magic, Michigan scores on opening drive

Underwood scored the TD ultimately on a sneak on 4th and goal from inside the 1 yard line, and had nearly scored on a naked boot keeper the play before, getting slung down just short.

It was an easy drive to start for the Wolverines, coming out with some quick passes for Underwood, who also had to bail out the offensive operation on the second play of the game. The snap was botched and Underwood retreated, calmly scooped up the ball, then found JJ Buchanan alone for a completion for a first down.

JJ Buchanan with a beautiful one-handed snag 👏 @UMichFootball

📺: NBC pic.twitter.com/YNyKCElan4
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 5, 2026

Western Michigan's defense did stand up at the end of the series, forcing Michigan into a 4th and goal decision with a couple nice run fills and turn-back efforts in the red area.

It's 7-0, Michigan, with 9:40 left in the first quarter.

Evan Link, Brady Norton start at guard for Michigan

The Wolverines are going to be rotating offensive linemen in, but it's Evan Link at left guard and Brady Norton at right guard to start.

Western Michigan wins coin toss, defers

The Broncos will kick off and start on defense to open this one, a key test for the rebuilt defensive front.

A few more Broncos are on the official injury report

Along with the players who traveled but did not warm up, the following WMU players are on the MAC-issued injury report:

S Tahj Owens
CB Carlos Mitchell Jr.
OL Ryan Westrich
DE Noah Bishop

Vaughan, Schleicher and Johanningsmeier all traveled with the team and will be on the WMU side, but are out.

Kicker Palmer Domschke is officially questionable, but warmed up and is dressed.

Carter Meadows out for Michigan

Meadows, a five-star true freshman edge rusher who enrolled after the spring and had drawn rave reviews from coaches during camp, didn't warm up or dress out for Michigan on Saturday evening.

The Wolverines still have plenty in the pass rushing cupboard, though.

Western Michigan's apparent inactives

The following players have traveled but did not warm up or dress out for Western Michigan:

S Camari Patterson
RB JR Hays
S Trevon Collard
S Keegan McCue
LB Teegan Haines
DE Cody Haworth
OL Jake Chellman
OL Liam Vaughan
OL Jeremy Schleicher
TE Michael Dersa
TE Ryan Rocheleau
DE August Johanningsmeier
WR Elijah Lucas

Michigan appears to be wearing maize jerseys

The specialists are the first group out of the tunnel fully dressed for Michigan and they're all wearing maize jerseys. It'd be the second time ever that Michigan wears maize jerseys, the first being the 2017 season opening win vs. Florida.

Michigan officially doing all-maize uniforms tonight. Second time ever, and first since 2017 pic.twitter.com/PAZiwgayk9
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) September 5, 2026