The Michigan Wolverines' 2025 football season is still some time away, but that doesn't mean fans can't look forward to the season and wonder how it will all shake out. With the buzz of the spring game starting to die down and the slowness of the offseason beginning to set in, now is the perfect time to start predicting out each game will go for Michigan in 2025.
Michigan is set to play two Group of Five teams in non-conference play, an SEC team in Oklahoma, and then will start Big Ten play, where they have to play one of the big four teams, with a game against Ohio State set for the end of the season. The Wolverines were given some luck with their schedule this season, and could lead to a great season.
There are many expectations on this team, especially surrounding freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, so here is how I believe Michigan will be able to handle those expectations.
Michigan is set to kick off the season against New Mexico, a solid Group of Five school, however, this should be an easy one for the Wolverines. A slow start is expected with it being the beginning of the season, but a win is also expected.
This will be a very emotional game for head coach Sherrone Moore as he will be returning to his Alma Mater as a coach of a different team for the first time. This will be a huge non-conference matchup for Michigan and a must-win game, especially as they head into the two games where they will be without Moore due to his suspension.
This will be the first game of Sherrone Moore's two-game suspension that he is serving for his involvement in the Connor Stallions incident, as handed out by Michigan. The Wolverines shouldn't have a problem taking on the Central Michigan Chippewas, but after a tough game against Oklahoma, they still could show a little bit to struggle early.
Moore's absence will be felt, but Michigan should still be able to walk away with a sizable win.
This will be Sherrone Moore's second game of his suspension and Michigan's first Big Ten game of the season. After the way Michigan was able to beat the Cornhuskers the last time they played each other back in 2023, when they took down Nebraska 45-7. This will be two years later, and Michigan won't have their head coach, which is why I believe it will be a close game, but Michigan's defense will hold strong enough to get the win late.
In Sherrone Moore's first game back from his suspension, the Wolverines should be able to keep their undefeated season. Moore's return will bring life to the team and help them get a win against Wisconsin. The Badgers have struggled under Luke Fickell's coaching, and the Michigan defense should be very successful against the Wisconsin offense.
This is going to be a trap game for the Wolverines and one that they probably will fall victim to. USC head coach Lincoln Riley is on the hunt to have a successful season with the Trojans and a win against Michigan would be huge for his team.
Michigan will struggle behind quarterback Mikey Keene in this game, and the loss will result in a change under center for the Wolverines.
After a tough loss on the West Coast, Michigan is going to bounce back big against the Washington Huskies in a rematch of the 2023 National Championship. I predict this will be the first start for young freshman Bryce Underwood after the Wolverines suffer the loss to USC. Underwood will shine behind an angry team coming off a loss, and the Wolverines will continue to own the Washington Huskies.
Michigan has three straight wins against Michigan State, and this year should be No. 4. Michigan State is on the rise, but the firing of their athletic director could throw a wrench in some of the plans for their football team. I predict this will be a close game as it is away from home for Michigan, and with Bryce Underwood the starter in his first rivalry game, he could struggle a bit in the environment.
Purdue is doing everything it can to try and rebuild their football program, and bringing in Barry Odom is a good start, but moving from a Group of Five school to a Power Five school is very different. Curt Cignetti did great and Indiana, but Odom's job could prove to be a lot harder with the state of Purdue's football program.
Michigan will welcome the Boilermakers to the Big House and should have no problem shutting them down and doing so early in the game.
This will be the second of the two easier games on Michigan's Big Ten schedule. Northwestern is working to try and build their football program up, and they will get there, but this season won't be the season. However, this will be a great game for everyone to get involved in. Even though Michigan will be away from home, they will still put on a great performance, and the defense will hold well.
Michigan is going to get caught in a trap game before their big matchup against Ohio State in the final game of the season. The Wolverines will go on the road to College Park, Maryland, and experience some problems on the offensive side of the ball. Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood will struggle heavily in this game, and veteran Mikey Keene will try to come in and save the day, but it just won't be enough.
The Michigan Wolverines have had the Ohio State Buckeyes' number for now four years in a row. The Buckeyes have not been able to find an answer for Michigan, and I predict they still won't find one this year either. Even though Ohio State is coming off a National Championship season, the Wolverines have a lot of great things in the works coming out of the transfer portal and the recruiting class that will help them in this matchup.
These games always seem to come down to the wire, and this one should be no different, but Michigan's defense will hold when it matters most in the end to stop Ohio State from scoring in the final seconds of the game.