The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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1. Penn State (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten) The Nittany Lions enter the 2025 season on the same mission that Michi- gan and Ohio State found themselves on in 2023 and '24, respectively. Many of the team's top talents put the NFL on hold and returned to Happy Valley for one more year in pursuit of a Big Ten title and College Football Playoff na- tional championship. With the roster in place and the road ahead, anything less for head coach James Franklin and company would be disappointing. Quarterback Drew Allar returns with some scouts tabbing him as the fa- vorite to go No. 1 overall in next spring's NFL Draft. Star tailbacks Nicholas Singleton (172 carries, 1,099 yards, 12 TD) and Kaytron Allen (220 car- ries, 1,108 yards, 8 TD) both return, and PSU addressed some of its passing game woes with the addition of receivers Trebor Pena (Syra- cuse), Kyron Hudson (USC) and Devonte Ross (Troy). That talent and an elite defense, now led by former OSU coordinator Jim Knowles, provide the ingredients for a title contender. 2. Michigan (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) The Wolverines had as good an 8-5 season as anyone could have with wins over Ohio State and Alabama to close out the year in addition to stacking an elite recruiting class on top of it, headlined by No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Under- wood, who is expected to start from Day 1 at quarterback. Head coach Sherrone Moore took the team's offen- sive woes last season to heart and brought in Chip Lindsey to overhaul the attack, which should feature more explosives and a better use of the skill talent. Jor- dan Marshall and Justice Haynes will lead the way in the run game, while the hope is a new play-caller will unlock the passing game. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale brings back a defense lacking the top-end star power of last year, but with better depth at every position. Getting back to classic complementary football could be all this team needs to get right back in the Big Ten race. 3. Ohio State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) While the changes have not quite been as vast as Michigan's were after winning their national title, the Buckeyes enter the season as defending champs with massive shoes to fill on both sides of the ball. OSU lost both coordinators and a ton of talent from last year's CFP title-winning squad, but head coach Ryan Day still has arguably the most talented roster in the Big Ten, and potentially the two best players in college football in wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and safety Caleb Downs. The winner of the quarterback job, likely sophomore Julian Sayin, an Alabama transfer, will have a bevy of weapons around him. OSU's big- gest questions come, once again, in the trenches as they replace the pieces from last year's team. The Buckeyes are still College Football Playoff good, but the season opens at home with Texas and closes at Michigan, where the Bucks will look to avoid a fifth straight loss. 4. Oregon (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) The Ducks cruised through the Big Ten in their first season of play, going 12-0 in the regular season before beating Penn State in Indy for the conference champion- ship. The year came to a bitter end in the Rose Bowl with a blowout loss to Ohio State, even though they were the CFP's top overall seed. Head coach Dan Lanning just wins, though, and Or- egon has one of the most stacked rosters in the league. Detroit native Dante Moore is expected to take the reins at quarterback, while Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes will look to flash his talents as the team's lead back. If Oregon can find a way to win its Sept. 27 game at Penn State, it has a legitimate shot at another undefeated regular season. 5. Indiana (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten) Everyone underestimated Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers at their peril last season. The confidence — and borderline hubris — coming out of Bloomington brought about a ton of eyerolls, but Indiana had its best season in program history with an 11-2 regular season and a trip to the CFP, where it lost to Notre Dame in the first round. The Wolverine's Predicted Order of Finish Offense Pos. Returning Honorees RB Sr. Jonah Coleman, Washington — 3rd, media WR So. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State — 1st, coaches and media Sr. Elijah Sarratt, Indiana — 3rd, coaches and media TE Sr. Max Klare*, Ohio State — 3rd, coaches T Gr. Genning Dunker, Iowa — 2nd, coaches; 3rd, media Gr. J.C. Davis, Illinois — 3rd, coaches G Sr. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State — 2nd, coaches and media Gr. Emmanuel Pregnon^, Oregon — 2nd, coaches and media Gr. Marcus Harper, Oregon — 3rd, coaches C Gr. Logan Jones, Iowa — 2nd, coaches; 1st, media *at Purdue ^at USC Defense Pos. Returning Honorees DL Gr. Mikail Kamara, Indiana — 1st, coaches and media Jr. Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon — 2nd, coaches; 1st, media Sr. Gabe Jacas, Illinois — 3rd, coaches and media LB Sr. Aiden Fisher, Indiana — 1st, coaches and media Gr. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon — 2nd, coaches and media Sr. Sonny Styles, Ohio State — 2nd, coaches Sr. Dariel Djabome, Rutgers — 3rd, media Gr. Kydran Jenkins, Purdue — 3rd, media DB Jr. Caleb Downs, Ohio State — 1st, coaches and media Jr. D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana — 1st, coaches and media So. Koi Perich, Minnesota — 1st, coaches and media Sr. Xavier Scott, Illinois — 2nd, coaches; 1st, media Gr. Theran Johnson, Oregon* — 2nd, coaches Jr. A.J. Harris, Penn State — 3rd, coaches and media *at Northwestern Special Teams Pos. Returning Honorees K Sr. Dominic Zvada, Michigan — 1st, coaches and media Sr. Drew Stevens, Iowa — 3rd, coaches and media P Sr. Ryan Eckley, Michigan State — 2nd, coaches; 3rd media So. Rhys Dakin — 3rd, coaches; 2nd, media RS Sr. Kaden Wetjen, Iowa — 1st, coaches and media So. Koi Perich, Minnesota — 2nd, media Sr. Hank Beatty, Illinois — 3rd, media Jr. Makai Lemon, USC — 3rd, coaches LS Gr. Luke Basso, Oregon — 2nd, coaches; 1st, media Gr. Tyler Duzansky, Penn State — 3rd, media Gr. Luke Pepper, USC — 3rd, coaches Returning All-Big Ten Players From 2024 Penn State returns a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in running backs Nicholas Singleton (pictured at right; 172 carries, 1,099 yards, 12 touchdowns in 2024) and Kaytron Allen (220 carries, 1,108 yards, 8 TD). PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS 118 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2025 FOOTBALL PREVIEW