ESPN put out the most season-defining games for each Power Four team this week, and while we disagree with Michigan football vs. Indiana being the Wolverines‘ most important game of the year, CBS Sports is getting into similar action, albeit with a twist.
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford didn’t individualize each team’s most important game, but instead picked out the 26 most important games of 2026 across the entire sport. And with that, the maize and blue had three games on the list.
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Starting with a game that we wouldn’t have picked (Penn State is our sixth most important game for Michigan football this year), the October 17 tilt with the Nittany Lions returning to Ann Arbor for the first time since 2022 is on, but near the bottom, of Crawford’s list.
22. Penn State at Michigan, Oct. 17
USC and Michigan are two opponents we’ve circled on the Nittany Lions’ slate entering Matt Campbell’s first campaign, but there are a couple of others within the Big Ten equally worrisome if Penn State flatlines again. Michigan will be coming off an open date for this one, with plenty of time to plan for what the Nittany Lions are bringing to the table. The winner here stays in the conference title discussion, while a loss complicates matters expeditiously.
Smack dab in the middle of the CBS Sports countdown is our third most important game of the year for the maize and blue: the Week 2 tilt when Michigan football hosts Oklahoma. It’s a big game for both teams, as it sets the stage for the rest of the season. The Wolverines lost in Norman last year, and OU’s win propelled it to the College Football Playoff later in the year.
13. Oklahoma at Michigan, Sept. 12
Arguably the Sooners‘ most pivotal matchup in 2026, a road win over a nationally-ranked Wolverines squad would come in handy during final playoff deliberations later in the season. A loss before opening the SEC gauntlet diminishes the likelihood of a return CFP trip for Oklahoma. The Sooners used last year’s win over Michigan in September as a catapult of sorts, establishing early confidence under quarterback John Mateer and a new offense.
Finally, within the top 10 is The Game. Certainly, it’s Michigan’s most important game, but on the CBS Sports list, it’s Ohio State‘s fourth most important, with games against Oregon, Texas, and Indiana outranking the maize and blue, per CBS.
8. Michigan at Ohio State, Nov. 28
The stakes here are always high, regardless of CFP and Big Ten reflections. But for the Wolverines, Kyle Whittingham’s debut against the Buckeyes holds a significant indication of where this program is headed under his watch at the end of his first campaign. Implications are enhanced if Michigan takes the next step with Bryce Underwood and remains in playoff contention throughout.
In some ways, it’s accurate — OSU has won just one of the last five against the Wolverines, but lost to Indiana last year, beat Texas, and didn’t play Oregon. The Game may be more important for Michigan this upcoming season, especially as both teams have a bit of a slog of a schedule.
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Crawford does have Michigan in his too-early playoff as the 12-seed, but we’re somewhat surprised he didn’t include Michigan vs. Oregon or Indiana on the list — both could be pivotal for any of the involved teams.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football: 3 games ranked among 2026’s most important
