At long last, the 2025 college football season has arrived in Ann Arbor. We look at how U-M will fare vs. the Lobos in Bryce Underwood's debut.
Michigan football opens its 2025 season on Saturday, Aug. 30, with the Week 1 matchup against the New Mexico Lobos at Michigan Stadium. Here is everything you need to know:
Fast facts
Matchup: Michigan (0-0) vs. New Mexico (0-0), season opener.
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: NBC; WCSX-FM (94.7).
Michigan football vs. New Mexico availability report
Michigan: OUT:LT Andrew Babalola (knee), RB John Volker (undisclosed), Questionable: S Rod Moore (knee), QB Mikey Keene (undisclosed), TE Hogan Hansen (undisclosed).
New Mexico: OUT: WR Shawn Miller, DE Xavier Slayton, RB Ray Iwai, WR Jered Rennick Questionable: TE Dorian Thomas.
Scouting report
When Michigan has the ball: For the first time in an official game, Bryce Underwood will take the field to the roar of more than 108,000 fans. It's the moment he and this fanbase have been waiting for after a tumultuous year at the position in 2024. The Wolverines will try to establish a ground game with their two-man backfield of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall, prove their wide receivers are a notch above a season ago − namely Donaven McCulley − and show that the tight end position hasn't fallen off too far despite the departure of top-10 NFL pick Colston Loveland. Perhaps most importantly, the offensive line has to show it has more continuity both in pass pro and run blocking as it starts trending back toward its dominant days. New Mexico's defense added Randolph Kpai (80 tackles at Nebraska in 2024), Idaho linebacker Dimitri Johnson and Idaho edge Keyshawn James-Newby, who posted 103 tackles with 15½ sacks and 21½ tackles for loss the past two years.
When New Mexico has the ball: It's Year 1 for New Mexico coach Jason Eck, who comes from Idaho after three years in Moscow (not Russia!). He brought with him quarterback Jack Layne, who was solid last year in the seven games that he played (64.5% completions, 1,472 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, four interceptions). He went elsewhere in the Big Sky Conference to add a potent running back, Scottre Humphrey from Montana State, who ran for 1,386 yards and 16 touchdowns. While the Lobos could be decent by season's end, they return just one offensive lineman from a season ago and go against a U-M defense that will come in waves under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Look for T.J Guy and Derrick Moore to have their way on the outside, linebackers Ernest Hausmann and Jaishawn Barham to clean up in the middle and Brandyn Hillman to lay the thunder on some big hits. The Wolverines defense should have no trouble containing New Mexico.
Know the foe
Transfer time: It's an entirely new roster for New Mexico, a team which brought in an incredible 72 new faces as it's in a full roster rebuild. They added 29 transfers, 16 high school players and five JUCO players. In addition to the players mentioned above, Keegan Johnson (Kansas State) is the most proven pass-catcher on the team with 73 career grabs to his credit. There are new players at quarterback, wide receiver, running back, offensive line and all throughout the defense. Welcome to college football in 2025.
Depth chart deception: Michigan football likes to play its cards pretty close to the chest when it comes to health and availability, but earlier this week New Mexico took it to a whole new level. The admins seemed to have some fun when releasing their two-deep roster, with the offensive players being named after characters from movies who were played by Tom Hanks and the defense portrayed by Tom Cruise personas. Forest Gump was listed as running back, "Maverick" Mitchell at linebacker and Jordan Belfort at punter. Well played, Lobos.
Trick play time: The Lobos are five-touchdown underdogs, so coming into Ann Arbor on national television, there's nothing to lose. Sherrone Moore started out the week saying they seem to run even "more trick plays than we do," so the Wolverines have to be on their toes. As much goes for the special teams unit, where fakes and deception are common. "Yeah, no doubt," special teams coordinator said if the team saw a lot of trick plays when going over film. "You know, studying coach (Daniel) Da Prato and coach Eck, like, I mean, there’s a lot of stuff that goes on within their special team units. So you’ve got to be prepared on every unit for something else to pop up."
Tony Garcia's two cents
Ballin' Bryce: A little more on Underwood, since, well, everybody wants to talk about him. Expect the Wolverines and new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey to work the true freshman into the game somewhat slowly. Runs to insulate him, play-action passes to get defenders eyes in the backfield and manageable throws early to make sure he gets in a rhythm. Then, they'll open it up. Underwood has a massive arm and Lindsey is known to go for chunk plays in the air. U-M didn't have a single play of more than 40 yards in a game last year − the only Division I team with that unfortunate blemish on the résumé − but that will change on Saturday for the first time since the 2023 season.
Dominant Dominic: Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada is one of the best in the nation, no question about it. He set a Michigan program record for 50-yard field goals (7) in a career, and did so in just one season. He was 21-for-22 on attempts last season, with the only miss coming on a block. Per his coach, he hit a 70-yarder in the Big House kicking "off the sticks" in a recent scrimmage. While Brown added there was wind at his back, he also said "I feel comfortable putting (Zvada) out whenever he wants to go out."
Prediction
The Wolverines will have no problems starting their season with a win over a Mountain West foe for the second season in a row. The defense will stifle the Lobos, not letting their rushing attack get going even with a capable back. The passing attack will be shut down, too. Frequently starting with good field position, Michigan will rack up the points once the offense settles in. The fourth quarter will be a chance for the two-deep to get some game action, which is when the Lobos score once for the back-door cover in what is an easy win for U-M. The pick: U-M 44, New Mexico 10.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football prediction vs New Mexico in Week 1
Category: General Sports
