Michigan and Stanford are battling for five-star OT Andrew Babalola

Although Michigan and Stanford have not competed against each other on the football field since 1976, they have competed for the same high school football recruits more often in recent years than one would assume.

In 2020, the Wolverines and Cardinal were neck and neck in the battle for the four-star offensive tackle Myles HintonIronically, after eventually signing with Stanford and playing three seasons in Palo Alto, Hinton transferred to Michigan before the 2023 season and is expected to start as the Wolverines’ left tackle in 2024.

In a sense of déjà vu, Michigan and Stanford are locked in a battle for another outstanding offensive tackle prospect, the five-star player from Overland Park (Kan.). Blue Valley Northwest Andrew Babalola. The Cardinal were considered the frontrunners for the 6-foot-6, 280-pound player for most of this recruitment, but UM head coach Sherrone Moore has been personally committed to the Wolverines and has Michigan in the thick of this race. When Babalola visited Ann Arbor on June 14, he was able to meet Hinton to get his unique perspective on both schools and programs as well.

Stanford offers the highest academic level in the country but has struggled on the football field in recent years. Michigan, on the other hand, is considered one of the best public universities in the U.S. and has reached the pinnacle of college football for the past three seasons. Moore, a Canadian native who played offensive line at Oklahoma, can also identify with the Kansas-born Babalola on a personal level.

After Michigan signed two four-star top-125 defensive back prospects Julian Taylor and Tight End Andrew OleshTwo of the Wolverines’ first signings for 2025 – Bobby Kanka and Eli Owens – used the momentum to make another attempt to persuade Babalola to join the Maize and Blue.

Babalola is considered the No. 27 overall prospect and No. 4 offensive tackle in the class of 2025, according to 247Sports’ Composite. The five-star player has received 35 scholarship offers during his recruitment, including pretty much every top program in the country. In addition to Stanford and Michigan, Babalola is also seriously considering Oklahoma, Missouri and Auburn, though the Cardinal and Wolverines remain the favorites.

Michigan has an overall record of 6-3-1 in 10 meetings with Stanford on the football field, but the Wolverines hope to add a recruiting win to their record this cycle.

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