In 2021, it was PFF that believed that Michigan football would be much better than advertised, following a moribund 2-4 campaign in 2020. The same could be said in 2023, when PFF analysts proclaimed the Wolverines the best team in the country, entering the season.
So now that the maize and blue enter 2025 with some questions following an 8-5 season, how does PFF rank the Wolverines?
In the PFF preseason 2025 power rankings (subscription required), Michigan football comes in at a respectable No. 12, with a decent strength of schedule, but a lower-than-expected projected win total.
12. MICHIGAN
Projected win total: 7.74
Projected chance to make a bowl game: 84.06%
Projected chance to win conference: 6.90%
It’s kind of interesting to see such a low projected win total given that the Wolverines face only one team ranked ahead of them in these power rankings (Ohio State is No. 1). As far as other teams that Michigan faces this year, Washington is No. 23, USC is No. 26, Oklahoma is No. 31, Nebraska is No. 44, Wisconsin is No. 54, Michigan State is No. 71, Maryland is No. 72, Northwestern is No. 82, Purdue is No. 92, New Mexico is No. 110, and Central Michigan is No. 112.
Perhaps the big defining factor is that USC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, MSU, Maryland, and Northwestern are all road games. Of course, OSU is always a daunting matchup, but Michigan has won the previous four contests against the Buckeyes.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: PFF: Michigan football poised to surprise in 2025 power rankings