An Ideal Michigan Football Schedule Template

Michigan Football cannot be faulted for its schedule; however, considering the scheduling approach adopted by college basketball programs, particularly Michigan's own Dusty May, it may be worth reevaluating their schedule. Of course, basketball has more games per season and is, therefore, more forgiving. The idea is to prepare the team for postseason play. Michigan football should be doing the same thing. With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams and some floating the idea of expanding to 16 teams, Michigan would be wise to be proactive instead of reactive.

The era of "cupcake" games needs to come to an end. It's beneficial for the smaller programs, but with the infusion of money into college football and the NCAA's obsession with revenue, teams creating more challenging schedules with matchups against premier programs benefits all parties. The Big Ten would also benefit from these changes. Every year, the SEC claims its teams have the most difficult schedule. The SEC even added a ninth conference game to match the Big Ten. The Big Ten, and Michigan specifically, could match this change by adjusting their nonconference schedule, claiming a few existing rivalries, and creating a few new ones.

"Sherrone Moore, UM vs AS 090 (cropped)" by Maize & Blue Nation is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Michigan Football Schedule Template

Sec

Big12/ACC

Notre Dame

Big Ten Random

Nebraska

Big Ten Rising Star

USC

PSU

MSU

Oregon/Washington

Big Ten Random

OSU

*Not including bye weeks.

Michigan Football Schedule: Nonconference

The first suggestion here is to agree with the SEC to hold a matchup every season. For one, it vastly improves the schedule, and it will draw a lot of attention. If the conferences want in, they'll follow suit. The Michigan versus Oklahoma game was the highest-rated Week 2 College football game. Week 1's top-rated game was another Big Ten versus SEC matchup with Ohio State and Texas. Michigan has already done this the past two seasons, and they would be wise to make this a permanent fixture. Imagine having either Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, or Alabama on the schedule every year. It would benefit television providers, schools, and conferences. That isn't even mentioning the bragging rights and recruiting help. The downstream effects could also include a Nebraska-Oklahoma matchup.

The second addition to the nonconference schedule would be adding a game between the Big 12 and ACC on alternating years. Those other Power Four Conferences could give Michigan an easier early-season game, but still have it be against a Power Four opponent. This schedule change would allow Michigan to play against Clemson, Miami, or Florida State. Additionally, they could play against Iowa State, Colorado, and Arizona State. This game may not be as high a priority as the SEC matchup, but it would allow for another quality opponent.

The final addition to the nonconference schedule should be the return of an annual Notre Dame matchup. Nothing feels quite like college football than the Wolverines and Fighting Irish duking it out. Notre Dame knows it needs a difficult schedule to compete as an independent, and this provides incentive for this matchup. They already attempt to schedule at least a few Big Ten opponents each year. It would help both schools create a schedule for the CFP, generate additional revenue, and restore a college football tradition.

Michigan Football Schedule: Claiming Existing Rivalries

Michigan and the Big Ten need to convince Penn State to acknowledge a Michigan-Penn State rivalry to get this game back on the schedule every year. It always provided a great game and a fun period of the Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan trio at the top of the conference. Without both teams on their conference schedule, how can any team argue they belong at the top of the conference? More big brand matchups are better for the sport. Additionally, that game was always one to look forward to, especially when the matchup came in November.

Recently, the Nebraska-Michigan matchups have been more enjoyable to watch. Again, these are two historically significant programs. While Michigan has dominated the matchup since Nebraska joined the Big Ten, who doesn't love the environment of the Wolverines playing in Lincoln or the Cornhuskers coming to Ann Arbor? It would be even better if Nebraska could get itself in the conversation among Big Ten teams.

USC is another classic program that has recently joined the Big Ten. Before last year, the teams had only met in the Rose Bowl. This game is another matchup with more historical significance than high-level competition. A better, more competitive USC would also benefit the Big Ten and college football as a whole.

Michigan Football Schedule: Creating New Rivalries

Oregon and Washington have also recently joined the conference. While they may not need to be a constant fixture on the schedule, both have ascending programs and similar reasons to be on the schedule as the teams above. Oregon has a lot in common with Penn State, as both are among the best teams in the Big Ten. Washington also holds historical significance for the Wolverines, with several Rose Bowl matchups and a National title game in 2023. While they could both be on the schedule every year, this alternating format allows classic Big Ten teams, such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, to appear on the schedule more frequently.

Michigan and the Big Ten should always strive to include any "rising stars" on their schedules as well. Currently, that team is Indiana. If Curt Cignetti can turn the Hoosiers into a program with similar significance to Clemson as Dabo Swinney did, then they belong on a Michigan schedule as often as possible. At least one of the random Big Ten teams on Michigan's schedule should always be a team like this one. Illinois is another possibility right now. In the future, that could change. Perhaps someone will take over UCLA or Northwestern and turn them into a top 25 team. When that happens, the Wolverines need them on the schedule.

Michigan Football Schedule: Hopes versus Reality

Ultimately, a schedule like this one isn't going to happen anytime soon. However, with the changes in college football, including NIL and the transfer portal, the big brands will continue to separate themselves, and programs will be forced to ask why they have non-competitive games on their schedules.

Michigan can wait around until such things are either forced or encouraged (like college basketball). At some point, the brands and money will be too big for games against Sam Houston State or Central Michigan. Still, as the schedules continue to grow more competitive, having the best schedule in the conference will be advantageous for CFP decisions. As of the article's publication, Michigan has two ranked opponents on its schedule this season. They lost one of those. At some point, a team with m that finishes 9-3 in the SEC with three ranked losses but three o ranked wins is going to get in ahead of a Big Ten team with one ranked loss and one ranked win. The argument for now is that a schedule can be held against a team. Maybe it should.

Hypothetical 2025 Schedule with Preseason Rankings

18 Oklahoma

4 Clemson

6 Notre Dame

12 Illinois

Nebraska

20 Indiana

USC

2 PSU

MSU

7 Oregon

Minnesota

3 OSU

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