It’s Week 1 of the 2025 college football season! Take a deep breath and get ready for the best few months of the year. If you aren’t already amped for Michigan’s season opener tonight against New Mexico, here are five plays from last year to add to the anticipation.
One caveat to this list: I only went with players returning this season, after all, we’re trying to get excited about this year’s roster.
LB Ernest Hausmann’s INT against Washington
Michigan’s defense was key to its success last season, and this interception from Ernest Hausmann
had me thinking Michigan could win this game. That didn’t happen, but hey, we’ll always have this play to look back on with fondness. Here’s hoping we see some more big plays from Hausmann in 2025.
WR Peyton O’Leary’s clutch catch against the Buckeyes
Don’t get me wrong, there were some other monumental plays when the Wolverines upset Ohio State in Columbus last year. But this catch from Peyton O’Leary was an unimaginable play for the Wolverines given what they’d done offensively — or what they hadn’t done — all season long. Even if he’s not one of the top three wideouts, could we see some plays like this from O’Leary this fall?
RB Jordan Marshall’s ReliaQuest Bowl performance
It’ll take less than 60 seconds to watch Jordan Marshall’s highlights against Alabama. Afterwards, you’ll feel fully prepared to yell, “just run the dang ball!” at the TV with gusto come game time. Marshall is poised to work in tandem with Justice Haynes this season, but he sure gave RB1 energy against the Tide.
Edge Derrick Moore’s ReliaQuest Bowl performance
I can’t decide between sacks and fumble recoveries, so I went with both. Derrick Moore had two sacks and a fumble recovery against Alabama, and he is expected to be one of the best defenders for the Wolverines in 2025. Let’s hope he comes to play every week like he did against the Tide.
TE/FB Max Bredeson’s blocking against USC
Thankfully Max Bredeson decided to stay at Michigan for one more year, and we’re expecting to see him pick up some pretty big blocks again in 2025. He played a crucial part in Michigan taking the lead against USC last season. He has some talented running backs and Bryce Underwood to block for this season — that sounds like a fun combo to me!
It’s tough to narrow down an entire season to just five plays, so help us expand this list! Which plays did you watch on repeat this offseason to get ready for 2025? Share them in the comments below!
