Michigan Football Preview 2025: Are the Wolverines True Contenders Under Sherrone Moore?
X CFN, Fiu | CFN Facebook | Bluesky Fiu, CFN Michigan Offense BreakdownMichigan Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to SeasonJim Harbaugh was gone, a whole slew of stars from the national championship team had moved on, and the schedule appeared to be - and turned out to be - a killer.Seriously, Texas, USC, at Washington, Oregon, at Ohio State, and in the end, Alabama. All of that, and going to Indiana, turned out to be a really big deal. And going to Illinois last season was brutal, and Minnesota was really good, and that's all before bringing up what goes into beating Michigan State.There was a lot for new head coach Sherrone Moore and Michigan to deal with, including his own stuff with the fallout from the Connor Stalions shenanigans.
So going 8-5 was okay - once. It wasn't great, and there weren't any totally unforgivable losses, but now it's time to get back up to national title contender speed.I spent years honing my Jim Harbaugh Apologists Club bit - the whole idea is that it's really, really hard to win lots of football games every year, even at a place like Michigan, or Ohio State, or Penn State, or Georgia - but there's no reason why Michigan shouldn't at least be a regular in the expanded College Football Playoff.
Winning a national title takes something magical, years of building, and a slew of breaks. That's been the brilliance of Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, and to a lesser extent lately, Clemson in the College Football Playoff era. Keep throwing elite runs out there and see if something sticks.There's a difference between "there's always next year" for the Crimson Tide and Buckeyes than it is for TCU and Washington.
Ohio State went 12-1 the year after winning the 2014 national title, and the one time it dipped below 11 wins in the CFP era was 2020, and that year it lost to Alabama in the National Championship.These are catastrophic times in Alabama after the first year post-Nick Saban, and it went 9-3 in the regular season and should've been in the CFP over SMU - long explanation, but just trust me on that.
What happened to LSU in the first season after the epic 2019 national title run? It went 5-5 in 2020 and crumbled to 6-7 the year after.So what's Michigan going to be?Will it be one of THOSE programs that wins no matter what, just because it's better and more talented than all but a handful of teams in a given year, or is it one of the programs that gets nice things because it's big and powerful, but flies first class and brags about its CLEAR membership instead of pulling up to the private jet?Is Michigan a true player under Sherrone Moore, or not?We're about to find out. Michigan Offense BreakdownMichigan Defense BreakdownSeason Prediction, Win Total, Keys to Season
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New York Post
30 minutes ago
- New York Post
2025 College Football predictions: Why Clemson is a national title contender
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. Every summer, there is a group of college football teams that become hype machines. Whether it be due to a new coaching hire, a strong finish to the previous season, or because of the transfer portal, there's always a handful of programs that become trendy, and that love seeps into the betting market. Last summer, Florida State and Utah had their bandwagons full by Week 1, only to go a combined 7-17, with the Seminoles footing the table in the ACC. Other trendy teams from last summer, like Texas, SMU, and Tennessee, fared much better, but the point is that just because a program becomes a popular pick in the offseason doesn't guarantee that it will make good on that promise when school is back in session. We've identified a few teams that have become trendy this summer and will discuss whether or not they will live up to the hype in the fall. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway during the annual Spring Game. Getty Images for ONIT 2025 College Football predictions Florida Gators It's been a while since Florida has been relevant. The Gators haven't won an SEC Championship since 2008, and they've gone 25-26 in the last four seasons. Pressure was starting to build up on head coach Billy Napier before the 2024 campaign, but he was able to save his bacon with a strong finish en route to an 8-5 campaign against a brutal schedule. Not only did Florida's four-game winning streak to close out 2024 likely save Napier's job, but it also turned some heads and put the Gators on the radar for 2025. A huge part of Florida's turnaround in 2024 was the play of quarterback DJ Lagway, who is getting considerable Heisman hype heading into his sophomore season. Lagway gives the Gators a high ceiling, but the problem is that, once again, Florida is going to go up against one of the toughest schedules in the nation. According to ESPN's Bill Connelly, only Oklahoma will face a more daunting path than the Gators in 2025. There are some positive signs in the Swamp, but Florida's schedule makes it really hard to get caught up in the hype surrounding the Gators for 2025. The Verdict: Pass Clemson Tigers Dabo Swinney and Clemson re-emerged with a trip to the College Football Playoff in 2024, and all signs point to another step forward in 2025. The Tigers are 11/1 to win the National Championship at FanDuel Sportsbook, and they are the clear favorites to win the ACC. Clemson's Cade Klubnik is one of the favorites to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. Getty Images Those may seem like steep prices to pay on the Tigers, but there's reason to believe that Clemson is going to be a force to be reckoned with in 2025. The biggest positive for the Tigers is that they lead the country in returning production at 81 percent. For a program that's been hesitant to dip into the portal, it's a huge positive that Clemson is bringing back so many snaps from 2024. In addition to the stability, the Tigers will also go up against a manageable schedule in the ACC this season. The Tigers are already getting plenty of love in the betting market, but it's warranted. Watch out for Cade Klubnik and Clemson in 2025. Verdict: National Title Contender Betting on College Football? Illinois Fighting Illini Everybody is wondering who will be this year's Arizona State or Indiana, and Illinois is going to be a popular answer to that question. The Illini went 10-3 in 2024 and wrapped up the season by defeating South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. That may be a sign of things to come for the Illini, who rank third in returning production, have a stud quarterback in Luke Altmyer, and will play as easy a schedule as you could hope for in the Big Ten in 2025. Illinois won't have the talent to go up against the heavyweights in the Playoff, but they have legitimate hopes of making it to the Big Ten Championship, making the 40/1 (BetMGM Sportsbook) on the Illini to win the conference quite tempting. Verdict: Big Ten Dark Horse Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Prep Rally: A sneak peak of our breakdown of Southern California's top quarterbacks
Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. My name is Eric Sondheimer. It's time to start previewing top football players for the coming season. The Times' nine-part series looking at each position begins Aug. 12, but let's start providing a sneak peek. Quarterbacks can be broken down into three groups — exceptional returnees, rising players entering their senior seasons and newcomers with potential. Brady Smigiel of Newbury Park returns for his senior year having thrown 147 career touchdowns. Bryson Beaver of Vista Murrieta surged in the off season as a college prospect before committing to Oregon after passing for 3,214 yards. Luke Fahey of Mission Viejo is an Ohio State commit with big ambitions for his senior season. Brady Edmunds of Huntington Beach enters his junior season after passing for 3,222 yards as a sophomore. He's also committed to Ohio State. Corin Berry of Charter Oak passed for 3,034 and committed to Purdue. Oscar Rios of Downey is committed to Arizona and one of the best passers and runners. Jackson Taylor of Thousand Oaks committed to Boise State. Alexander Lundsberg of Anaheim Canyon was one of the state leaders in passing at 3,646 yards. Travis Frazier of Esperanza is a 6-foot-4 senior who passed for 2,600 yards. Ryan Hopkins of Mater Dei moves from JSerra as one of the fastest quarterbacks in the state and is a Wisconsin commit. Koa Malau'ulu of St. John Bosco should continue his rise after a freshman season that saw him get the Braves into the Division 1 final. Wyatt Brown moves from Santa Monica to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame ready to test himself against Mission League competition. Cathedral's Jaden Jefferson had 2,641 yards and 30 touchdowns as a sophomore. Edison's Sam Thomson led his team to a state title as a sophomore. Santa Margarita turns to Tulane commit Trace Johnson, a transfer from Florida. Agoura gets back from injury Gavin Gray, who had more than 1,100 yards passing in four games. Chaparral's Dane Weber completed 67% of his passes as a sophomore. Dominik Hardy of Calabasas passed for 2,100 yards as a sophomore. Deshawn Laporte of Burbank had 2,600 yards passing as a sophomore for a 9-3 team. Joseph Mesa of Paraclete passed for 3,414 yards and 30 touchdowns. Isaiah Arriaza of Damien passed for 2,892 yards and was Baseline League MVP. Russell Sekona of Leuzinger is coming off a freshman season in which he passed for 1,600 yards. Caden Jones of Crean Lutheran might be the best football/basketball athlete in the Southland entering his junior season. Jacob Paisano of Hart and Brady Bretthauer of Valencia are both senior quarterbacks with strong arms and proven performances from the Foothill League. The City Section could have its best collection of quarterbacks in years, led by Eagle Rock's Liam Pasten, who had 3,602 yards passing last season. There's also Chris Fields at Carson, Jack Thomas at Palisades, Elijah McDaniel at Dorsey, Diego Montes at Kennedy, Seth Solorio at San Pedro and freshman Thaddeus Breaux at Hamilton. Speaking of freshmen, the class of 2029 quarterbacks look promising. Evan McCalister of Valencia, Ezrah Brown of Orange Lutheran and Marcus Washington of Cajon have already made positive impressions this summer. In girls flag football, Makena Cook of Orange Lutheran, injured during the girls' soccer season, is expected back this fall to lead the defending Southern Section champion Lancers. Here's the report. San Pedro is up to nearly 30 players going out for flag football. The Pirates have lost in the City Open Division finals the last two seasons. King/Drew is joining the Pirates in the Marine League this season. It's my favorite week of the summer, because Edison's Battle at the Beach seven on seven passing tournament is set for Saturday. The 9 a.m. games are some of the best matchups, with Cathedral vs. St. John Bosco and Edison vs. Santa Margarita. St. John Bosco, Mission Viejo, Santa Margarita, Servite, Los Alamitos, Palos Verdes, Long Beach Poly and L.A. Cathedral are among the schools scheduled to participate. Mission Viejo gets the favorite nod, having beaten Mater Dei in its own tournament on June 28. Action starts at 9 a.m. and ends by early afternoon. Bring a lawn chair, then sit back and enjoy lots of outstanding skill-position players. Ocean View is hosting its own tournament on Saturday. The transfer portal continues nonstop. Matt Smith, who took over starting quarterback duties during last season's playoffs as a sophomore, has left Loyola for Villa Park. Two other Loyola players have also left, defensive back Brandon Lockhart to Sierra Canyon and running back Sean Morris to Orange Lutheran. The Cubs have lost at least eight players since January. 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Cathedral receiver Jalen Ross has committed to Idaho State. . . . Corona Centennial offensive lineman Jakob Mckindley has committed to Northern Arizona. . . . Servite tight end Luke Sorensen has committed to Nebraska. . . . Mission Viejo defensive back Jeron Jones has committed to Washington. . . . Khary Wilder, the standout defensive lineman from Gardena Serra, has committed to Ohio State. . . . Offensive lineman Mateo Bilaver of Chaminade has committed to UNLV. . . . Kyle Sanders, a 6-10 sophomore at St. Bernard, has transferred to Campbell Hall. . . . Trinity League boys basketball has decided to hold a post-regular season tournament and will play each league team once during the regular season. . . . Sherman Oaks Notre Dame has completed a project adding new bleachers to its gymnasium. . . . AJ Garcia, the former football coach at Ayala, is the new athletic director at Chino. . . . Former Bishop Montgomery and UCLA guard David Singleton is the new assistant coach at UCLA. . . . 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From a story on Long Beach Poly's campus beginning a six-year, $450 million upgrade. From a story on the rise of former Harvard-Westlake outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. From the Los Angeles Times, a story on former Chatsworth guard Alijah Arenas discussing his accident. From a story on the rise of former Thousand Oaks shortstop Jacob Wilson, who made the All-Star Game. Have a question, comment or something you'd like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at and follow me on Twitter at @latsondheimer. Did you get this newsletter forwarded to you? To sign up and get it in your inbox, click here.
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
How I ranked college football's top 100 rivalries: who got left out and who's next
Editor's note: All week, The Athletic is writing about college football rivalries at a moment of change in the sport. Read our ranking of the top 100 rivalries here and also vote for your favorites. Evaluating and ranking college football's greatest rivalries from one to 100 requires more than just a working knowledge of the sport's history and a spreadsheet. But both come in handy when evaluating rivalries from college football's primitive past to its sprawling future. Advertisement When this process began in March, approximately 150 rivalries were considered from all levels of college football. After research and multiple conversations, a preliminary list of 100 came together. Each rivalry was judged independently by applying 11 core criteria. The rivalries then were re-ranked after delving into each one's history. Only 13 rivalries stayed in their original slot, with some (USC-Stanford) moving up significantly, while others (Utah-BYU) fell a few slots. Here is a look at the 11 principles and questions asked within those categories to gauge these rivalries: Even after answering those questions, many of the final rankings come by feel. Minnesota-Wisconsin, for instance, doesn't consistently determine championships, but its longevity, co-dependency and series record (63-63-8) vaults it past similar rivalries. Michigan-Ohio State was an easy No. 1. It meets every principle and tops the charts in meaningful games historically. Oklahoma-Texas and Auburn-Alabama were nearly even, but the iconic Iron Bowls over the past 15 years nudged into No. 2. In another decade, it might flip now that all four are in the SEC. Ranking Army-Navy is about ambiance and tradition rather than the games, but no rivalry is more revered or embedded in the fabric of the sport. As a transcontinental, nonconference series, USC-Notre Dame is unique among great rivalries. It features the third-most ranked matchups (35) and is tied for second with 18 top-10 clashes. In the 1980s, Nebraska-Oklahoma could have ranked No. 1. Although it's dormant, it still rates as historic, and the numbers back it up. Miami-Florida State and Florida State-Florida had direct national title implications for decades. Ohio State-Penn State in the top 10 may be a surprise, but the numbers don't lie. Of their 39 meetings since the AP poll began in 1936, both teams were ranked in 25 games, and 12 were top-10 matchups. By percentages, it's hard to beat. Among the top 35 rivalries, 31 consisted of in-state or border series. Some, like Auburn-Alabama and Miami-Florida State, often are as relevant nationally as locally. But how do you separate the Backyard Brawl from the Holy War from Cy-Hawk from Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate? What about the Apple Cup, Civil War, Bedlam and the Egg Bowl? Advertisement Statistical comparisons like matchups, total ranked meetings, top-10 competitions and win-loss disparity were critical in separating the rivalries. All figures are considered guidelines, not an automatic determination. Oklahoma-Oklahoma State was the most difficult to slot. Bedlam boasts 19 ranked matchups, including three in the top 10. Based on those numbers, it's a top-15 rivalry. However, Bedlam has the second-widest win-loss disparity in FBS history with a 71-victory difference in favor of the Sooners. That made it difficult to measure alongside Kansas-Missouri (one win) or Minnesota-Wisconsin (tied). Also, Bedlam is now dormant without any scheduled games on the horizon. In similar fashion, Iowa-Iowa State fell lower than initial expectations, with just one matchup of ranked teams in the history of the rivalry. BYU-Utah (three) and Stanford-Cal (four) also fell with a low number of ranked matchups. They struggled to measure up against Michigan-Michigan State (19 ranked matchups), for instance. On the flip side, Washington-Oregon and Iowa-Wisconsin each finished higher than initially expected. Washington-Oregon has featured 10 ranked matchups and 53 games with at least one team ranked, which was more than Oregon-Oregon State (6, 31) or Washington-Washington State (8, 34). Washington-Oregon also has a robust trajectory as protected Big Ten foes. Only two wins separate Wisconsin from Iowa (49-47-2), with nine ranked matchups between them, and they combined for seven of the 10 Big Ten West titles. Their proximity (175 miles) is similar to an in-state battle, and their series is protected by the Big Ten. What non-FBS rivalries lack in prominence, they make up for in tradition. Harvard-Yale, Lehigh-Lafayette, Williams-Amherst and Richmond-William & Mary all trace their roots to the sport's infancy. Southern and Grambling are not only HBCU historical powers, but the game sometimes becomes a footnote at 'The Bayou Classic' to all the pageantry that surrounds it, first and foremost the marching bands. Advertisement North Dakota State-South Dakota State is the preeminent FCS rivalry, while the Montana-Montana State 'Brawl of the Wild' is the best FCS in-state feud. Either of those games can hold its own against some of the top FBS contests. Wisconsin-Whitewater and Mount Union have played only 12 times, but nine times they met for the Division III national title over 10 years. The second-most difficult task (after separating the in-state rivalries) was deciding which rivalries to leave out. Here are 10 that were strongly considered but didn't make the list: Ohio State-Michigan State: This clearly was No. 101. From 2011-16, the teams split their matchups 3-3, and three games directly impacted the Big Ten championship. Ohio State leads 38-15 overall, but over the past 50 years, it's 31-7, and the Buckeyes average 21 points per victory. Ohio State has won nine straight, and the last eight have come by 34.1 points per game. Florida-Auburn: The Gators and Tigers played annually from 1944-2002, and it was a protected series when the SEC first split into divisions. They have played 84 times (Auburn leads 43-39-2), including 18 ranked battles, but have had just four meetings since 2002. It's just too irregular to make the top 100. Air Force-Army/Navy: Games among the service academies are worth acknowledging, but Army-Navy overshadows Air Force in the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy series. Air Force leads Army (38-20-1) and Navy (34-23) and boasts 21 CIC trophies, while Navy has 17 and Army 10 (and five ties) since it was instituted in 1972. But in games involving Air Force, there were none with two ranked teams. St. John's-St. Thomas: The battle for the 'Holy Grail' set a Division III record with 37,355 fans at the Twins' Target Field in 2017. Two years later, schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference — but not St. John's — voted to evict St. Thomas after it had become too dominant. St. Thomas left Division III for FCS, and the football rivalry is history. St. John's owns a 53-35-1 record. Tuskegee-Morehouse: Known as 'The Granddaddy of All Classics,' the Tuskegee-Morehouse series began in 1902, but the teams have competed at neutral sites (mostly Columbus, Ga.) since 1936. The nation's oldest and most-played rivalry among HBCU schools, Tuskegee leads 75-31-7. This fall, the Division II classic shifts to Montgomery, Ala. Advertisement Cincinnati-Louisville: Only 100 miles separate the campuses, and they play for the 'Keg of Nails.' Cincinnati leads the series 30-23-1, although they never had a ranked matchup. But when Louisville moved to the ACC in 2014, the schools never scheduled a home-and-home. If it wasn't important enough for a bus trip, it's not a top-100 rivalry. Northwest Missouri State-Pittsburg State: Since 1989, these teams have dominated the MIAA. Northwest has won or shared 19 league titles while Pitt State has claimed 14. Northwest has Division II records in national titles (six) and appearances (10), while the Gorillas have two and five, respectively. From 2002-13, they met at Arrowhead Stadium. The Bearcats lead, 29-28. Utah-Utah State: The schools played annually from 1919-2009, and they join BYU in competition for the Beehive Boot. Individually, this series is called 'Battle of the Brothers.' But Utah outgrew this series when it joined the Pac-12 (which Utah State will join in its diminished form in 2026) and then the Big 12. The Utes have won 80 of their 113 meetings, and they've played just twice since 2013. Boston College-Holy Cross: From 1919-86, the teams played every season but two — 1943 (World War II) and 1969 (hepatitis outbreak at Holy Cross, 75 players infected). After NCAA football split into FBS and FCS in 1978, the programs grew on different trajectories. They've played just twice since 1986 (2018, 2023). BC leads 50-31-3, though Holy Cross notably trounced No. 1 Boston College 55-12 in a stunning 1942 upset. Duke-Georgia Tech: From their first meeting in 1933, these teams played every fall, a 90-year streak that began 20 years before the ACC was formed and 30 years before Georgia Tech left the SEC. That string was snapped in 2023 when the ACC eliminated divisional play. Beginning in 2024, they're scheduled to play four times over seven years. The Yellowjackets lead 55-35-1. Ten others considered: Colorado-Utah, Illinois-Purdue, Iowa-Northwestern, Miami-Virginia Tech, Missouri-Nebraska, Nevada-UNLV, Notre Dame-Pittsburgh, Penn State-Syracuse, Sam Houston-Texas State, UTEP-New Mexico State. With realignment still swirling, new series pop up every year. Sure, Ohio State-Oregon, Alabama-Texas and USC-Michigan can become must-see events in the SEC and Big Ten. But what about series that can turn into legitimate annual rivalries? Here's a look at six that have that potential. Washington State-Boise State: The new-look Pac-12 Conference features plenty of intriguing matchups, but neighbors Boise State and Washington State have the most upside. They've played only seven times (Wazzu leads 5-2), but the Cougars could give Boise State its first true FBS enemy, and the Broncos could fill Washington State's rivalry void. Advertisement West Virginia-Cincinnati: These teams competed for seven years together in the Big East. But back then, the Mountaineers had plenty of established rivals in the Big East. Now, they're in their third year together in the Big 12, and they're alone in their geographic footprint. West Virginia leads 18-3-1 overall. TCU-Houston: These former Southwest Conference and Conference USA foes have played only 27 times, but Houston joined the Southwest in 1976, and it lasted just 20 more seasons. Now, as Big 12 anchors in Houston and the Metroplex, there's a chance to elevate this series for both programs. After last year's 30-19 upset, Houston ended a nine-game losing streak and now leads 14-13. Arkansas-Oklahoma: Only 230 miles separate these border programs, but they've played just 14 times overall and only three times since 1926. All three meetings were in New Year's Day bowl games (1977, 1986, 2001). This would have made for a great Big Eight or Big 12 rivalry, but now, as SEC partners, Oklahoma-Arkansas seems natural as they navigate through a 16-team conference. Rutgers-Maryland: Maryland had long-standing rivalries from the ACC, while Rutgers did not have a previously dedicated foe when they joined the Big Ten together in 2014. The league stapled them as annual opponents, and it has developed into a nice series. Less than 200 miles separate their campuses, and they are now cemented as permanent Big Ten rivals. Notre Dame-Clemson: The schools have agreed to a 12-year home-and-home series that not only pits two of the top football brands against one another, but it also raises eyebrows. For the Irish, it gives them a dedicated annual opponent should the USC rivalry fade away. For Clemson, this contract runs through 2038, which is beyond the ACC's current grant of rights. Although they've played only eight times — the Tigers lead 5-3 — this has the makings of a marquee national rivalry. (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos: Brian Bahr, Erica Denhoff, John Cordes / Getty Images)
