Where Michigan stands in 2025 way-too-early college football rankings

Michigan Wolverines football notched two of the best wins of the college football season late in the 2024 campaign, beating Ohio State (13-10) and Alabama (19-13). If momentum from year to year exists, the Wolverines have it heading into the second season under head coach Sherrone Moore. While Michigan hasn’t been ranked since October, it’s showing up in “way-too-early” top 25 rankings ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Here’s a roundup of where nine different publications have placed the Maize and Blue. (Only one outlet that we viewed, CBS Sports, did not place Michigan in the top 25.) The Wolverines checked in as high as No. 12 and as low as No. 25.

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On3: No. 12

Top 10: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 6 Georgia, No. 7 Illinois, No. 8 South Carolina, No. 9 Florida, No. 10 Clemson

Big Ten: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Penn State, No. 7 Illinois, No. 12 Michigan, No. 23 Indiana, No. 25 Nebraska

Ari Wasserman: “Sherrone Moore didn’t shoot out of a cannon this year, but Michigan’s culture was strong enough to beat Ohio State and Alabama to close out its season. The Wolverines signed five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and brought in running back Justice Haynes to go along with Jordan Marshall. Michigan loses important pieces like Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, but the Wolverines should be better next year.”

Fox Sports: No. 12

Top 10: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Penn State, No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 South Carolina, No. 10 Arizona State

Big Ten: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 6 Penn State, No. 11 Indiana, No. 12 Michigan, No. 17 Illinois, No. 24 Iowa

RJ Young: “After signing the nation’s No. 1 QB in the 2025 class, Bryce Underwood, and former Fresno State QB Mikey Keene, Sherrone Moore has two ready options to lift the Wolverines’ most worrisome, underperforming position last season.”

Action Network: No. 17

Top 10: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 LSU, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Notre Dame, No. 8 Clemson, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 10 Miami

Big Ten: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, No. 17 Michigan

Sporting News: No. 18

Top 10: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 LSU, No. 10 Miami

Big Ten: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Oregon, No. 13 Illinois, No. 18 Michigan, No. 20 Indiana

Bill Bender: “The Wolverines picked up some momentum under Sherrone Moore with the victories against Ohio State and Alabama, and the arrival of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood improves the entire complexion of the offense. Alabama transfer Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall are the new backfield, but are there enough upgrades at receiver? Alabama transfer defensive tackle Damon Payne is another key addition to a unit that found its rhythm under defensive coordinator Wink Martindale. Road tests at Oklahoma and Nebraska are part of the September schedule. Can the Wolverines make it five in a row against Ohio State and get back into the CFP?”

Bleacher Report: No. 18

Top 10: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Oregon, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 Alabama, No. 9 South Carolina, No. 10 LSU

Big Ten: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Oregon, No. 15 Illinois, No. 18 Michigan, No. 21 Indiana

ESPN.com: No. 21

Top 10: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 BYU, No. 10 South Carolina

Big Ten: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 13 Illinois, No. 17 Indiana, No. 21 Michigan

Mark Schlabach: “The Wolverines salvaged coach Sherrone Moore’s first season by stunning rival Ohio State 13-10 and knocking off Alabama 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl. If Michigan is going to build on that momentum, it will have to get better quarterback play from freshman Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 prospect in the 2025 ESPN 300, or Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene. Moore fired offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell and replaced him with Chip Lindsey, who called plays at North Carolina the previous two seasons. Lindsey will try to revamp an offense that failed to produce a 40-yard passing play in 2024. The Wolverines are losing two potential first-round picks in Graham and Grant. They added former Alabama five-star recruit Damon Payne Jr. to help fill one of the holes. Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons, so it’s unclear if he’ll remain in college football in 2025.”

Athlon Sports: No. 22

Top 10: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Texas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Notre Dame, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Clemson, No. 8 Miami, No. 9 LSU, No. 10 Alabama

Big Ten: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 4 Penn State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 18 Indiana, No. 21 Illinois, No. 22 Michigan

Steven Lassan: “Michigan closed coach Sherrone Moore’s first season on a high note with wins over Ohio State and Alabama. The Wolverines should be able to carry that momentum into 2025, especially if five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood quickly adapts to the collegiate level under new coordinator Chip Lindsey. The one-two punch of Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall should anchor one of the Big Ten’s top backfields, and Moore added needed help at receiver through the portal. Despite losing standouts Josaiah Stewart, Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Johnson, the defense still has a strong foundation in place for ’25.”

NCAA.com: No. 23

Top 10: No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Notre Dame, No. 5 Clemson, No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Georgia, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 South Carolina, No. 10 Tennessee

Big Ten: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Penn State, No. 6 Oregon, No. 13 Illinois, No. 19 Indiana, No. 23 Michigan

Stan Becton: “Michigan is the biggest question mark in these rankings. Is five-star incoming freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood the answer? If so, the Wolverines will build on late-season momentum in coach Sherrone Moore’s first year.”

Yahoo Sports: No. 25

Top 10: No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Penn State, No. 5 Texas, No. 6 Notre Dame, No. 7 Tennessee, No. 8 Clemson, No. 9 Alabama, No. 10 Ole Miss

Big Ten: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Oregon, No. 4 Penn State, No. 12 Illinois, No. 16 Indiana, No. 24 Indiana, No. 25 Michigan

Nick Bromberg: “How much of an upgrade can Michigan make at QB? The Wolverines signed five-star recruit Bryce Underwood and added former UCF and Fresno State QB Mikey Keene in the transfer portal. Keene seems like the favorite to start in Week 1. Alabama RB Justice Haynes also arrives and could play a key role in the backfield. The defense loses strength up front, but it was still stout against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl without Mason Graham.”