The 2025 season is so close you can taste it. We are less than six weeks away from the return of Michigan football.
After a disappointing season that ended up with a bang, there is plenty of excitement surrounding the 2025 season, mostly because of Bryce Underwood.
The defense should be elite, though. The running game, too. Wink Martindale found his groove as the defensive coordinator last season. Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, and Makari Paige are all gone, but all those guys were out in the bowl game, and Michigan dominated.
Michigan held one of the best offenses in college football to 13 points. At times, every player on the defense was a player currently on the roster, plus Michigan added transfers such as Tre Williams (DT), Damon Payne (DT), and T.J. Metcalf (DB).
There are lots of reasons to be excited about this Michigan football team. It's possible it even makes the playoff, and with all that in mind, here are the 10 players who are the most indispensable for the Wolverines.
These are the guys who have to stay healthy, and need to produce if Michigan football is going to have any chance of reaching its ceiling in 2025.
Bryce Underwood
This is an easy one. Underwood is indispensable. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound quarterback, who is a dual threat, needs to shine if the Wolverines are going to reach their potential.
There will be growing pains. Development isn't linear. But the quarterback position is in a much better spot than a season ago, and I don't expect the Wolverines to struggle to complete a pass.
Underwood will be a big reason why. His ability to run will also make a huge difference this season for the Wolverines, especially early on.