Michigan Wolverines 2025 Preview and Predictions

(Photo Credit: University of Michigan Photography)

Key Players Returning:

QB Davis Warren, WR/PR Semaj Morgan, OC Greg Crippen, OG Giovanni El-Hadi, OT Evan Link, DE Cameron Brandt, DE TJ Guy, DE Derrick Moore, DT Rayshaun Benny, LB Jaishawn Barham, LB Ernest Hausmann, CB Zeke Berry, CB Jyaire Hill, KR Jordan Marshall, and PK Dominic Zvada.

Key Players Departing:

RB Donovan Edwards, RB Kalel Mullings, WR Tyler Morris, TE Colston Loveland, OG Josh Priebe, OT Myles Hinton, DE Mason Graham, NT Kenneth Grant, LB Josiah Stewart, CB Aamir Hall, CB Will Johnson, FS Quinten Johnson, SS Makari Paige, PR Tyler Morris, and PT Tommy Doman

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Top 10 Recruits:

Blue Chip Recruits: 
QB Bryce Underwood (Belleville, Michigan), and OT Andrew Babalola (Overland Park, Kansas).

4 Star Recruits: 
OT Ty Haywood (Denton, Texas), CB Shamari Earis (Chester, Virginia), WR Andrew Marsh (Fulshear, Texas), DL Nathaniel Marshall (Oak Park, Illinois), DS Elijah Dotson (Belleville, Michigan), CB Jayden Sanders (Kilgore, Texas), RB Justice Haynes (Alabama transfer), and DT Tre Williams (Clemson transfer).

2024 Results:

G01  FRESNO STATE  W  30-10
G02  #3 TEXAS  L  12-31
G03  ARKANSAS STATE  W  28-18
G04  #11 USC  W  27-24
G05  MINNESOTA  W  27-24
G06  @ Washington  L  17-27
G07  @ #22 Illinois  L  7-21
G08  MICHIGAN STATE  W  24-17
G09  #1 OREGON  L  17-38
G10  @ #8 Indiana  L  15-20
G11  NORTHWESTERN  W  50-6
G12  @ #2 OHIO STATE  W  13-10
BOWL  vs. #11  Alabama  W  19-13

Team Info:

2023 Record:  8-5 (7th in Big Ten)

Home:  6-2
Away:  1-3
Neutral:  1-0
B10:  5-4
Non-B10:  3-1

Head Coach:  Sherrone Moore

Michigan:  8-5
Career:  8-5
Bowls:  1-0

(Photo Credit: Michigan Athletics)

Returning Statistical Leaders:

Passing:
  Davis Warren (134-209, 1199 yards, 64.1%, 5.7 avg., 7 TD, 9 INT)
Rushing:  Jordan Marshall (31 car., 120 yards, 3.9 avg., 0 TD)
Receiving:
  Semaj Morgan (27 rec., 139 yards, 5.1 avg., 1 TD)
TDs Scored:  4 Tied (1)
Sacks:
  TJ Guy (5.5)
Tackles:
  Ernest Hausmann (89)
Tackles For Loss:
  TJ Guy/Ernest Hausmann (7)
Interceptions:  Zeke Berry (2)
Pass Deflections:
  Zeke Berry (9)
Forced Fumbles:
  Zeke Berry/Cameron Brandt (1)
Kick Returns:  Jordan Marshall (9 ret., 225 yards, 25.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns:  Semaj Morgan (9 ret., 100 yards, 11.1 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking:  Dominic Zvada (21-22 fg/fga., 96%, 26-27 xp/xpa., 89 pts.)
Punting:  None

Projected Offensive Starters

QB:  19  Bryce Underwood  (FR)
RB:  22  Justice Haynes  (JR/TR)
WR:  13  Donaven McCulley  (GR/TR)
WR:  3  Frederick Moore  (JR)
WR:  00  Anthony Simpson  (RS SR/TR)
TE:  17  Marlin Klein  (RS JR)
LT:  71  Evan Link  (RS SO)
LG:  58  Giovanni El-Hadi  (RS SR)
OC:  51  Greg Crippen  (RS SR)
RG:  55  Nathan Efobi  (RS SO)
RT:  54  Andrew Sprague  (RS FR)
KR:  00  Anthony Simpson  (RS SR/TR)
PK:  96  Dominic Zvada  (SR/TR)

Projected Defensive Starters:

DE:  42  TJ Guy  (GR)
NT:  95  Trey Pierce  (JR)
DE:  26  Rayshaun Benny  (RS SR)
LB:  8  Derrick Moore  (SR)
LB:  1  Jaishawn Barham  (SR/TR)
LB:  15  Ernest Hausmann  (SR/TR)
NB:  7  TJ Metcalf  (JR/TR)
CB:  20  Jyaire Hill  (RS SO)
CB:  10  Zeke Berry  (RS JR)
FS:  6  Brandyn Hillman  (JR)
SS:  9  Rod Moore  (RS SR)
PR:  0  Semaj Morgan  (JR)
PT:  90  Hudson Hollenbeck  (RS JR/TR)

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Team Grades:

Offense

Quarterbacks:  B
Running Backs:  B
Wide Receivers:  C
Offensive Line:  A

Defense

Defensive Line:  C
Linebackers:  B
Secondary:  B

Special Teams

Kick Returners:  B
Punt Returners:  B
Kickers:  A
Punters:  C

Schedule:

08/30 
NEW MEXICO LOBOS  |  First meeting.

09/06 
@ Oklahoma Sooners  |  Michigan lost (6-14) the only prior meeting in 1976.

09/13 
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS  |  Michigan leads the series 4-0.  The Wolverines won (59-9) the last meeting in 2013, and they won (41-17) the prior meeting in 2006.

09/20 
@ Nebraska Cornhuskers  |  Michigan leads the series 8-4-1.  The Wolverines won (45-7) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (34-3) the prior meeting in 2022.

10/04 
WISCONSIN BADGERS  |  Michigan leads the series 52-17-1.  The Wolverines are 3-3 since restarting the series in 2016, and they won (38-17) the last meeting in 2021.

10/11 
@ USC Trojans  |  Michigan trails the series 5-6.  The Wolverines won (27-24) last season’s meeting, and they lost (18-32) the prior meeting in 2006.

10/18 
WASHINGTON HUSKIES  |  Michigan leads the series 9-6.  The Wolverines lost (17-37) last season’s meeting, and they won (34-13) the prior meeting in 2023.

10/25 
@ Michigan State Spartans  |  Michigan leads the series 74-38-5.  The Wolverines are 6-4 since 2015, and their last series loss (33-37) was in 2021.

11/01  PURDUE BOILERMAKERS  |  Michigan leads the series 47-14.  The Wolverines won (41-13) the last meeting in 2023, and they won (43-22) the prior meeting in 2022.

11/15 
@ Northwestern Wildcats  |  Michigan leads the series 60-15-2.  The Wolverines are 4-0 since 2015, and their last series loss (14-21) dates back to 2008.

11/22 
@ Maryland Terrapins  |  Michigan leads the series 11-1.  The Wolverine are 8-0 since 2015, and their only series loss (16-23) was in 2014.

11/29  OHIO STATE BUCKEYES  |  Michigan leads the series 62-51-6.  The Wolverines are 4-5 since 2015, and their last series loss (27-56) was in 2019.

Predictions:

Home:  7-0
Road:  5-0
Neutral:  0-1
B10:  9-0
Non-B10:  3-1

Overall:  12-1 (1st in B10 – 6th seed playoffs – Eliminated in Quarterfinals)