Michigan football has long been defined by its punishing ground game. Over the past few seasons, that relentless rushing attack powered the Wolverines to three straight College Football Playoff appearances and a national championship in 2023, thanks to stars like Blake Corum, Donovan Edwards, and a dominant offensive line. Even when the passing game struggled in recent years, the run game remained a lifeline—think Kalel Mullings' heroic performances against USC and Ohio State in 2024, dragging Michigan to wins without needing to throw. But sometimes, that predictability made it easy for defenses to key in and limit the damage.

Now, looking ahead to 2026, Michigan is set for a major shift. Under new leadership from Kyle Whittingham and Jason Beck, the offense is expected to embrace spread formations more often. This isn't just a random change—it's a move that could make Michigan's run game look strikingly familiar to fans of 2010s Ohio State.

During Urban Meyer's tenure, the Buckeyes thrived on spreading the field without relying on elite quarterbacks or the caliber of wide receivers we see today in the Ryan Day era. Instead, they leaned on explosive runners like Ezekiel Elliott, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and J.K. Dobbins to carve up defenses week after week. The formula was simple: get the ball to playmakers in space and let them do the rest.

Michigan is poised to replicate that blueprint in 2026. The Wolverines boast two standout running backs in Jordan Marshall and Savion Hiter, who are expected to handle over 80 percent of the carries between them. Marshall, in particular, flashed his potential last season—combining physicality with impressive straight-line speed to break off several long runs. Add in a dual-threat quarterback who can keep defenses honest, plus an offensive line returning six players with starting experience from last season, and the pieces are in place for a ground game that could dominate.

The key difference? With lighter defensive boxes thanks to spread formations, Marshall and Hiter should have even more room to operate. Those runs up the middle that used to get stuffed might now turn into game-breaking plays. For Michigan fans, 2026 could bring back memories of Ohio State's glory days—only this time, it'll be the Wolverines doing the damage.