Michigan football 2025 opponents: Wolverines face two new coaches in nonconference slate
It’s time to look ahead to the Michigan football 2025 season, which features six teams that made a bowl in 2024 (though only one nonconference bowl-eligible foe).
The Wolverines wrapped up the 2024 season in the ReliaQuest Bowl against No. 11 Alabama with a 19-13 victory, finishing with three straight wins for an 8-5 record.
Here’s what you need to know about Michigan’s nonconference schedule next season:
Who does Michigan football open 2025 season against?
No. 1: New Mexico Lobos (5-7 in 2024)
Kickoff: Time TBA, Aug. 30.
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: TV TBA; WXYT-FM (97.1).
The buzz: Longtime BYU & Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall’s rebuild in Albuquerque went so well, with the Lobos winning five games two seasons after a 2-10 record, that Mendenhall was poached by Utah State ahead of the Aggies’ jump to the Pac-12. The Lobos, meanwhile, opted to dip into the Football Championship Subdivision for their next coach, grabbing Idaho’s Jason Eck after he went 26-13 while taking the Vandals to the FCS playoffs in all three of his seaons. Like Sherrone Moore, Eck will have to find a new quarterback, as star dual-threat QB Devon Dampier is transferring to Utah.
No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners (6-6)
Fast facts: Time TBA, Sept. 6; Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma; TV TBA.
The buzz: Perhaps no team fared as poorly in a desired conference move as the Sooners, who received a rough introduction to SEC life in blowouts by Tennessee and, most painfully, Texas. Still, the Sooners rebounded to stun Alabama late in the season as head coach Brent Venable took them to the Armed Forces Bowl. The Sooners, after losing QB Jackson Arnold to Auburn, will be installing a new offense, bringing in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle — a proponent of a run-heavy version of Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense — from Washington State. Arbuckle, meanwhile, brings with him QB John Mateer, who accounted for 44 touchdowns — 29 passing, 15 rushing — at Wazzu in 2024.
No. 3: Central Michigan (4-8)
Fast facts: Time TBA, Sept. 13; Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor; TV TBA.
The buzz: The Chips first job this offseason was finding a new coach after Jim McElwain announced his retirement. CMU landed former Army offensive coordinator Matt Drinkall, who oversaw a 12-2 Black Knights squad that led the nation in rushing, with 300.5 yards per game. CMU, meanwhile, finished tied for 60th in rushing yards, with 166.1 per game.
Who does Michigan football face in the Big Ten in 2025?
Sept. 20: At Nebraska.
Oct. 4: Wisconsin.
Oct. 11: At USC.
Oct. 18: Washington.
Oct. 25: At Michigan State.
Nov. 1: Purdue.
Nov. 15: At Northwestern.
Nov. 22: At Maryland.
Nov. 29: Ohio State.
