Through five games this season Michigan football is 4-1.  For the most part they haven’t skipped a beat as far as overall team success and production.  Sure, there has been a bump in the road (Oklahoma), but that loss is technically looking better each week that OU keeps winning.  There have been some challenges that have plagued the Michigan offense with some crucial drops as well as questionable play calling and usage of certain personal.  However, Michigan still is in control of how the rest of their season is going to look.  As they transition into the middle of the season, they will look to stay focused, healthy, and stay hungry to attain a Big Ten title and secure a top 12 spot in the College Football Playoff.

Michigan will face USC for a pivotal Big Ten matchup on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC's high-powered offense, featuring quarterback Jayden Maiava and talented receivers Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane, presents a significant challenge for the Wolverines, particularly their defense. Additionally, USC's run defense, despite recent struggles, will look to contain Michigan's strong running game, a key factor in the outcome.

USC's offense, under the guidance of Lincoln Riley, is known for its explosiveness. Jayden Maiava, the projected starting quarterback for the Trojans, is back under center, and the team features a strong receiving duo in Makai Lemon and Ja'Kobi Lane. This aerial attack could pose problems for Michigan's secondary, which has struggled at times. USC's offensive line, though showing improvement, will need to protect Maiava against Michigan's defensive front.

However, Michigan's ground game, led by Justice Haynes, has been a major strength this season, and could potentially exploit USC's defensive weaknesses. Haynes has been a difference-maker for the Wolverines, leading the Big Ten in rushing yards and touchdowns through five games. Michigan's reliance on their running game aligns well with a potential weakness in USC's run defense, which has been susceptible at times.Michigan's success in this game could hinge on their ability to establish the run and control the clock, limiting USC's offensive opportunities. USC's rush defense will be tested to the fullest, and their ability to stop Michigan's dominant rushing attack will be key.

This matchup presents a classic strength-on-strength battle between Michigan's running game and USC's potentially explosive passing attack. The outcome could be determined by which team can better exploit the other's weaknesses, and whether USC's defense can hold its own against Michigan's offensive power.

There is a component of this game that not many people may think of on the surface and that is the time change for the Michigan players.  If anyone has ever travelled through a three-hour time difference, you know there is some toll it takes on the body and mind.  While typically something like this isn’t a huge difference maker in the game, look for the crowd noise of the LA Memorial Coliseum as well as that west coast time change to play a small role in the outcome of the game.