The Michigan Wolverines’ spring game is an annual event that offers fans a preview of the football team ahead of the fall season.
Scheduled for April 19, 2025, the Wolverines’ spring game will take place at Michigan Stadium, also known as the Big House, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This provides fans an opportunity to see the team in action before the regular season kicks off.
On Wednesday, a new update regarding the spring game was announced, which is believed to be a response to the increasing number of players transferring through the portal in the era of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) payments.
According to Mlive.com reporter Aaron McMann, the April 19 spring game will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network but won’t air until about a week later, after the spring transfer portal window closes. The game will remain open to the public and is free to attend.
Head coach Sherrone Moore’s team is expected to feature several new starters this season, including positions like quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, and other critical roles.
After an 8-5 season last year, the Wolverines will kick off their 2025 season on August 30 against New Mexico in Ann Arbor.
The NFL anticipates a significant increase in kickoff returns in 2025 if a proposed rule to move touchbacks to the 35-yard line is approved.
Last season, 33% of kickoffs were returned after the introduction of the “dynamic” kickoff rule. This was an improvement from the 22% return rate in 2023 under the previous rule, but it still marked the second-lowest return rate in NFL history. In comparison, 38% of kickoffs were returned in 2022, and prior to a sharp rise in touchbacks in 2013, kickoffs were generally returned every season.
The “dynamic” rule placed touchbacks at the 30-yard line, and most teams opted to kick the ball into the end zone to avoid the risk of a long return. As a result, 64% of kickoffs still resulted in touchbacks.
However, with the proposed rule to move touchbacks to the 35-yard line, the NFL expects that between 60% and 70% of kickoffs will be returned. The Competition Committee’s research suggests that teams are more likely to kick the ball into play rather than opting for a touchback with the additional five yards.
The NFL’s goal is to make kickoffs feel more like a typical football play with more action on the field. The league previously adjusted kickoff rules to reduce injuries, and data from 2024 showed a positive outcome: injuries on kickoffs are now roughly as common as injuries on any other play. Now, the NFL aims to make kickoffs both safer and more dynamic, increasing the excitement on the field.
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