Honestly, looking at the box scores from last season might give you a mild headache if you're a Michigan fan. One minute you're seeing a team that looks like it forgot how to throw a forward pass, and the next, they're walking out of Columbus with another pair of "Gold Pants" for the trophy case. If you want to understand michigan university football stats, you have to look past the surface-level win-loss record.
The 2024 season was weird. Coming off a national title, the Wolverines finished 8-5. On paper, that feels like a massive step back, but the numbers tell a story of a team that was essentially an elite defense trapped in an offensive nightmare. In 2024, the passing game averaged a measly 129.1 yards per game. That ranked them 131st in the nation. Think about that for a second. Only the service academies—teams that literally run the ball 90% of the time—were worse at throwing.
The Offensive Identity Crisis of 2024
The struggle was real. Michigan rotated through three different starters under center, and the results were, well, inconsistent. They averaged only 5.4 yards per pass attempt. You can’t win at a high level in the modern Big Ten with those kinds of numbers. Or can you?
Somehow, Sherrone Moore’s squad still managed to beat Ohio State and Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. How? By leaning into a "slugfest" mentality. Even when the offense was ranked 124th in yards per play (averaging a tiny 4.6 yards), the defense kept the roof from caving in.
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Breaking Down the 2024 Numbers:
- Total Offense: 286.2 yards per game (129th nationally).
- Passing Leaders: Davis Warren led the way with 1,199 yards, but had 9 interceptions to just 7 touchdowns.
- Turnover Margin: Finished at -2. In their losses, the inability to protect the ball was basically the nail in the coffin.
- Defense: They allowed only two touchdowns over the final 14 quarters of the season. That’s insane.
Why 2025 Looks Completely Different
If you’re tracking michigan university football stats for the upcoming season, the vibe is shifting from "survival mode" to "reloading." The biggest reason? Bryce Underwood. Flipping the No. 1 overall recruit from LSU changed the entire math for this program. Even if Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene starts the first few games to provide a veteran hand, the ceiling for the passing game has been raised through the roof.
Chip Lindsey, the new offensive coordinator coming in from North Carolina, has a reputation for opening things up. Expect that 131st-ranked passing offense to jump at least 60-70 spots. They've also bolstered the backfield with Alabama transfer Justice Haynes. Haynes averaged 5.6 yards per carry in the SEC last year; put him behind a Michigan-style offensive line, and he’s a 1,000-yard candidate immediately.
The Defensive Juggernaut
While the offense was a mess, the defense was—and still is—a powerhouse. Wink Martindale is back as the DC, and even though they lost Mason Graham and Will Johnson to the NFL, the cupboard isn't bare.
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- Derrick Moore (DE): A total game-wrecker. Last year he had 4 sacks and 37 quarterback pressures.
- Rayshaun Benny (DT): He’s the anchor now. With 29 run stops last season, he’s the reason teams can't run up the middle.
- TJ Guy (Edge): Ranked 12th in the country in pass-rushing win rate among power-conference defenders.
The advanced analytics (SP+) already have Michigan’s defense ranked 3rd overall in the country heading into 2025. They might not have the "stars" of the 2023 championship team, but the depth is actually better.
Sherrone Moore’s Coaching Math
There was a lot of noise about Moore’s first year. A "B-" grade from some outlets, a "B+" from others. But look at the stat that matters: he is 2-0 against Ohio State as an acting/full-time head coach.
The 2025 schedule is a gauntlet, though. A trip to Oklahoma in Week 2 and a visit to USC later in the year will test the "new" offense early. But with the 10th-ranked recruiting class coming in, the talent gap is closing. People forget that Michigan won eight games last year while playing a top-25 strength of schedule.
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Real-World Player Performance
If you're looking for breakout players, keep an eye on Jordan Marshall. The kid is a bruiser. In the 2025 projections, he’s expected to handle a massive workload alongside Haynes. The goal is to get back to that 2021-2022 style where the run game sets up everything else, but with a quarterback who can actually threaten the deep ball.
Actionable Insights for the Season
If you are betting on or just following the Wolverines, watch the "Yards Per Play" stat in the first three weeks. If Michigan is over 6.0 YPP against New Mexico and Oklahoma, the offensive rebuild is ahead of schedule.
Keep an eye on the third-down conversion rate too. In 2024, the defense allowed opponents to convert 41.1% of the time—partly because they were on the field for way too long. If the offense can sustain drives, that defensive ranking will stay in the top five.
The most important thing to remember is that Michigan is no longer a "rebuilding" program. They are a "developmental" program. The stats might fluctuate, but the physical identity remains the same. Expect a 9 or 10-win season as the floor for 2025, provided the turnover margin swings back into the positive.