Michigan football’s upcoming season, the first under head coach Kyle Whittingham, has been noted for what appears to be one of the toughest schedules in the country.
The preseason top-25 polls aren’t out yet, but half of the Wolverines’ opponents are expected to be ranked, including Oklahoma, defending national champion Indiana, Oregon and Ohio State. According to ESPN’s preseason Top 25 Football Power Index (FPI), Michigan will face five teams ranked among the top 17, including three teams in the top 10.
Michigan plays its first four games at home, but two of the Wolverines’ final three regular-season games will be exceptionally tough at Oregon and Ohio State.
Here’s a look at what could be Michigan’s five toughest games this fall:
Sept. 12 vs. Oklahoma: Michigan fans probably aren’t thrilled that Sooners quarterback John Mateer, who accounted for three touchdowns and 344 total yards in last year’s win over the Wolverines, is back to lead this offense. He will have a number of weapons, including Texas transfer receiver Parker Livingstone.
Playing at Oklahoma was Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood’s first road start last season, and he faced a tough defense that, from all accounts, will be even better this season. David Stone anchors the Oklahoma defensive line, and Michigan will see a familiar face at linebacker: Cole Sullivan, who transferred from Michigan to Oklahoma after last season. The Sooners are ranked No. 12, three spots ahead of Michigan, in ESPN’s FPI rankings.
Oct. 17 vs. Penn State: This will be an interesting matchup between two veteran head coaches now in their first year coaching new programs. The James Franklin Era at Penn State ended after last season, and Matt Campbell was hired from Iowa State.
The Nittany Lions’ roster, not unexpectedly, has plenty of new personnel. Campbell and his staff hit the transfer portal hard and added nearly 40 players, including 23 from Iowa State. Among those Cyclones transfers is quarterback Rocco Becht, known for his playmaking ability. How good the offensive line will be remains a concern with one returning starter.
Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was hired from USC, and while he is known for his tough defenses, there may be some growing pains this season for the Nittany Lions. The secondary is expected to be strong, but the defensive line may take time getting its footing. Tony Rojas, who has dealt with injuries the last two seasons, will be the key at linebacker.
Oct. 24 vs. Indiana: Curt Cignetti enters his third season as Indiana’s head coach and the Hoosiers are the defending national champions. But can they have the same kind of success this season without quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner?
The Hoosiers seem to think they have an answer at quarterback with Josh Hoover, who transferred in after four years at TCU. He is the nation’s active leader in career passing yards (9,629) and is an ideal fit for Cignetti’s scheme. MSU receiver Nick Marsh transferred to Indiana, as did Boston College running back Turbo Richard.
On defense, the Hoosiers lost key players in D’Angelo Ponds and Aiden Fisher, but Cignetti added some strong players from the portal and there are returning players like linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones.
Nov. 14 at Oregon: The Ducks are expected to challenge Ohio State for the top spot in the Big Ten and be a national championship contender behind their veteran quarterback and strong defensive line.
Quarterback Dante Moore, out of Detroit King, turned down an opportunity to be a top pick in the NFL Draft, opting to return to the Ducks. He is experienced and versatile, and has depth to work with at receiver and support from a strong run game. The offensive line may be the weak link but not enough to be a major concern.
Some pundits have described Oregon’s defense as having the top defensive line in the country. Time will tell, of course, and also whether the Ducks will skip a beat with new offensive and defensive coordinators. Oregon will be plenty tested by the time Michigan gets to Autzen Stadium, and everyone knows how tough it has been for the Wolverines to travel west for a regular-season game.
Nov. 28 at Ohio State: The Buckeyes rank first in ESPN’s FPI preseason rankings and are considered a favorite for the national title.
Whittingham was formerly the Utah head coach and knows all about the “Holy War” rivalry with BYU, but Michigan-Ohio State is The Game for a reason and is at a different level. The Buckeyes, under head coach Ryan Day, had 11 players selected in the NFL Draft and were well-represented in the first round. Despite that, they have managed to reload for the upcoming season.
Quarterback Julian Sayin returns, as does Jeremiah Smith, the nation’s top receiver, which means the Buckeyes’ offense will be as explosive as ever.
Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has a big job entering this season replacing top talent like Caleb Downs and Arvell Reese. Still, the defense is expected to be fast and disruptive. The Buckeyes will rely on edge Kenyatta Jackson Jr. to establish Ohio State’s pass rush.
achengelis@detroitnews.com
@chengelis
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Looking ahead to Michigan football’s five toughest games this season
Reporting by Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Angelique S. Chengelis, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
