Michigan Football will be tasked with taking on several elite players in 2025. Here is our ranking of the 10 best players that the Wolverines will face this fall:
The Michigan Wolverines will be tasked with taking on a handful of great players in 2025. With a schedule loaded with teams like Ohio State, USC and other college football blue bloods, the Wolverines will be facing elite competition week in and week out.
Here is our ranking of the 10 best players that Michigan is set to face this fall.
10. Dylan Raiola (Nebraska quarterback)
The former five-star was up and down as a freshman, but he flashed intriguing potential and should be even better in 2025. Nebraska is set to host Michigan in the Big Ten opener on Sept. 20, and Raiola will go a long way in deciding who comes out with a win. He had 2,819 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, but also threw 11 interceptions.
9. Jonah Coleman (Washington running back)
Washington’s offense should have an opportunity to be highly-productive, and Coleman will be a huge part of that. He spent two years at Arizona before transferring to Washington, where he recorded 1,053 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 193 carries a season ago. It will be essential for the Wolverines to hold him in check.
8. Ja’Kobi Lane (USC wide receiver)
The Big Ten has no shortage of dynamic wide receivers, and Lane is one of the best Michigan will face. Lane was a consistent red zone target for the Trojans last season, leading the team with 12 touchdowns to go with 43 receptions and 525 yards. USC had a lot of success through the air against the Wolverines a year ago and Lane will continue to be a major part of the game plan.
7. Sonny Styles (Ohio State linebacker)
Ohio State’s defense is loaded with All-Big Ten performers, and Styles is a physically-imposing hybrid linebacker. He compiled 100 total tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble in 2024, and he will have lofty expectations as a senior. He remains one of many Buckeyes still searching for their first win over Michigan.
6. Nick Marsh (Michigan State wide receiver)
In the second game of his freshman campaign, Marsh displayed his next level potential by posting a season-high 194 receiving yards on eight catches in a win at Maryland. Michigan State’s offense struggled for stretches last season, so Marsh’s statistics don’t jump off the page, but he finished his freshman campaign with 41 receptions for 649 yards and three touchdowns.
5. John Mateer (Oklahoma quarterback)
Following a breakout season at Washington State, Mateer transferred up to Oklahoma and is expected to be the starting quarterback for the Sooners. Limiting him will be key when Michigan travels to Norman on Sept. 6. Mateer threw for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns at Washington State in 2024.
4. Carnell Tate (Ohio State wide receiver)
Tate may not be the best receiver on the team, but he certainly isn’t a slouch and should be in store for a productive 2025 season. He actually led the Buckeyes with six catches for 58 yards in the loss to Michigan in 2024. Tate creates a solid one-two punch with another player we’ll get to in a bit.
3. Denzel Boston (Washington wide receiver)
Even though he flew under the radar for most of 2024, Boston emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best wide receivers. He is a legitimate deep threat with an impressive catch radius that caused problems for Michigan’s defense a year ago. Boston recorded 63 receptions for 834 yards and nine touchdowns, including a catch that went for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Wolverines last season in Seattle.
2. Caleb Downs (Ohio State safety)
Downs was great in his first season in Columbus after transferring from Alabama, putting up 81 tackles, six pass deflections and two interceptions. The All-American is currently projected to be the first safety selected in the 2026 NFL Draft , and most college football experts expect him to have a huge junior year. Against the Wolverines last year, Downs had a team-high 11 tackles and one interception.
1. Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State wide receiver)
After receiving All-American recognition and Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season, Smith is regarded as the best wide receiver in the nation. He is a matchup nightmare and he will certainly be at the top of the scouting report when the Wolverines host Ohio State. He racked up 76 catches for 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman, highlighted by a 187-yard and two-touchdown outing in the Rose Bowl win over Oregon.