Former Michigan QB Unimpressed With Wolverines’ 2026 Season Opener Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 1:19 PM ET

The Michigan Wolverines' decision to open the 2026 football season in Frankfurt, Germany, has received plenty of buzz, but not everyone is thrilled about it. Former Wolverines quarterback David Cone, now a co-host on the “Crain & Company” podcast, had a blunt reaction to the news, expressing clear dissatisfaction with the choice to take the game overseas.

“This is worse than in-person scouting,” Cone said.

Cone’s reaction reflects a growing concern among traditionalists who see international games as diluting the essence of college football. Michigan was originally scheduled to host Western Michigan on Sept. 5, 2026, at Michigan Stadium.

That game will now be played a week earlier, on Aug. 29, at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, a first-of-its-kind move for the Wolverines.

This is worse than in-person scouting https://t.co/Vxqv49Jq1Z
— David Cone (@davidadamcone) July 25, 2025

This will mark the first international game in Michigan’s 145-year football history. It’s being billed by coach Sherrone Moore and athletic director Warde Manuel as a cultural and branding opportunity.

Moore emphasized the “educational experience” and the program's past spring trips to Italy, France and South Africa. Manuel framed it as a chance to “teach ‘Go Blue’ to a new group of fans in Germany.”

The matchup will be the 29th between Michigan and a MAC opponent, but it will be the first not held in Ann Arbor. Michigan is 8-0 all-time vs. Western Michigan, with the most recent victory coming in 2021. The Broncos, meanwhile, become the first MAC team to play a regular-season game outside the U.S.

Cone’s criticism adds a layer of skepticism to what Michigan views as a progressive move. While fans may be intrigued by the novelty of a game in Germany, there’s no denying the loss of a Saturday in the Big House has rubbed some the wrong way.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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