Anonymous Coach Breaks Down Wolverines: “Michigan Was Still Mostly a Tough Out, and This Year’s No Different”
As college football’s new season approaches, the Michigan Wolverines are once again drawing eyes and expectations. Despite major departures from last year’s national title-winning squad, an anonymous Big Ten coach believes the Wolverines remain a formidable opponent in 2025. Speaking to reporters as part of a preseason preview, the coach offered candid insight into Michigan’s mindset, identity, and staying power.
“Michigan was still mostly a tough out, and this year’s no different,” the coach said. “Even with the changes at quarterback and staff, that culture hasn’t gone anywhere.”
Indeed, Michigan enters the season with a new head coach, Sherrone Moore, at the helm after Jim Harbaugh departed for the NFL. Yet Moore, who went 4–0 in Harbaugh’s absence last season and earned respect across the conference, is hardly a fresh face. He’s a continuity hire and someone deeply familiar with what makes Michigan successful: a physical run game, elite offensive line play, and suffocating defense.
“They play violent football, and they don’t beat themselves,” the coach continued. “If you’re not ready to match their physicality for four quarters, they’ll break you.”
Much of Michigan’s 2024 success stemmed from a veteran-laden squad. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, and a host of defensive leaders have moved on to the NFL. But the anonymous coach was quick to note that Michigan’s foundation remains intact.
“They’ve recruited well. Don’t think they’re going to fall off just because the big names left,” he said. “They’re deep, they’re disciplined, and they know how to win ugly.”
On defense, Michigan returns several key players at linebacker and in the secondary, keeping the unit’s aggressive, assignment-sound identity intact. Offensively, while the quarterback competition remains unsettled, the offensive line and tight end room are still among the best in the nation.
“They’re going to lean on that run game until the quarterback settles in,” the coach added. “It’s not flashy, but it works.”
As the Wolverines prepare for a restructured Big Ten that includes West Coast powers like USC and Oregon, the spotlight will be even brighter. But if you ask opposing coaches, Michigan isn’t flinching.
“They’ve built something sustainable,” the coach said. “It won’t be easy to knock them off—not this year, not anytime soon.”
