From the moment Michigan football popped the cork on the 2024 campaign, the tone was off. The Wolverines fooled around too much with Fresno State by letting them within striking distance, and one week later, Texas ended Sherrone Moore's honeymoon.
Michigan didn't make things any less complicated when they snuck by Arkansas State. Then there were the four grim losses over five weeks that put Coach Moore on the hot seat. Weeks later, something changed. It might have been the Bryce Underwood commitment, or the team finally figured it out. Either way, it couldn't have gone any better, which takes us to the present.
What's the Michigan football outlook for 2025?
New Mexico flies to the Big House for the copycat Fresno State opener. Then Michigan goes to the heartland of America to duel with Texas's Red River nemesis (Oklahoma) in what should be a much more winnable game. Both schools could be ranked just like the Texas tussle.
The second road affair in Lincoln may look a lot like the trip to Washington last year. The Cornhuskers could be 3-0 when they host the Wolverines to cap off September. Coming off a bye week, Michigan tripped up at Illinois. This year, they pair up with Wisconsin, then go west to Los Angeles to visit the Coliseum for the first time since the late 1950s.
With no Indiana on the slate, Michigan football might just play the role of the Hoosiers in 2025 and be undefeated heading into November on the verge of a playoff berth. Then on November 29th, the quest for five reignites.
10 wins or more should be the measuring stick. In 2024, experts had Michigan losing to Texas, Oregon, and Ohio State. It turned out that they weren't that far off, but no one on this planet saw the Ohio State win coming. In 2025, with competence at quarterback, Michigan football should easily compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.