The 2022 college football season is fast approaching. Media days are coming and teams will soon start preparing for kick off in early September. Michigan has had rocky summer recruiting to say the least but let’s leave that behind and look to some actual football! The Michigan Wolverines have a high bar to clear for this season. After reaching the College Football Playoff last year, many experts are not as high on them this year. Michigan lost a good chunk of their defense including star DE Aiden Hutchinson. While the overall rosters are a big part of looking at team success the schedule is just as important. What teams you play and where you play them makes a huge difference season to season. Let’s preview the Michigan Wolverines 2022 schedule.
Overall Thoughts
The Wolverines schedule is actually pretty favorable. CBSsports.com ranks Michigan’s schedule as the 2nd easiest in the Big Ten. The first four games are all at home and very winnable. In the Big Ten, Wisconsin is avoided which no matter where they are ranked is always a tough matchup for Michigan. Some of the sneaky upset matchups, like Penn State and Nebraska, are at home and while you can still get upset at home it is much less likely. Ultimately, there are three pivotal games for the Wolverines in 2022.
Oct. 1st at Iowa
After the first four games at home, the first road test is at the Hawkeyes. Road games in the Big Ten are always tough and Iowa is a team that has given Michigan fits in the past. They are well coached and even though Iowa is at a talent deficit to a lot of teams, they always seem to grind their opponents to the very end. One advantage that the Wolverines do have to this first road test is the returning QBs. Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy have a season of experience and know what it is like to play in high pressure road games. The leadership that they will bring will be helpful to a Wolverines team with a lot of new starters.
Oct. 29th vs. Michigan State
More than any other year, Michigan needs to beat Michigan State this year. The one blemish of last year’s regular season was blowing a huge third quarter lead to eventually lose to the Spartans. Michigan gets them at home this year and you better bet that crowd will be jacked. Michigan State has improved and seems to be having a better recruiting cycle than the Wolverines are. If the Wolverines have any playoff aspirations this year, they must take care of this game.
Nov. 26th at Ohio State
You knew this game was going to be here. Even in year’s where Michigan was terrible this game was huge. Last year Michigan finally got the monkey off their back and beat Ohio State at the Big House. This year they have a taller task; beating Ohio State in Columbus a place they haven’t won in since 2011. Preseason Heisman finalist CJ Stroud will lead a high powered Buckeyes offense who have College Football Playoff aspirations of their own after missing out last year. Like so many seasons before, this game could knock one of the teams out of playoff contention.
Here’s my semi-bold take for this season. Michigan’s schedule is set up for them to to be undefeated going into the Nov. 26th Ohio State showdown. While they have lost many starters, the ones that are returning and the freshman class coming in should have enough talent to make it through a relatively soft schedule. There is a great chance that Ohio State also comes in undefeated and the stakes of this game get even higher. If Michigan can win, it would set them up to go back to the College Football Playoff.
