If you woke up this morning and frantically typed u of mi football score today into your search bar, I have some news that might be a bit of a letdown. There is no score to report for today, Friday, January 16, 2026. Basically, the season is over. The lights at the Big House are off, and the team is deep into the off-season grind.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for Michigan fans. After the highs of the last few years, being a spectator during the final week of the College Football Playoff feels wrong. You've probably seen the headlines about Indiana and Miami prepping for the National Championship on January 19. Michigan? They’re already looking toward spring ball.
The Final Score of the 2025 Season
The last time the Wolverines actually suited up was on December 31, 2025. It wasn't the New Year's Eve party anyone in Ann Arbor wanted. Michigan fell to the Texas Longhorns 41-27 in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. It was a game of "what ifs."
Michigan actually looked like the better team for stretches of that game. Bryce Underwood, the freshman phenom who took over the starting job, showed why he was the most hyped recruit in years. He was dealing. But then, the wheels just kind of fell off in the fourth quarter. Three late interceptions—one of them a brutal pick-six—turned a tight contest into a double-digit loss.
A Look Back at the 2025 Results
To understand where the team sits today, you have to look at the rollercoaster that was the 2025 season. They finished 9-4 overall.
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- Aug 30: W, 34-17 vs New Mexico
- Sept 6: L, 13-24 at Oklahoma
- Sept 13: W, 63-3 vs Central Michigan
- Sept 20: W, 30-27 at Nebraska
- Oct 4: W, 24-10 vs Wisconsin
- Oct 11: L, 13-31 at USC
- Oct 18: W, 24-7 vs Washington
- Oct 25: W, 31-20 at Michigan State
- Nov 1: W, 21-16 vs Purdue
- Nov 15: W, 24-22 at Northwestern
- Nov 22: W, 45-20 at Maryland
- Nov 29: L, 9-27 vs Ohio State
- Dec 31: L, 27-41 vs Texas (Citrus Bowl)
That loss to Ohio State was particularly stinging. Scoring only 9 points at home? That’s going to be a talking point for the next 300-plus days.
Why Today Matters Even Without a Game
Even though there isn't a u of mi football score today, the program is making massive moves behind the scenes. We are currently in the thick of the "New Regime" era. Kyle Whittingham is now the man in charge. If you haven't been following the coaching carousel, Whittingham coming over from Utah was a seismic shift for the Big Ten.
Whittingham has already started building his staff, bringing in Jason Beck as Offensive Coordinator and Roy Detmer Jr. as Quarterbacks Coach. This is a massive win for Bryce Underwood’s development. Underwood announced earlier this month that he is staying in Ann Arbor despite the coaching change and the allure of the transfer portal. That’s the "score" that actually matters today.
The Roster Shuffle
The transfer portal is officially wild. While Michigan lost guys like Andrew Sprague and Jake Guarnera to the portal, they’ve been aggressive in bringing talent in.
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Just this week, the Wolverines secured commitments from several high-profile transfers, including cornerback Smith Snowden. They are also heavily in the mix for Salesi Moa, a linebacker who could immediately bolster a defense that struggled at times against high-octane offenses like Texas and USC.
What Fans Are Getting Wrong About 2026
There’s a lot of chatter on the message boards about how the 9-4 season was a failure. It’s a bit of a "spoiled fan" syndrome. After winning a natty, anything less than a playoff berth feels like a disaster. But let’s be real.
Transitioning from the Harbaugh era was never going to be seamless. Underwood was a true freshman. The schedule was a gauntlet—having to travel to Norman, Los Angeles, and East Lansing in one season is brutal. The fact that they won 9 games with a first-year QB and a defense that was replacing multiple NFL starters is actually pretty impressive.
Whittingham’s system is notoriously physical. It’s "Michigan-style" but with a modern twist on the power run game. The real u of mi football score today is measured in the weight room and the recruiting trail.
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Key Stats from the 2025 Campaign
- Bryce Underwood: 2,428 passing yards, 11 TDs, 9 INTs.
- Rushing Attack: Averaged nearly 180 yards per game.
- Defensive Standouts: The secondary led the Big Ten in pass breakups but struggled with explosive plays in the losses.
What to Watch Next
Since you can't watch a game today, the next big milestone is National Signing Day and the start of Spring Practice in March.
Whittingham has been clear: the goal is to get back to the 12-team playoff immediately. With the playoff expanding and the Big Ten getting tougher with the West Coast additions, there is no room for a "rebuilding year." Every day in January is about making sure that the next time you search for a score, it's a "W" in a playoff quarterfinal.
Practical Steps for the Die-Hard Fan
- Track the Portal: Keep an eye on the defensive line depth. Whittingham needs big bodies to run his scheme effectively.
- Spring Game Date: Mark your calendars for late April. That will be the first real look at the "Whittingham-Underwood" connection in a live environment.
- Check Recruiting Rankings: Michigan is currently hovering around the Top 10 for the 2026 class. Finishing strong in February will be huge for long-term momentum.
The season might be over, but the work to beat Ohio State in 2026 started the second the clock hit zero in Orlando.
Actionable Insight: If you want to stay ahead of the curve, focus on the "Maize and Blue Review" updates regarding the offensive line transfers. That unit was the weak link in the Citrus Bowl, and how Whittingham addresses it this month will dictate the ceiling for the 2026 season.