Michigan at Autzen: Primetime Under the Lights

Michigan at Autzen Stadium, only the second time in history. This Michigan program has been through upheaval. Sherrone Moore was fired in December 2025 after an inappropriate relationship with a staff member came to light. Kyle Whittingham, the legendary Utah coach (177 wins in 21 seasons), signed a five-year deal to take over. Whittingham brings discipline and a run-heavy identity that transformed Utah. The face of the rebuild is Bryce Underwood, the five-star quarterback who flipped from LSU. By November 2026, Underwood will have a full year as the starter. Oregon won 38-17 in Ann Arbor in 2024 and has won the last two meetings by a combined 77-24, but Whittingham's Michigan will be a different animal. Still, this is Autzen under the lights, six days after Ohio State. The emotional carryover from Columbus, win or lose, will define how Oregon plays this one. If the Ducks come home with a win from the Horseshoe, this could be the loudest Autzen has ever been. Michigan at Autzen is a statement game. The Big Ten is watching.

Autzen's energy. If Oregon beat Ohio State the week before, this could be one of the great nights in stadium history. The crowd will know they are watching something special, and the atmosphere will be electric in a way that only a night game at Autzen can produce. Every five-star in the 2028 class will be watching, either in person or on television, and the recruiting implications are enormous. Oregon and Michigan are direct recruiting competitors now. They are fighting over the same quarterbacks, the same edge rushers, the same offensive linemen. A dominant home win under the lights does more for Oregon's recruiting than any NIL deal or campus visit. Beyond recruiting, watch how Oregon manages the week. Playing Ohio State on Saturday and Michigan the following Saturday is the most demanding two-game stretch on the schedule. Fatigue is real. The emotional high (or low) from Columbus carries over. Lanning needs to manage reps, keep the starters healthy, and make sure the team does not look past Michigan. Because here is the thing about Michigan: they are still Michigan. The winged helmet still means something. Underwood is going to be a star. And a young, hungry team with nothing to lose in a hostile environment can be dangerous. Oregon should win this game. The home record, the talent advantage, and the crowd all say so. But the margin between a dominant win and a sloppy, tight game is the emotional and physical toll of Columbus. If Oregon handles both, back to back, against two of the biggest brands in college football, this is a top-five team with a legitimate shot at everything.