After Big Ten Media Days earlier this week, you can just about taste football season. Michigan football games are now less than five weeks away.
The excitement is palpable. Bryce Underwood is a major contributing factor. So is the way the Wolverines ended the 2024 season, with wins over Ohio State and Alabama.
The bowl game in particular showed just how good the defense can be, even without Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant anchoring the middle.
With a new offensive coordinator, some sneaky-good transfer portal pickups, and a loaded freshman class, the arrow is pointing up for head coach Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines.
Here's a game-by-game prediction for Michigan football in the 2025 season.
New Mexico (Aug. 30): W
Bryce Underwood will make his debut under the lights at the Big House against New Mexico, a team that won four games last season.
The Lobos lost Bronco Mendenhall, their 2024 head coach, to Utah State. However, former Idaho head coach Jason Eck has taken over. He transformed a floudering program into an FCS power in the Big Sky Conference.
This transition will take time, but Eck brought an FCS All-American running back Scottre Humphrey who rushed for 1,386 yards, third in the FCS last season for Montana State. He's also First-Team All-Mountain West in the preseason.
Former Idaho starting quarterback Jack Layne is a name to watch in the quarterback battle. He threw for 165 yards and a touchdown in a 24-14 loss to Oregon last season. He's also got a Second-Team All-Preseason Mountain West wide receiver to throw to in Keagan Johnson, a former Iowa/Kansas State player who caught 20 passes for 359 yards last season for K-State.
New Mexico has 10 players who earned all-conference honors in the Mountain West, but still, Michigan football is a massive favorite for a reason. The Wolverines defensive line should stymie the running game, plus it's hard to see New Mexico slowing down Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes.
Anytime you have a new coaching staff, you have to throw out last season. The stats aren't relevant. Eck is a good coach, though. New Mexico will be better this season, but not good enough to compete with Michigan football for four quarters.
Michigan 38, New Mexico 10