Michigan vs. New Mexico 2025: Keys to the Game and Predictions

It’s the Michigan Wolverines vs. New Mexico Lobos to open their 2025 season under the lights in Week 1. The Wolverines are aiming higher than last season, looking to make a run at the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoffs. Let’s dive into the matchup, and look at the keys of this game.

Michigan vs. New Mexico: Football History and Game Excerpts

Michigan and New Mexico have never faced each other. The Wolverines are currently a 34.5-point favorite in their season opener.

Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore recently hosted a press conference outlining many of the roster decisions the coaching staff had made ahead of their Week 1 matchup. That included naming Bryce Underwood the starting quarterback, the starting five on the offensive line, and what the defensive secondary will look like. Moore showed optimism about the state of the team and their mentality heading into the season.

Moore said, “This camp has been outstanding. The boys are in a remarkably good physical, mental, and emotional state. They’re just excited to hit somebody else. It’s been a long camp. We’ve been in what we like to call ‘the bunker.’ No social media — a challenge for the coaches, the players … But it’s been a really good camp. We’ve built some good depth and answered some questions from position battles and things like that. We’re really excited to go from there.”

The team has a strong mentality and has the attitude and hunger to achieve something special this season. The Wolverines aim to surpass their achievements of last year and leave a lasting legacy as Team 146.

Michigan vs. New Mexico 2025: Keys to the Game and Predictions

Key Players for Michigan

The Wolverines will be led by freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who will be the youngest starting quarterback in Michigan’s history. Underwood will have a mountain of expectations placed on him, and playing a lesser New Mexico team will provide a solid tune-up game for the young quarterback.

Running backs Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes will lead one of the best tandems in the entire country. The wide receiver room is headlined by Indiana transfer Donaven McCulley, Semaj Morgan, and Channing Goodwin. However, their best receiving weapon may be tight end Marlin Klein, who had an incredibly strong camp.

On the offensive line, left tackle Evan Link, left guard Giovanni El-Hadi, and center Greg Crippen will be returning starters, along with right guard Brady Norton, who transferred in with starting experience. Lastly, they will welcome right tackle Andrew Sprauge, who saw time as a sixth offensive lineman last season, but will get his opportunity to start in 2025.

Defensively, the Wolverines return nine starters to their defense, as one of the most experienced defenses in the country. The defensive line has immense depth, being led by edge rushers Derrick Moore, TJ Guy, and defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny.

They also welcome new additions through the transfer portal in Trey Pierce, Tre Williams, and Damon Payne. Captain Ernest Hausman will be the team’s mike linebacker and returns to this role after starting every game last season. In the secondary, safety Rod Moore returns from a torn ACL sustained in the spring of 2024, as well as Jyaire Hill and Zeke Berry at cornerback, who both improved as the 2024 season progressed.

Key Players for New Mexico

The Lobos are led by first-year head coach Jason Eck, who was the head coach at Idaho for the past three seasons. With him, he brings transfer quarterback Jack Layne.

With just one returning starter on the offensive line, New Mexico could struggle to win battles in the trenches, making it difficult to cement a run game with their two new transfer running backs Scottre Humphrey and Damon Bankston.

Defensively, the Lobos will have six transfers who are expected to start, including four members of their secondary. Jon Jonhson, Austin Brawley, Jayden Sheridan, and Albert Nunes all transferred in with starting experience and should be the strength of the New Mexico State defense. 

Keys for Michigan to Win

If Michigan can dominate on the defensive line, it will be New Mexico to mount any offensive attack at any point throughout the game. With an offense made up of transfers at key positions, New Mexico may start slow, allowing Michigan’s defense to get settled quickly. If the defense can get New Mexico into third-and-long situations that allow Michigan to dial up easy pressure, quarterback Jack Layne and the Lobos’ offense will be in for a long day.

Offensively, Michigan will need to get the run game going early. Getting the run game going early will allow the offensive line to settle into the game and set up easy throws for an inexperienced Bryce Underwood. A strong run game will enable Michigan to set up easy throws in screen and play-action games, where the offense can manufacture easy completions for Underwood. The Wolverines’ priority offensively should be getting Underwood comfortable quickly.