The Michigan Wolverines faced a demanding 12-game regular-season slate during the 2025 Michigan football schedule, navigating high-profile non-conference matchups alongside a rigorous expansion of Big Ten opponents. Head coach Sherrone Moore led the squad through six home games at Michigan Stadium, marquee road trips, and historic cross-conference clashes.
For fans and analysts tracking how the Wolverines squared off against the best of the Big Ten and beyond, the complete game-by-game breakdown outlines every contest, venue, and key storyline from the season.
Complete 2025 Michigan Wolverines Football Schedule
The Wolverines balanced their traditional rivalries with unique geographical challenges throughout the fall, playing games across multiple time zones while avoiding back-to-back home dates in Ann Arbor.
- August 30: vs. New Mexico Lobos (Ann Arbor, MI) — W, 34-17
- September 6: at Oklahoma Sooners (Norman, OK) — L, 13-24
- September 13: vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (Ann Arbor, MI) — W, 63-3
- September 20: at Nebraska Cornhuskers (Lincoln, NE) — W, 30-27
- September 27: Bye Week
- October 4: vs. Wisconsin Badgers (Ann Arbor, MI - Homecoming) — W, 24-10
- October 11: at USC Trojans (Los Angeles, CA) — L, 13-31
- October 18: vs. Washington Huskies (Ann Arbor, MI) — W, 24-7
- October 25: at Michigan State Spartans (East Lansing, MI) — W, 31-20
- November 1: vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Ann Arbor, MI) — W, 21-16
- November 8: Bye Week
- November 15: at Northwestern Wildcats (Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL) — W, 24-22
- November 22: at Maryland Terrapins (College Park, MD) — W, 45-20
- November 29: vs. Ohio State Buckeyes (Ann Arbor, MI) — L, 9-27
- December 31: vs. Texas Longhorns (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl - Orlando, FL) — L, 27-41
Non-Conference Highlights and Storylines
The non-conference slate brought unique historical matchups and emotional homecomings for the program.
Opening Against New Mexico
Michigan opened its 146th season of football with a first-ever meeting against the New Mexico Lobos at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines controlled the tempo to secure a comfortable opening victory before hitting the road for their toughest non-conference test.
The Trip to Norman
On September 6, Michigan traveled to Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to face the Oklahoma Sooners. This marked only the second all-time meeting between the two powerhouse programs, following their 1975 Orange Bowl matchup. For Sherrone Moore, the game served as a personal homecoming; Moore played offensive line for the Sooners during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Oklahoma's home-field advantage proved decisive, handing Michigan an early non-conference defeat.
In-State Tune-Up
Returning to Ann Arbor on September 13, the Wolverines hosted Central Michigan for the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools. Michigan's offense exploded in a dominant 63-3 blowout to stabilize momentum ahead of conference play.
Navigating the Big Ten Slate
With the conference expanding and scheduling formats shifting, Michigan's path through the Big Ten required road trips across multiple time zones and grueling stretches against conference rivals.
Early B1G Road Tests
Michigan kicked off its conference schedule in Lincoln against Nebraska on September 20. Memorial Stadium lived up to its reputation as a hostile environment, but the Wolverines escaped with a narrow 30-27 victory.
Following an early bye week, Michigan returned home to handle Wisconsin for Homecoming before flying out to the West Coast to face USC. The cross-country trip to the LA Memorial Coliseum on October 11 ended in a 31-13 loss, marking just the second regular-season game Michigan has ever played on the Trojans' home campus.
October Heavyweights and the Paul Bunyan Trophy
The middle of October brought a key homestand against Washington on October 18. The Wolverines avenged previous postseason tension by grounding the Huskies 24-7.
The following week featured the annual battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy. Traveling to Spartan Stadium on October 25, Michigan defeated Michigan State 31-20, maintaining control of the in-state rivalry under the lights.
Down-the-Stretch Momentum
November brought cooler weather and high stakes. After holding off Purdue 21-16 in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines enjoyed their second bye week before a historic venue change.
On November 15, Michigan played its conference road game against Northwestern at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago. The unique ballpark dimensions and a resilient Wildcats squad pushed the Wolverines to the limit before a 24-22 win. A dominant 45-20 victory over Maryland set the stage for the regular-season finale.
The Rivalry Finale
The regular season concluded on November 29 with The Game against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium. The visiting Buckeyes capitalized on key mistakes to secure a 27-9 victory, snapping Michigan's recent dominance in the storied rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many home games did Michigan play in 2025?
The Wolverines played six regular-season home games at Michigan Stadium, alternating home and road dates smoothly without any back-to-back home matchups in Ann Arbor.
Where was the Northwestern game played?
Due to stadium configurations, Northwestern hosted Michigan at Wrigley Field in Chicago rather than its traditional campus stadium.
Who did Michigan play in its bowl game?
Following the regular season, Michigan accepted a bid to the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, where they faced the Texas Longhorns on December 31, falling 41-27.
