Michigan Football’s 2025 Season: Sherrone Moore’s Challenge to Rebuild a Contender
ANN ARBOR - The streak is over. After four straight wins over Ohio State, Michigan finally stumbled. And while the Wolverines are still bowl-bound, there’s no sugarcoating it: this season won't end in the College Football Playoff, and for the second straight year, Michigan is likely to finish somewhere around No. 20 in the final rankings.
For a program that just a couple years ago stood atop college football, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
So where does that leave head coach Sherrone Moore, now two seasons into his tenure?
Moore’s Inherited Mess - and His Own Growing Pains
Moore didn’t exactly walk into a turnkey operation, despite the optics. Yes, Michigan had won 40 of its last 43 games before he took over.
Yes, they were coming off a national championship and a historic three-year run under Jim Harbaugh. But the timing of Harbaugh’s departure - along with quarterback J.J.
McCarthy’s late jump to the NFL - left Moore scrambling to rebuild both his coaching staff and the roster.
And let’s not forget the lingering cloud from the NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation, which hovered over the program during his transition. Moore may have had a hand in that saga, but he also had to navigate its fallout.
So no, this wasn’t a plug-and-play situation. But Moore isn’t off the hook, either.
A Step Forward on Paper, But Not on the Field
Michigan improved from 8-5 in 2024 to 9-3 this year. But let’s be honest - it didn’t feel like progress.
The high point? A shocking upset over Ohio State in Columbus last season, which salvaged a year that was teetering on disaster.
But that momentum didn’t carry over. In 2025, Michigan got boat-raced in the games that mattered most.
Let’s run it back:
- Oklahoma: Dominant from the opening whistle. A late 75-yard touchdown by Justice Haynes made the 24-13 final look closer than it was.
- USC: 489 yards allowed. The Trojans ran wild on Wink Martindale’s defense.
- Ohio State: Just 163 total yards. The offense never got off the bus.
That’s three marquee matchups - three no-shows. And while it’s fair to say those teams were simply better, that’s the problem. Michigan wasn’t in their league.
When Do Expectations Shift?
Moore’s job isn’t in jeopardy - nor should it be. He’s won the games he was supposed to win, and that 2024 upset over the Buckeyes still carries weight.
But this is Michigan. The bar isn’t just bowl eligibility.
It’s Big Ten titles and playoff berths.
And with the 12-team playoff now in place, the path is wider - but the expectations are steeper. If Michigan misses the cut again in 2026, the conversation changes.
Look at what’s ahead:
- 2026: Road games at Ohio State and Oregon. Home matchups with Oklahoma, Indiana, Iowa, and Penn State.
That’s a tough slate, and Michigan will likely be the underdog in at least two of those.
- 2027: Brutal road stretch - Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, and Penn State.
Ohio State and Oregon come to Ann Arbor.
The point? These big-stage games aren’t going away. And Michigan hasn’t shown it can win them under Moore - yet.
Recruiting Wins, On-Field Questions
To Moore’s credit, he’s been excellent on the recruiting trail. Michigan pulled in the sixth-ranked class last year and sits at No. 11 for 2026. He’s also helped rev up the program’s NIL engine, which has made the Wolverines more competitive in the transfer portal and with five-star prospects.
That’s a big deal. It gives Moore time - and the tools - to build a roster that can contend.
But talent acquisition is only half the equation. The product on the field has to match.
Freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood showed flashes, but he didn’t take the leap many hoped for. That development has to accelerate heading into Year 2.
Michigan’s offense, especially after Haynes went down, lacked identity. They leaned heavily on the run game early, but once that option faded, the unit sputtered.
Receiver Andrew Marsh was a bright spot this season - but he didn’t record a single catch against Ohio State. Not coincidentally, Michigan didn’t reach the end zone.
Moore has shown he’s willing to make tough calls. He moved on from offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell after last season. If more changes are needed - especially to support Underwood’s growth - he can’t hesitate.
The Bottom Line
Nine wins. A bowl game.
A young quarterback. Injuries across the depth chart.
On paper, that’s a respectable second season for a new head coach.
But Michigan didn’t look like a top-tier program in 2025. The Wolverines weren’t competitive in their biggest games, and none of their wins really moved the needle.
That’s not the standard in Ann Arbor.
The next 12 months will be telling. Moore has the recruiting momentum and institutional support to take this program back to the top. But eventually, the conversation has to shift from “he’s winning the games he should” to “he’s winning the games that matter.”
And if Michigan misses the playoff again in 2026, the pressure will only intensify. The honeymoon phase is over. Now it’s about proving Michigan belongs back in the national spotlight - and that Moore is the coach to lead them there.