Joel Klatt has long been a believer in Michigan football, even when others wavered. Now, with new head coach Kyle Whittingham at the helm—a coach Klatt has consistently praised—the Wolverines are generating serious buzz for the 2026 season. While Klatt isn't forecasting a national championship run just yet, he's clearly optimistic about what's brewing in Ann Arbor.

On Monday, Klatt unveiled his personal top 25 rankings, slotting Michigan at No. 12. During his podcast, he broke down what excites him about the maize and blue this year—and it starts with a major culture shift.

"Michigan's going to be at 12," Klatt said. "It's an offseason of change. And it's not just going from Jim Harbaugh to his assistant. This is a massive change for Michigan. They need to move away from whatever was going on last year and in years prior. Kyle Whittingham comes in with a ton of assistant coaches from Utah, including defensive coordinator Jay Hill, who I've mentioned before as a key piece of that Utah staff."

The real spotlight, however, shines on the offense. Klatt highlighted the dynamic duo of sophomore quarterback Bryce Underwood and offensive coordinator Jason Beck. "Jason Beck has been outstanding in recent years," Klatt noted. "He got the most out of Devon Dampier at New Mexico, and now we'll see if he can do the same for Bryce Underwood at Utah."

But the path to success won't be easy. Michigan's schedule is a gauntlet, featuring four playoff-caliber teams. "They've got games against Oklahoma in Week 2, Indiana, and road tests late in the year at Oregon—a really tough place to play—and, of course, the big one at Ohio State," Klatt explained. "I think Michigan could have a pretty good football team, but the schedule is daunting. It all comes down to that Beck-Underwood connection. If it clicks, this team could be special."