Joel Klatt sees Michigan football surging in 2025 with strong defense, favorable schedule

USA Today

6 days ago

Most pundits are entering 2025 with Michigan football ranked in their top 25, yet, not many have faith in the Wolverines. With an initial over-under set at 8.5, it's been beyond tempting for many to take the under.
But not Joel Klatt.
The preeminent Fox Sports college football color commentator broke down the maize and blue and his expectations on his podcast on Monday, and he shared his enthusiasm for the defense, the chances of offensive improvement, and the schedule as reasons for why the Wolverines will look much better than last season's output.
"Michigan went 8-5 a year ago, several close games coming off that national championship the year before," Klatt said. "Of the teams not in the playoff, Michigan had the best -- easily -- last month of the season of anybody in the country. They were unbelievable on defense. They get wins against Ohio State and against Alabama, despite scoring only 32 total points in those games. Their defense was No. 1 in the country in scoring defense and total defense in the last four. And those last four, by the way? Not a cupcake schedule. They played three teams that were the top 15 -- Indiana, Ohio State, and Alabama. They gave up two total touchdowns over the last three and a half games.
"If they get any offensive contribution from Bryce Underwood or whoever plays quarterback, this team should be drastically better. This was an eight-win team with an offense that couldn't throw the ball at all.
"And then you actually have the schedule and the Big Ten. They actually have a decent schedule. They don't have to play Penn State, they don't have to play Oregon, they don't have to play Illinois, they don't have to play Indiana, and they don't have to play Iowa. So, what do they have? A huge game in Week 2 against Oklahoma that's on the road. If -- and I know that's a big if, because Norman's not an easy place to play -- if they were to beat Oklahoma, nothing looks daunting on the schedule. They have games at Nebraska, at USC, Washington before the huge game against Ohio State at the end of the year.
"I think this is a bounceback year for Michigan. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that they go and win that game in Norman. I really don't. Look out for Michigan. I think that's a bounceback. I think that's a buy for next year -- Michigan is a buy."
The big thing for Michigan will be can it take the show on the road? At no point in 2025 will the Wolverines have two home games in a row, alternating between home and away throughout the season, minus the two straight road games at Northwestern and at Maryland before hosting Ohio State.
So, it's simple: if Michigan can play well on the road, as it had from 2021-23, then it will be good. If not? Then it could be another long season.