5 Potential Trap Games on Michigan Football's 2025 Schedule
Expectations are high for the Michigan Wolverines heading into their 2025 season coming off of an 8-5 campaign.
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Late last season, the Wolverines defeated Ohio State and Alabama in back-to-back weeks, scoring wins over the eventual national champions and one of the SEC's top teams in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
The Wolverines' 2025 schedule includes a mix of big name opponents and lesser known foes with coach Sherrone Moore's team expected to compete for a spot in the upper echelon of the Big Ten Conference.
The Wolverines will kick it all off with a game against the New Mexico Lobos on August 30 in Ann Arbor followed by a road trip to Oklahoma that could set the tone for the rest of a season littered with potential trap games.
Jordan Marshall evades a lunging Alabama defender on Dec. 31, 2024. © Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Here are the top five games on Michigan's schedule that could be exponentially more difficult than they look at first glance:
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5. At Nebraska (Sep. 20)-
Michigan holds a 6-4 all-time record against the Cornhuskers, with whom they split the 1997 National Championship.
The Wolverines have won four straight in the series meaning coach Matt Rhule's Cornhuskers will almost certainly have the September 20 game in Lincoln circled on the calendar.
4. Vs. Wisconsin (Oct. 4)-
The Badgers have become an afterthought in the Big Ten under Luke Fickell but they still play physical, focused football which could become a problem for a young Michigan offense.
Michigan will have to match the Badgers' intensity and take care of the football to win this game, especially with freshman QB Bryce Underwood expected to start against a physical and savvy opponent.
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4. At USC (Oct. 11)-
The Trojans had Michigan against the ropes last season before Kalel Mullings ran wild and the Wolverines pulled out a thrilling 27-24 home victory.
Traveling to Los Angeles is never easy for a Big Ten team and the Trojans will have revenge on their minds.
3. At Michigan State (Oct. 25)-
Strange things happen around Halloween which is part of the reason why it's hard to count the Spartans out in this annual rivalry game.
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles has the talent to be one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten.
Don't be surprised if Chiles takes the presence of Underwood as a challenge and steps up his game this season, both against the Wolverines and other Big Ten teams.
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2. At Northwestern (Nov. 15)-
The Wildcats were embarrassed at the Big House last season and now have a chance to exact revenge in what could be a program-shifting game at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Northwestern game comes just before a road trip to Maryland and a home matchup with Ohio State giving it all the elements of a potential trap game.
1. At Maryland (Nov. 22)-
Michigan has not lost to the Terrapins since 2014 but Mike Locksley's group has come close to beating the Wolverines several times.
The Terps gave Michigan's 2023-24 National Championship team one of its toughest tests of the season suggesting that the 2025 game could go either way if the Wolverines aren't healthy and prepared to play one of their better games of the season in College Park.
Related: Michigan Position Coach Has Stark Message For Fans After Wolverines' Latest Commitment
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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