Michigan Football Preview 2025: Wolverines Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

Michigan Wolverines Key Player

Mikey Keene, QB Sr.
Wilton Speight. John O’Korn. Shea Patterson. Joe Milton. Cade McNamara. Jack Tuttle. Alan Bowman. Alex Orji. Davis Warren ...

This hasn’t been an easy decade for Michigan when it comes to finding high-end quarterbacks, but JJ McCarthy finally broke the cycle - even if he was along for the ride at times - and now, the program has another one. Maybe.

It’s going to be Bryce Underwood. He’s the big get in the recruiting cycle. He’s the one who has the potential to carry the offense and be the program’s signature star. But he’s really young and really inexperienced, and Keene, when healthy, is a good enough passer to be a steadying veteran early on to let the eventual main man get up to speed.

At the very least, Keene can be a great second option if Underwood gets the starting gig and struggles.

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2025 Michigan Preview
Michigan Offense Breakdown
Michigan Defense Breakdown 

Michigan Wolverines Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: Tre Williams, DT Clemson
Yeah, yeah, yeah, landing running back Justice Haynes from Alabama matters, but when Michigan is cooking, it’s because the defensive tackles are playing like the best in America.

Even if you’re Michigan, you don’t just replace Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Landing Damon Payne (Alabama) and Williams from Clemson fills the gaps for now. Williams isn’t massive, and his stats won’t ever be amazing, but he’s a sixth-year grown man who can serve as an instant anchor.

Top Transfer Out: Tyler Morris, WR Sr.
The Wolverines didn’t lose anyone irreplaceable, and they upgraded at receiver with other transfers, along with a few great-looking freshmen, but Morris was the top wide receiver last year with 248 yards and two touchdowns. Now he’s at Indiana.

Michigan Wolverines Key Game

Ohio State, Nov. 29
This game might be too obvious, and of course it’s always a big deal, and obviously it’s a must-win no matter what, but there’s zero pressure on the Wolverines. After winning four straight, going back to 2019 - they didn’t play in 2020 - they’re playing with all of the house money.

Even after the loss to Michigan, everyone with a working brain pretty much knew Ohio State - except, seemingly, Ohio State itself - was going to win it all once it got in, but the program turned into a quivering bowl of pudding after the 13-10 stunner in Columbus.

Of course - OF COURSE - there shouldn't be any sort of "yeah ... but ..." when it comes to what Ohio State pulled off last season, but in some twisted circles of the social media, message board, talk radio world ...

If Michigan wins this time around …
- 2025 Michigan Schedule Breakdown

Michigan Wolverines Top 10 Players

1. Derrick Moore, LB Sr.
2. Ernest Hausmann, LB Sr.
3. Justice Haynes, RB Jr.
4. Rod Moore, S Sr.
5. Giovanni El-Hadi, OG Sr.
6. Jyaire Hill, CB Soph.
7. Dominic Zvada, PK Sr.
8. TJ Guy, LB Sr.
9. Rayshun Benny, DT Sr.
10. Zeke Berry, CB Jr.

Michigan Wolverines 2024 Fun Stats

- Passing Yards: Opponents 2,812, Michigan 1,678

- 4th Down Conversions: Michigan 12-of-17 (71%), Opponents 5-of-14 (36%)

- Sacks: Michigan 36 for 260 yards, Opponents 17 for 108 yards

Michigan Wolverines 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

The 8-5 season might have been a big disappointment coming off the run to a national title, but who did the Wolverines lose to?

The loss at Washington wasn’t great, and that wasn’t nearly the same team they beat for the CFP Championship, but it was still a road game against a program that played for it all.

They also lost to Texas, Illinois, Oregon, and Indiana. Three of those teams got to the College Football Playoff, and the other won ten games.

It’s Michigan, so it should’ve won a few of those, but out of a 13-game schedule, 11 dates were against. Teams that went bowling, and Michigan State was one of the outliers.

This year, there’s a trip to Oklahoma early, and going to USC is a concern, but the other road games against Nebraska, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Maryland should all be wins if everything is going right.

There’s no Oregon, Penn State, Illinois, or Indiana to face, and missing Iowa and Minnesota is a positive, too.

And, of course, Ohio State is coming to Ann Arbor.

There are just enough concerns to assume two losses, but there’s enough talent to potentially avoid a third if the offense is far stronger.

Set The Michigan Win Total At … 9

Likely Wins: Central Michigan, at Maryland, New Mexico, at Northwestern, Purdue

50/50 Games: at Michigan State, at Nebraska, Ohio State, at Oklahoma, at USC, Washington, Wisconsin

Likely Losses: No projected sure-thing losses 

2025 Michigan Preview
Michigan Offense Breakdown
Michigan Defense Breakdown