Michigan football vs Wisconsin: Tony Garcia analyzes Wolverines’ win
Michigan football vs Wisconsin: Tony Garcia breaks down Wolverines’ 24-10 victory in Game 5 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
For just the second time this season (and likely the last until the season finale against Ohio State), Michigan football enters a contest as the underdog.
The Wolverines opened as 1½ point underdogs for their upcoming game against USC on Saturday, Oct. 11 (7:30 p.m., NBC). The only other time they were picked to lose a game was their only loss of the season, a Week 2 matchup against Oklahoma when they were 5½ point dogs and ultimately lost the contest 24-13 in Norman, Oklahoma.
The Trojans, led by coach Lincoln Riley, should be well-rested coming off a bye week, though we saw based on U-M’s slow start in what ended as a 24-10 victory over Wisconsin in Week 6, a week off does not exactly guarantee crisp play when the team once again takes the field.
The last time USC took the field, it lost 34-32 at Illinois, but the Trojans have largely been good this year. The attack has been potent, led by quarterback Jayden Maiava, who has completed 98 of 138 passes (70.5%) for 1,587 yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception. His top target is Makai Lemon, who already has 35 grabs for 589 yards and five touchdowns (more than U-M’s top two pass catchers combined).
USC is not just a one-trick pony, with running back Waymond Jordan also having run 77 times for 537 yards and five touchdowns. It’s the combination of these three that have the Trojans as the No. 1 total offense (565 yards per game) in the land.
The defense, however, has been a different story, allowing 31.5 points per game in its past two Big Ten contests against Michigan State and the Illini. Not to mention, Michigan comes in with momentum, having won three consecutive games including two in a row to open the Big Ten slate.
Running back Justice Haynes has been one of the best is one of the best in the country, having run 85 times for 654 yards (7.7 per carry) and eight touchdowns. Meanwhile, the passing game found life in the second half against the Badgers, with freshman Bryce Underwood finding a rhythm with Donaven McCulley (six catches, 112 yards and a touchdown) and fellow first year player Andrew Marsh (four catches, 80 yards).
There’s a lot of juice surrounding this game, as it’s the first time U-M will play USC in Los Angeles since September of 1957.
The two have met in Southern California many times, of course, having played eight times in the Rose Bowl. The Trojans own a 6-5 lead in the matchup all-time.
Next up: Trojans
Matchup: No. 20 Michigan (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at Southern Cal (4-1, 2-1).
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11; LA Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles.
TV/radio: NBC; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Spread: Trojans by 1½.
Tony Garcia is the Wolverines beat writer for the Detroit Free Press. Email him at apgarcia@freepress.com and follow him on X at @RealTonyGarcia.