Michigan’s offense in 2024 often felt like a song stuck on repeat—predictable, grounded, and missing its spark. Struggles in the passing game, coupled with uninspired play-calling, left the Wolverines one-dimensional and easy to read. The team leaned heavily on its ground game, turning what should’ve been a balanced offense into a run-heavy grind as they finished with a 131st-ranked passing offense and a 113th-ranked scoring offense. But heading into the 2025 season, Sherrone Moore has addressed this situation with the acquisition of 5-star quarterback Bryce Underwood being the biggest statement. Other additions, such as veteran Mikey Keene from the transfer portal, and freshman Jamar Browder and veteran Indiana transfer Donovan McCulley at WR, further underline the fact that Moore is determined to put things right.

While Michigan finished last season with momentum, beating Ohio State and then Alabama in their bowl game, when the transfer portal opened its window and his plans fell like a tower of Jenga to the transfer blows.  The Wolverines lost 31 players to the portal. Some of the costly losses have been their undisputed WR1 from last season, Tyler Morris. Along with defensive lineman Kechaun Bennett, wide receiver and wideout Amorion Walker, and a bunch of others. 

Still, their spring game showed what some of their new recruits are capable of. ESPN put them at 22-1 to win the national championship and at +850 to win the Big Ten according to ESPN CFB odds. So, can Moore’s Wolverines go and deliver this season? And how far can they go in the natty race? This was taken up by Jim Dunaway and his co-host on the May 2 episode of The Next Round podcast.

Veteran Dunaway predicted, “Michigan winning over eight and a half games this year.” However, his co-host didn’t agree with him. He said, “I think I would play the under here. I don’t trust this Michigan team. I know that they got better at the end of the year, and you saw them beat Ohio State, and you saw them beat Alabama in the bowl game. They’ve got to go to Oklahoma in week two. I think that’s going to tell you a lot that is a fascinating game [in] week two. They’ve got to go to Nebraska in week four, they’ve got to go to USC, and they’ve got Ohio State. So I think I would play the under.” 

This implies that Michigan’s 2025–26 schedule could make or break the new era in Ann Arbor. Here, let’s take a look at some of Michigan’s challenging games for the next season.

Aug. 30: vs. New Mexico

Sept. 6: at Oklahoma

Sept. 20: at Nebraska

Oct. 11: at USC

Nov. 29: vs. Ohio State

Not only will they play both of their rivals both home and away, but they will also travel to Purdue and Maryland- two really hostile environments. On the other hand, there comes some good news. Moore’s boys will have to take a trip to the West Coast twice, as Oregon and Washington’s dates might coincide.

The first aim for Moore and Michigan would be to make the CFB playoffs this year after missing the party last season. A good start would be vital to brush off any doubts about this new team. For this, he will require his offense to fire, and the addition of veteran OC Chip Lindsey from North Carolina should help with that. But there is one more challenge.

If there’s one potential pitfall looming over Michigan’s 2025 campaign, it’s inexperience. The Wolverines are tasked with replacing four projected first-round picks with three of them on defense. This isn’t the kind of talent you simply plug and play in a single offseason.

From quarterback to wide receiver, offensive line to defensive front, and deep into the secondary, the roster is stacked with young, gifted athletes, but many are stepping into the spotlight for the first time. While the raw talent is undeniable, the learning curve could be steep and could be the difference between a natty winning season and playoff heartbreak.

Bryce Underwood will hold the key to any success they might have this season, and as such, there is pressure on him to deliver. While Moore has moved to equip him with the tools, will it be enough?

Sherrone Moore’s big dilemma is mounting pressure on QB Bryce Underwood

Already, the transfer portal blows have shaken things up in Michigan. What further added to Michigan’s woes was Moore’s lack of clarity when it comes to the wide receivers room. Apparently, turned out that the head coach has learnt from his past mistakes. He has added well-built wide receivers who are in sync with his “physical” style of play in this transfer season. As Moore shared, “That was an emphasis for me. I wanted big receivers, and with him and Donaven McCulley and bringing in Jacob Washington, even Andrew Marsh — he’s not a small guy. He’s a long-limbed guy. I felt like we’d bring in really good size in that group to help us be more explosive in the passing game, and that’s what I wanted.”

For instance, Donaven McCulley, with a towering 6’5” stature and weighing 203lbs, ticks off all the boxes. But clouds of doubts start to gather when the question is about who will be receiver 2 in Sherrone Moore’s offense? Analyst Isaiah noted that it can be anybody’s call. The point is that the options are varied. It could be Fredrick Moore, Jamar Browder, Andrew Marsh, or Channing Goodwin. With this, Underwood is left at the edge. After all he he wouldn’t want a ‘wrong’ WR catching his passes. As of now, the quarterback is enjoying his free time in a unique way.

The 17-year-old has now become a common face on the sidelines of MLB games. Bryce Underwood made his way to Comerica Park on Sunday, April 27, to root for the Detroit Tigers. This came with a sweet bonus as he threw out the first pitch. Like MLB, he is a hardcore NBA fan. On May 1, Underwood went to support the $3.45 billion NBA giant, Detroit Pistons, in their face-off against the New York Knicks. Later on, the Pistons’ official IG page posted the quarterback’s picture with the caption, “Shoutout to @19bryce.__ for coming through tonight.” Maybe amidst all this fun, he is hoping that Sherrone Moore finds clarity, SOON.