ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football is ranked No. 14 in the preseason edition of the 2025 Coaches Poll.
The poll was released Monday, Aug. 4, and offers our first real look at how college football teams are being viewed ahead of the 2025 season.
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Why Michigan is ranked
Sherrone Moore’s first season at the helm didn’t go exactly as planned, with Michigan finishing the regular season with five losses.
But the Wolverines finished strong, upsetting heavily favored (and eventual national champion) Ohio State in Columbus and then shocking a fully loaded Alabama team in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Most of the confidence in Michigan likely stems from how it ended the season defensively. The turnaround began on the road against No. 8 Indiana, which managed just 246 total yards against Wink Martindale’s unit.
Michigan held Northwestern to six points and 127 yards in the final home game, and then shut down the Buckeyes to the tune of 10 points and 252 yards.
Even though Alabama’s star quarterback Jalen Milroe played in the bowl game, the Crimson Tide mustered just 13 points and 260 yards. Michigan forced a turnover on downs, two fumbles, and an interception on the first four defensive drives.
Many of the starters from that defense return, with the glaring exceptions of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Josaiah Stewart. Michigan also lost superstar cornerback Will Johnson, but he missed the entire second half of 2024 due to injury.
On offense, optimism stems from the addition of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who has a chance to start for the Wolverines as a true freshman.
Michigan also brought in a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsay, and has a fearsome running back room led by Jordan Marshall and transfer Justice Haynes.
Full rankings
The only ranked team on Michigan’s schedule is No. 2 Ohio State, though there are several Big Ten teams represented. Penn State is No. 3, Oregon is No. 7, Illinois, is No. 12, and Indiana is No. 19.
USC, Iowa, Nebraska, Washington, and Minnesota received votes but did not crack the top 25.
Among Michigan’s other top opponents this season, Oklahoma received the 26th-most votes, USC was 29th, Nebraska was 39th, and Washington was 41st.
Here is the entire top 25:
- Texas
- Ohio State
- Penn State
- Georgia
- Notre Dame
- Clemson
- Oregon
- Alabama
- LSU
- Miami (FL)
- Arizona State
- Illinois
- South Carolina
- Michigan
- Ole Miss
- SMU
- Florida
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Kansas State
- Texas A&M
- Iowa State
- BYU
- Texas Tech
- Boise State