As one of college football’s most recognizable schools, the Michigan Wolverines are accustomed to national attention and championship-level expectations. However, in 2025, as Michigan gets ready to face what experts are referring to as a “never-before-seen gauntlet”—a schedule so fierce that it is already being touted as one of the hardest in college football history—the pressure and prestige will reach new heights.
With the Big Ten growing and reorganizing to include elite institutions like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, the 2025 season will see a dramatic change in the sport’s landscape. Because of this, Michigan’s road to the College Football Playoff is now paved with arduous games against top teams from all over the country.
Fresno State, a consistent Group of Five challenger with a reputation for pulling off upsets, will be the Wolverines’ high-profile home opener. Despite being the favorite, Michigan is a difficult opener with no warm-up. Intriguing non-conference games are scheduled for the next two weeks, including a rare road trip to Austin to play the Texas Longhorns. This is a titanic contest between two blue bloods and a preseason benchmark for both teams.
The Big Ten play is the storm’s main event.
The league calendar for Michigan’s new look is astounding. Before a tough home stretch that includes Oregon, Penn State, and a revitalized Wisconsin team under new leadership, they go to Husky Stadium in Seattle to play Washington. That’s three opponents that may rank in the top ten in less than a month. In addition, the Wolverines will play back-to-back West Coast games at the Rose Bowl against USC and UCLA, a logistical and physical challenge that is unheard of by Big Ten programs in the past.
Even though they lost a number of standout players to the NFL following their 2024 College Football Playoff run, such as running back Donovan Edwards and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, head coach Sherrone Moore has brought in top talent and kept important components of a formidable defense. The 2025 calendar, however, leaves little opportunity for error, even with a retooled Michigan roster.
However, “The Game”—Michigan vs. Ohio State, which is scheduled for the last Saturday of the regular season in Ann Arbor—remains maybe the most anticipated match of them. It might be the final chapter of a season already remembered for its extreme hardship, with possible playoff ramifications at stake.
The Wolverines will be more than just battle-tested if they can get it through this schedule, according to analysts and fans. In Michigan’s rich history, the 2025 season is more than just another campaign; it’s a trial by fire, a test of tenacity, depth, and championship potential.
“We’re not ducking anyone,” Coach Moore stated during Big Ten Media Days. We’ll have our chance every week in 2025. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.