Honestly, following Michigan football lately has been a total roller coaster. One minute you're riding the high of a dominant win, and the next, you're wondering how the offense just completely stalled out. If you’re looking at the 2025 season that just wrapped up, the final tally shows a 9-4 record. That’s not terrible, but for a program with these expectations, those four losses feel heavy.
So, who did Michigan football team lose to this year? It wasn't just one bad Saturday. It was a mix of a brutal road environment, a cross-country conference flight, a rivalry game that hurt to watch, and a bowl game collapse.
The Road Trip to Norman: Oklahoma Sooners
It started early. Real early. In just the second week of the season on September 6, Michigan traveled down to Norman to face the Oklahoma Sooners.
The final was 24-13.
Bryce Underwood was still finding his feet as the true freshman starter, and playing at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium is basically a trial by fire. Michigan's defense actually played okay, keeping them in it for a while, but the offense just couldn't sustain drives. You could see the potential with Underwood, but the Sooners' pass rush was relentless. They finished the game with a measly 13 points, and that was the first sign that this season might be a bit of a rebuild.
The LA Letdown: USC Trojans
Fast forward to October 11. The Big Ten's new geography meant Michigan had to fly out to Los Angeles to play the USC Trojans.
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Man, this one was ugly. 31-13.
USC’s offense looked like it was playing at a different speed. Michigan looked tired, maybe it was the travel or just the heat, but they never really threatened. This was the game where people started questioning if Wink Martindale’s defensive schemes were actually working against high-tempo modern offenses. The Trojans moved the ball at will, and Michigan’s offense looked stuck in the mud again.
The Heartbreaker: Ohio State Buckeyes
This is the one that really stings. November 29. The Game.
After winning three straight against the Ohio State Buckeyes, the streak finally snapped in Ann Arbor. The final score was 27-9.
It was the first time Michigan lost to Ohio State since 2019. Being at the Big House and watching the Buckeyes celebrate on the field—it’s a vibe no Michigan fan ever wants to experience. The defense held firm for a bit, but they were on the field way too long because the offense couldn't get a first down to save their lives. Ohio State’s defense was just too fast, and they neutralized Michigan’s run game completely.
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The aftermath of this game was chaotic. Not long after the loss, the university announced they were firing Sherrone Moore "for cause" due to off-field issues involving an inappropriate relationship. It felt like the whole program just deflated in a single weekend.
The Citrus Bowl Collapse: Texas Longhorns
The season ended on New Year's Eve in Orlando at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl. With Biff Poggi acting as the interim head coach, Michigan faced the Texas Longhorns.
Final score: 41-27.
It was actually a close game for about three and a half quarters. Michigan was fighting. But then the wheels fell off. Bryce Underwood threw three interceptions, two of them in the fourth quarter, which Texas turned into easy points. Arch Manning was all over the place, running for 155 yards and basically toyed with the Michigan defense in the final ten minutes.
Breaking Down the 2025 Michigan Losses
If you look at the season as a whole, Michigan's losses weren't to "bad" teams. They lost to some of the heaviest hitters in the country.
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- Oklahoma (Away): 13-24
- USC (Away): 13-31
- Ohio State (Home): 9-27
- Texas (Neutral): 27-41
Basically, when Michigan stepped up in weight class this year, they struggled to land the knockout punch. They beat the teams they were supposed to beat—like Nebraska and Michigan State—but they went 0-4 against ranked opponents. That’s the stat that tells the real story of the season.
What's Next for the Wolverines?
The 2025 season is over, and it's a new era. Kyle Whittingham is coming in from Utah to take the reigns. People are already buzzing about how he'll use Bryce Underwood in a more versatile offense. The defense is likely going to look a lot different, too, as they move away from the Martindale era.
If you're a fan, you're probably looking at 2026 with a mix of nerves and excitement. The talent is there, but the consistency definitely wasn't.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. With a new head coach, there's always a bit of a roster shuffle, and Michigan needs to find some veteran help on the offensive line if they want to protect Underwood and get back to winning those big-time matchups.
The first step is moving past the drama of the Moore firing and focusing on the 2026 opener. It's staying in Ann Arbor, which is a good start for a team that clearly struggled on the road this past year.