What Are Michigan's 3rd, 4th, and 5th Toughest Regular Season Games Next Year?
I'm on mobile - apologies for the formatting (I'm nervous to hit save, this might be a disaster). But I'm curious, it's clear what #1 and #2 are...but what are Michigan's 3rd, 4th, and 5th toughest games of the regular season?
2023 Michigan Football Schedule
SATURDAY, SEP 2
East Carolina
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, SEP 9
UNLV
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, SEP 16
Bowling Green
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, SEP 23
Rutgers
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, SEP 30
at Nebraska
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, OCT 7
at Minnesota
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, OCT 14
Indiana
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, OCT 21
at Michigan State
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, OCT 28
OFF
SATURDAY, NOV 4
Purdue
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, NOV 11
at Penn State
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, NOV 18
at Maryland
Time TBA ET | TV TBA
SATURDAY, NOV 25
Ohio State
Time 12:00PM ET | TV TBA
...here goes nothin'!! *closes eyes*
January 19th, 2023 at 7:41 AM ^
Eh, logos are too big, but could've been worse. I'll take it.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
+1 for self-awareness
January 19th, 2023 at 7:46 AM ^
I guess @ MSU, @ Minnesota, home against Purdue.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^
Minnesota and Purdue are gonna be 7 wins at best. Too much attrition for both teams
January 19th, 2023 at 8:54 AM ^
It will be interesting to see what Fleck does at Minnesota without Tanner Morgan and Mo Ibrahiem. I agree they are going to be in rebuild mode. However the schedule is soft enough that I would still put them somewhere in the 3-5 hardest games of the year.
Man that schedule is just atrocious. Even the teams you expect to put up at least a little fight are in complete transition. Should Maryland make the list? At least they have a "dangerous" returning QB.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:10 AM ^
They lose at least 3 starters off their OL including their elite C.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:43 AM ^
Assuming our two biggest rivals Michigan State and Ohio are the games you eluded to, the toughest games are probably going to be Maryland, Purdue and Penn State. The Big 10 schedule is pretty strong IMO and the second half of the season will be a challenge with back to back to back, good teams at the end. If they make it out of that gauntlet undefeated, they need to be crowned Big 10 Champs without even playing the championship game.
January 19th, 2023 at 10:15 AM ^
I was assuming they meant Ohio State and Penn State as 1-2, obviously the former will always be tough, even at the Big House and with a new QB, the latter because they are on the road in a raucous environment and return a lot of talent.
In terms of difficulty I will always put MSU as the first team after any elite teams Michigan plays. I don't expect them to be much improved from last year's disaster, but they'll be better, it's at Spartan Stadium, and their Neanderthal fanbase thinks next year's game is going to be some kind of "revenge" for the brawl they started last year. To go with the fact that no matter the location or circumstances, MSU always approaches that game in a way they don't approach any other, regardless of what their bullshit fans may say.
I still think Michigan will win, but it won't be easy.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:02 PM ^
Spot on.
January 19th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
Why do you think MSU will be better? They lose Reed, they lose the DT, seems like they lose many of their best players.
I think they could be even worse.
January 19th, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
To be honest I haven't paid a ton of attention to their roster but I do live in Lansing and have to listen to a lot of their BS. From their point of view Mel has been kicking ass in the portal. I probably should have applied the "Well, you know they're gonna say that no matter what" filter to it.
January 19th, 2023 at 4:07 PM ^
Yeah, I'm very skeptical of that. They always get a bunch of guys (most teams do now). Other than Walker, they haven't really had any portal hits. Portal is great for plugging a some holes but they seem to have giant craters on the roster.
January 20th, 2023 at 12:15 AM ^
MSU has a horseshit coach and the same staff from last seasons debacle.
They lost some key guys off a an OL that was soft. They lost depth on the DL and their best DT. Weak at RB.
They should not expect a good season but they will play us tough.
January 19th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
I mostly agree with this but possibly also @Nebraska or @Maryland.
I think MSU might be really bad. They lose most of the their best players from an already bad team. But they do usually play us above their talent / quality level.
January 19th, 2023 at 4:43 PM ^
I think @ Maryland will be tougher than @ Staee
January 19th, 2023 at 7:46 AM ^
This is gonna sound gross but...
3. MSU (rivalry)
4. Maryland (trap game before OSU, and away, and they always have an offense that when going can cause REAL problems)
5. ...... *whispers* Rutgers? (I don't have a feel for any of the other teams and it feels like they always play us tough... except for that one year)
January 19th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
Maryland is more interesting than it might have been now that Taulia is coming back again but they had some SERIOUS turnover at a lot of key positions. Wait and see but my guess is they'll look like same old November Maryland. Still, trap game between PSU and OSU so yeah.
January 19th, 2023 at 8:26 AM ^
What's the probability that a Maryland QB is still healthy enough to scramble by late November?
January 19th, 2023 at 8:36 AM ^
Remote.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
Hope we see the usual October Maryland and November Maryland play out this year. Would be nice to have this game as stress free as possible.
Would also like to see a one loss Buckeye team roll into Ann Arbor. Would be nice to see them finally lose some of those close games.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:46 PM ^
I’m hoping OSU loses at Maryland and/or Penn State and/or Wisconsin. Wisconsin is probably going to be balls next year, but that game is in Madison and Fickell will be getting his first shot at OSU there. OSU v Maryland is the first week of October, so that could be a great chance for the Terps to finally score a win against them.
I’m kind of torn on Penn State as I want them with less to play for when UM rolls into town, and having that game be for the division will make a tough atmosphere in Happy Valley that much tougher.
I really would love for UM to head into Thanksgiving weekend with the division (and likely playoff berth) already sewn up. I don’t think UM will play that game tight given how the last two have gone. I do think the pressure on Day to get a win if that’s the only goal left for him that weekend will make it near impossible for him or his team to play their best.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:27 AM ^
Double post…
January 19th, 2023 at 7:59 AM ^
I'd argue that saying Rutgers "usually" plays us close is pretty intense recency bias. It really was only 2020-2021
January 19th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
But it’s a rivalry game! /s
January 19th, 2023 at 8:02 AM ^
November Maryland is not a good team.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:09 AM ^
In 2022, I think Maryland was tied or possibly even leading Ohio State in the 3rd quarter, in their trap game before us.
In 2021, I think we played them in November, and I remember the game being close initially, but our offense, defense, and special teams helped us pull away in the second half.
And I can't remember the year (2018 or 2019), before one of our OSU big match up games, they lost by 1 to OSU the week before The Game (i think they went for 2 at the end?).
So, even if they aren't good in November, they do play well against good competition in November. But ultimately still lose.
January 19th, 2023 at 11:53 AM ^
They've played Ohio State well, but still lost. Their November record (outside of Rutgers) is really bad.
January 19th, 2023 at 9:14 AM ^
true but sandwiched between Penn State and Ohio State, could lead to problems.
January 19th, 2023 at 3:23 PM ^
Definition of a tricky trap game
January 19th, 2023 at 1:56 PM ^
Second half of the season, Maryland's defense is toast but the offense can scare anyone, and Tulia is coming back. If Tulia is healthy and the offense healthy it will be a game.
Rutgers, idk, everytime you think they might challenge they get blown out and then you start thinking Rutgers and they show up to make you earn it. 1st game conference game, they make us earn it.
Msu, dog fight but they don't have enough dogs! Best news imo is the bye week is after and gives a slight break for the stretch run!
January 19th, 2023 at 7:47 AM ^
Crazy but Penn State could be our toughest game followed by ohio state and then maryland or michigan state take your pick. The rest are tomato cans
January 19th, 2023 at 3:25 PM ^
I agree that @PSU could be tougher than home OSU. Both very difficult. 1a and 1b, but I would not be surprised if the spread for that game is less favorable to M than the home OSU game.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:48 AM ^
I’d say it’s going to be: Nebraska, MSU, and Minnesota. Rhule, I think will make Nebraska a lot better, so if UM goes in with the mindset it’s a cupcake team could be a little worrisome. MSU is MSU and will try break everyone’s necks out there. A lot of fluky stuff on that game. Minnesota, I think loses a decent amount but still has Tanner, I believe? I think it’s grasping for straws on Minnesota though.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:55 AM ^
I think Rhule is a great hire for them, but that team was a disaster for the last several years, and I think it'll take more than 1 season for them to turn it around enough to seriously challenge a program like Michigan.
January 19th, 2023 at 8:27 AM ^
Tanner Morgan is finally gone after six years of football in Minneapolis. The presumed starter, Athan Kaliakmanis, looked okay in his time spelling Morgan. I don't think he's a difference maker, though.
January 19th, 2023 at 11:57 AM ^
I'm glad we are getting @Nebraska early-ish, just in case the turnaround is quicker than expected. That said, while Rhule did great work at Temple and Baylor he was a combined 3-21 in his first years at those programs.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:40 PM ^
I think Rhule was a great hire. Recruits are starting to show interest. I also think he makes this a turnaround season. Add that it’s at Nebraska and they have a Super Bowl theme over there. I will also change the Minnesota one to Maryland. May have confused my marks and thinking it was taulia coming back; not tanner.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:50 AM ^
3) @MSU. I don't expect them to be good, but this is their Super Bowl.
4) @Nebraska. Lincoln is a very hard place to play + no more scott frost with a relatively talented group.
5) @Minnisota. They're losing Tanner Morgan, Ibrahim and a bunch of other key contributors, but it's away and the rest of our schedule is cupcake town. Maybe @maryland instead... But November Maryland..
January 19th, 2023 at 8:00 AM ^
While Maryland has typically collapsed in November, they nearly took out Ohio State this past November.
And if things are where I think they are likely to be - winner of UM/OSU on path to CFP again - then that game has trap written all over it. Whether it was Illinois last season or Ball State in 06, the week before Ohio State with everything on the line has spelled trouble.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:42 PM ^
Those are prolly the 3 hardest almost by virtue of being road games.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:53 AM ^
I would have said Purdue until Brohm left and the roster evaporated. At Minnesota MAYBE could be tough, but I think Mo Ibrahim and Tanner Morgan are both out of eligibility, so that team might be about to take a step back. On paper at Maryland could be tough, but recent history of that series seems to be that Michigan wins by MORE when playing that game away. Maybe Melllll comes up with another lottery ticket transfer, but probably not. I'm not even that sold on PSU. Games in Happy Valley are always tough, but I think PSU fans don't appreciate what they had in Clifford. If Allard doesn't make a big leap from what we saw from him in Ann Arbor this year, they could be in for a long year on offense.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:54 AM ^
@ Maryland might be my #3. Taulia is back and it’s the week before Ohio State.
That final 3 game stretch…
And depending on what Ryan Walters does in year 1 at Purdue, it could be 4 consecutive weeks.
@ Sparty, @ Minny, and (don’t laugh) @ Nebraska are the only other ones I could see being a game. Will be interesting to see which one(s) could end up being a night game. Nebraska has a heck of a crowd.
January 19th, 2023 at 7:55 AM ^
1. Penn State 2. Ohio State 3. Michigan State 4. Minnesota 5. Nebraska 6.Maryland 7. Purdue 8. Rutgers 9. Indiana 10. ECU 11. BG 12. UNLV 13. Iowa
13-0
January 19th, 2023 at 9:08 AM ^
Never mind, I am a doofus.
January 19th, 2023 at 12:37 PM ^
1. Penn State 2. Ohio State
So now we're playing the disrespkt card to ohio?
January 20th, 2023 at 11:43 AM ^
OSU is a big unknown - IMO - going into next year. Their offense - as usual will be a top 5 offense but the defense is the big question mark - AGAIN - in the conference. Basically, their defense has SUCKED over the last 3 years or so.
January 19th, 2023 at 8:02 AM ^
everyone keeps trying to dismiss The golden Flecks of Minnesota.... Considering the level of talent he has to work with, he continues to field competitive teams.
being on the road back to back @Nebraska then @ Minnesota is going to be a challenge.
I believe we're going to be better than we were last season, returning so many key players, but after back to back smackdowns of the bucknuts and B2B Big Ten Championships we are wearing the target now, something that ^^^ have had for a long time. Expect every opponent to bring their best effort and game plan.
January 19th, 2023 at 8:09 AM ^
Yes - our road schedule is tough
January 19th, 2023 at 8:04 AM ^
ECU is our third best opponent, so I'll say them.
Then obviously Rutgers and Sparty.
January 19th, 2023 at 8:13 AM ^
ECU is likely breaking in a new QB. I think Holton Ahlers is out of eligibility (unless he found the Wisconsin Basketball cheat code). He was a gamer for sure.