Many expected the 2024-2025 Michigan football season to go differently; ultimately, however, the strides made in recruiting and the upset over Ohio State changed the narrative of the team’s entire season.
Entering the season with Alex Orgi, Jack Tuttle, and Davis Warren as the quarterbacks was a recipe for disaster for any power-four team, let alone Michigan. Each quarterback showed flashes of talent, but none could effectively execute when needed. The lack of talent at the position ignited massive frustration from school officials, boosters, and, most importantly, the fans. With the uproar in NIL spending, it was time for Michigan to ramp up the spending and get the quarterback to lead the Wolverines to another championship. With the help of Dave Portnoy and Larry Ellison, Michigan landed the #1 player in the nation, Bryce Underwood. Underwood was a highly coveted recruit with offers from LSU, Ohio State, Georgia, Penn State, etc. Underwood allegedly received upwards of $12 million to sign with Michigan. This money mostly comes from Ellison, who gained his wealth by co-founding Oracle Corporation. While there was extreme controversy regarding the deal, it’s unfair to blame an 18-year-old for ensuring generational wealth. The next four years of Michigan football are contingent upon the dominance that fans expect out of Underwood.
After landing Underwood, other recruits began to visit campus, leading to a potentially fantastic 2025 class. However, before many of the recruits felt comfortable committing, they wanted to see how the team held up against the rival Ohio State Buckeyes. The recruits were pleased after the 13-10 win over the Buckeyes, ushering in a top-six recruiting class in the nation. Georgia commit Shamari Earls de-committed and quickly signed with the Wolverines, Auburn commit Nate Marshall de-committed in favor of Michigan, and Andrew Babalola, the 2nd ranked tackle in the nation, also signed to play in the Big House. None of these landings would have been possible without the help of the Michigan boosters, who contribute NIL funds to upgrade facilities, compensate players, and improve the coaching staff.
Sherrone Moore and his staff didn’t feel they had to pursue talent heavily in the transfer portal, but they were still involved with some positions of need. They landed Justice Haynes, a running back out of Alabama, to step into the role of lead back. They also snagged Indiana’s 6’4″ wide receiver Donaven McCulley, who will start at WR immediately. Troy Bowles and Damon Payne, Alabama and Georgia transfers, could also be solid depth pieces for the team next year. Many other transfers will look to utilize their experience to mentor the highly talented recruiting class coming in. Most ranking websites have Michigan surging into a top 20 or top 10 team next year, despite the disappointing 2024-2025 season. The pressure is on Coach Moore and Bryce Underwood to meet the expectations of the donors and the fans.
The future of Michigan football has never been brighter, and fans should continue to expect better rosters each season. Many people within recruiting circles have cited Michigan as a “dominant force” in the NIL game going forward. For now, fans must wait and hope that Coach Moore can lead and develop the talented roster he has to work with.
