An Era Begins
Michigan kicked off the 2025 season with a 34–17 victory over New Mexico at the Big House, and all eyes were on freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood—who didn’t disappoint. Only the fourth freshman to start the team's first game, Underwood threw for 251 yards and a touchdown, completing nearly 68% of his passes and showing poise well beyond his years.
Running back Justice Haynes added fireworks of his own, rushing for 159 yards and three touchdowns in a breakout debut. The Wolverines piled up 452 total yards, more than in any game last season, signaling a major shift in offensive firepower.
Defensively, it was a mixed bag. Michigan recorded three sacks, three interceptions, and nine tackles for loss, but also allowed two long scoring drives to a Lobos team picked near the bottom of the Mountain West. The pass rush looked strong, but the secondary struggled at times with screens and motion plays.
Despite some early hiccups, Michigan controlled the game from start to finish and showed flashes of what could be a dynamic, balanced team. With Oklahoma on deck, the Wolverines will face a much tougher test—but if Underwood and Haynes keep trending up, Michigan might be built for more than just Big Ten contention.
2025 BIG TEN FOOTBALL STANDINGS
| Team | AP | Big Ten | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
2 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
6 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
11 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
15 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
23 | 0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
|
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 | |
 |
|
0 - 0 | 1 - 0 |
 |
0 - 0 | 0 - 1 | |
 |
0 - 0 | 0 - 1 |
Past Poll Results
