Michigan football has always had a tough schedule by virtue of having to play rival Ohio State at year’s end. In recent years, the Wolverines also have had to play Penn State, which has perennially been one of the toughest teams in college football.
Though the Nittany Lions aren’t on the schedule this year, the schedule certainly has gotten tougher.
The past two years, Michigan‘s nonconference has only featured Group of Five teams, and though it will see two Group of Five teams this year, Texas comes to town in Week 2. And the conference schedule won’t be full of bottom-feeders, instead featuring three of the four new Pac-12 additions to the Big Ten.
As a result, CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli gives Michigan the fifth-hardest schedule in the conference, behind UCLA, Purdue, USC, and Wisconsin.
If Michigan can piece together an offense, even with a loss or two, it won’t have an issue making the new 12-team College Football Playoff this year, given how difficult the schedule is.
While it may be a tougher road to the postseason, given that past schedules only featured either Penn State or a combination of MSU and OSU at home, this year, the Wolverines get the Longhorns, Trojans, Spartans, and Ducks all at home.
This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Where CBS Sports ranks Michigan football in 2024 strength of schedule
Wolverines Wire
