Michigan football had a brutal schedule in 2024, to say the least, but it looks much easier — at least on paper — entering 2025.
Last year, the Wolverines faced Texas, Oregon, Indiana, and Ohio State — all College Football Playoff teams. Meanwhile, Illinois was better than anticipated, and though USC and Washington weren’t, both were still tough games. This year, however, only one of the teams on the schedule was a CFP team, national champion Ohio State — who the maize and blue beat in Columbus, 13-10.
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So what is that game that will tell you everything you need to know about the upcoming season? ESPN says, for Michigan, that game comes in Week 2.
Swing game: at Oklahoma, Sept. 6
The Wolverines head to Oklahoma in Week 2 to face Sherrone Moore’s alma mater. Beating Ohio State for a fourth straight time salvaged last season for the Wolverines, who had to surge late in the year just to secure a winning record in Moore’s first full season as head coach. Michigan will have bigger expectations in 2025, especially with the arrival of five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. If the Wolverines can knock off the Sooners in Norman, they’ll be sending a statement that they’re potentially ready to contend for a playoff spot again. But if the Wolverines fall to Oklahoma, they could then have to weather a proposed two-game suspension for Moore, which includes a trip to Nebraska on Sept. 20, just to keep their postseason hopes afloat early.
Given that the regular season has taken something of a hit with the expanded playoff, Oklahoma should provide some answers one way or the other, but losing that game would not be the be-all, end-all — especially since it is a nonconference matchup.
So, if not Oklahoma, what’s our pick for the big swing game? USC.
Though we’ll have a pretty good idea of what the Wolverines are in 2025, considering they’ll play in Norman and in Lincoln, the road trip to USC should provide even more answers. Say Michigan loses to both Nebraska and Oklahoma. The third (of six) road game of the season ending up in the win column could salvage the year, especially as the only seeming challenges after are at home vs. Washington and Ohio State. Considering that the Wolverines have historically not done well when traveling cross-country in the regular season, it would be a grand reversal of fortunes.
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Either way, it’s not a difficult schedule on paper when you look at the opponents — Oklahoma has not exactly lit things up under Brent Venables. Yet, considering every other game is on the road, it could provide some issues for a team that’s thought to be starting a freshman quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: ESPN: Oklahoma clash key for Michigan’s 2025 playoff hopes
