An early look at Michigan football’s packed 2020 schedule

ANN ARBOR — There’s still some 167 days until Michigan football is scheduled to play its first game of the 2020 season.

If the season is played, of course.

There’s been no indication that the college football season is in jeopardy, but the Wolverines are in danger of missing out on a full slate of spring practices.

And what fall camp looks like is unclear, too.

However, assuming we return to normal in the next month fours amid the coronavirus outbreak here in the United States, let’s take a look at all 12 of Michigan’s opponents.

Sept. 5, at Washington

The Wolverines begin the fall schedule by traveling 2,300 miles west to Seattle, Washington, where they will play Pac-12 North mainstay Washington. The Huskies have a first-year head coach in Jimmy Lake, the program’s former defensive coordinator who takes over for Chris Petersen, and return as many as eight starters on defense — including freshman All-American cornerback Trent McDuffie. Washington went 8-5 in 2019, including a 4-5 mark in the Pac-12 and win over Boise State in the Las Vegas Bowl.

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Sept. 12, vs. Ball State

Michigan opens its seven-game home slate against a team from the Mid-American Conference that’s coming off a 5-7 season. Ball State loses its first-team all-MAC right guard and team MVP, Danny Pinter, but brings back its starting quarterback who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 24 TDs for a fifth year (Drew Plitt) in 2019. Running back Caleb Huntley is also set to return after rushing for 1,275 yards and 12 TDs, along with two of BSU’s top three receivers, Justin Hall and Antwan Davis. If the Cardinals can figure things out up front, that offense will give some teams fits in the MAC.

Sept. 19, vs. Arkansas State

Yes, Arkansas State is a Football Bowl Subdivision team. The Red Wolves play in the Sun Belt, where they finished 8-5 in 2019, finished in second place in the conference’s West division and beat Florida International in the Camellia Bowl. In fact, ASU has posted winning seasons and bowl appearances in all five of head coach Blake Anderson’s seasons in Jonesboro. But Anderson will have his hands full trying to replace a pair of first-team all-Sun Belt receivers (Omar Bayless, Kirk Merritt) and first-team defensive back Darreon Jackson. First-team defensive end William Bradley-King is back, giving ASU a pass-rushing weapon up front. QB Lane Hatcher returns after throwing for 2,946 yards and 27 TDs (10 INTs).

Sept. 26, vs. Wisconsin

Big Ten plays begins with a bang, with Wisconsin visiting Michigan Stadium during the final weekend in September. The Badgers finished 4-4 after a 6-0 start to the 2019 season — a stretch that included a 35-14 win over Michigan, also to open the Big Ten slate. Jonathan Taylor has moved on, but the Badgers return QB Jack Coan. They’ll have some rebuilding to do on defense — having to replace all-Big Ten linebackers Zach Baun and Chris Orr — which means Wisconsin could take a step back this season. This could be a winnable game for Michigan.

Oct. 3, vs. Penn State

It doesn’t get much easier the following week, with Penn State coming to town. The Nittany Lions edged Michigan, 28-21, in Happy Valley en route to an 11-2 season, second-place finish in the Big Ten East (ahead of Michigan) and win over Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. And they return starting QB Sean Clifford, a talented tight end in Pat Friermuth and Big Ten linebacker of the year, Micah Parsons. This game should be exponentially more difficult for Michigan; Penn State should give Ohio State a run for its money in the Big Ten East.

Oct. 10, at Michigan State

Jim Harbaugh and his team will get their first crack at a Mel Tucker-coached Michigan State team. Under Mark Dantonio, no matter the talent level or expectations, always had his teams ready to go in this one. Tucker will need the same passion and energy, because the Spartans are bare when it comes to talent. Most of their better players (Brian Lewerke, Kenny Willekes, Joe Bachie, Raequan Williams) have moved on.

Oct. 17, at Minnesota

Man, these road trips aren’t going to be easy, are they? Michigan’s first trip to Minneapolis since 2015 comes after P.J. Fleck led the Golden Gophers to an 11-2 season and win over Auburn in the Outback Bowl. The Big Ten’s receiver of the year, Rashod Bateman, is back — as is talented QB Tanner Morgan, who threw for 3,253 yards and 30 TDs in 2019, his sophomore season. Minnesota will have to replace some big-time players on defense, including lineman Carter Coughlin and Big Ten defensive back of the year, Antoine Winfield.

Oct. 24, vs. Purdue (homecoming)

The first meeting for Michigan and Purdue since 2017. The Boilermakers are coming off a disappointing 4-8 finish in 2019 that saw the season implode due to injury. The Big Ten freshman of the year in 2018, receiver Rondale Moore, looks to get back on track with receiver David Bell, the league’s freshman of the year in 2019. If Purdue can find some stability up front on both sides of the ball (it had no linemen or defensive players listed as first, second or third-team all-Big Ten in ’19), it will have a chance to compete in the Big Ten West. And could give Michigan’s defense trouble.

Nov. 7 vs. Maryland

After a much-needed bye week, Michigan hosts Maryland in what should be a tune-up game for an important stretch. The Terrapins finished 3-9 in 2019 after winning their first two games under new head coach Mike Locksley, only to lose nine of their final 10. During that skid, Michigan came into College Park and handed the Terrapins a 38-7 whipping. Ann Arbor native and starting QB Josh Jackson is due back, as is running back Anthony McFarland (614 yards, TD), but Maryland has a lot to figure out between now and the fall if it wants to compete in the Big Ten East.

Nov. 14, at Rutgers

Greg Schiano is back, but can he start the turnaround at Rutgers in Year 1? The Scarlet Knights haven’t won more than four games in a season since 2014 (they went 2-10 in 2019), the year they knocked off Michigan. Since then, the Wolverines have won five straight by a combined score of 256-37.

Nov. 21, vs. Indiana

Tom Allen and the Hoosiers finally made a jump last season, going 8-4 before losing to Tennessee by a point in the Gator Bowl. Michale Penix will be the guy at QB, while running back Stevie Scott (845 yards, 8.1 ypc) and receiver Whop Philyor (1,002 yards) are due back. But like most seasons in Bloomington, IU’s will be determined by how well it plays on defense. And there’s some promise: linebacker Micah McFadden and defensive back Tiawan Mullen, both all-Big Ten honorable mention honorees in 2019, are set to anchor a defense that ranked ninth in the Big Ten in both points and yards allowed.

Nov. 28, at Ohio State

Regardless of where the season is by this point, all eyes will be on “The Game” once again as Michigan looks to snap that nasty eight-game losing skid to the Buckeyes — one that extends all the way back to 2000 in Columbus. And the Wolverines will have their hands full once again: Ohio State returns Big Ten QB of the year, Justin Fields, running back Master Teague, wide receiver Chris Olave and All-American guard Wyatt Davis up front. The defense will have to rebuild after losing Chase Young and Jeff Okudah, setting up for another high-scoring affair this year.

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