ESPN predicts Michigan football wins fifth-straight over Ohio State in 2025
The Michigan Wolverines head into the 2025 season with a four-game win streak in the series against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Given that last year’s game was a win as a three-touchdown underdog, there is plenty of optimism that U-M can make it five in a row this November in Ann Arbor.
ESPN is betting on that to happen, predicting a fifth-straight victory for Michigan in a preview centered around a 100-day countdown until Week 0.
“The Buckeyes are national champions,” the outlet wrote. “Last year’s team was elite, and this year’s could be just as good. There’s no reason to be anything but joyous in Columbus. Only … the fine folks from that state up north do have something of a trump card. Michigan’s four straight wins over Ohio State make for some pretty good bragging rights, even if the playoff trophy resides at the Horseshoe. Last year’s astonishing Buckeyes loss might’ve cost Ryan Day his job had the playoff not expanded to 12 and given Ohio State a second bite at the apple.
“And so, when this year’s game comes around on Nov. 29, the buzz won’t be about Ohio State’s 2025 championship game win. It will be about the four straight losses, and that’s an awfully big monkey now living on Day’s back. So, we won’t be too shocked if that dark cloud looms so large that the Buckeyes stumble yet again thanks to all of the outside noise. Would the Ohio State faithful be OK with a fifth straight loss to Michigan if it was followed by a second straight national title?”
Michigan’s four-year run over the Buckeyes includes a 42-27 win in 2021 in Ann Arbor, 45-23 drubbing in Columbus in 2022, a 30-24 victory at home in 2023 and last season’s 13-10 upset at The Shoe. During that time period, Michigan has three Big Ten titles to its name, along with three College Football Playoff appearances and a 15-0 season and a national title in 2023. OSU has two trips to the CFP and a national title last year despite going 10-2 with a loss to their rivals.
Michigan QB Bryce Underwood is the top freshman
A big reason for the optimism surrounding Michigan is freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who appears poised to start from day one in Ann Arbor. He is the face of an offensive overhaul that should be much better equipped to hold up and make plays alongside a potentially elite defense.
In the same preview, ESPN’s Eli Lederman labeled Underwood as the top freshman to watch in college football this season.
Top 10
- 1Live
Super Regionals Set
The field is almost complete
- 2New
Texas A&M shocked
Historic upset in softball
- 3Hot
Field of 64 projection
Predicting College Baseball Tourney
- 4
Baseball Top 25 projection
Big shakeup on deck
- 5
Urban Meyer
'Big Ten has passed the SEC'
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“Underwood, the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300, shook the sport with his flip from LSU to in-state Michigan 13 days before the early signing period,” he wrote. “A four-year starter who threw for 11,488 yards and 152 touchdowns in high school, Underwood is the Wolverines’ future under center. Depending on how Fresno State transfer passer Mikey Keene settles in, the gifted, 6-4, 208-pound quarterback could challenge to become the program’s present as soon as this fall.”
Head coach Sherrone Moore has been floored by the young signal-caller and what he has brought to the table early in his Michigan career.
“No, nothing has really surprised [me]. I kind of had a good beat on how he would be and his work ethic,” Moore said this spring. “He told me he’s a night owl and that’s true. So I try to get him to sleep more, but because he’s in the building a lot and he’s doing a lot to get better.
“Nothing surprised me in the way he carries himself and what he does just knowing his family, his mom and dad, Jay and Beverly. Just an outstanding job raising the young man and it’s been awesome to have him around.”
