Spring practices have come and gone because the Michigan Wolverines held their spring sport earlier this month and now flip their consideration in direction of the summer season as they appear to defend their Massive Ten championship.

3 Causes for Optimism Concerning the Wolverines in 2022

One motive why the Wolverines are as soon as once more thought of title contenders within the convention is the manageable schedule on faucet for 2022. Calling Michigan’s non-conference schedule in 2022 a cakewalk can be an insult to desserts. The mixed report of its three non-conference opponents — Colorado State, Hawaii, and UConn — in 2021 was 10-27.

Digging into the center of their Massive Ten slate, the Wolverines profit from not going through West Division favourite Wisconsin for the primary time in six years. A wonderfully-timed bye week is scheduled in Week 8, sandwiched in between matchups with Michigan State and Penn State, each of whom need to journey to Ann Arbor. The Sport in opposition to the Buckeyes in Columbus can be an absolute meatgrinder for the Wolverines, given the beatdown they placed on their rivals a yr in the past, however every part main as much as the finale units up effectively for Michigan to have one other profitable yr.

Under is a breakdown of the Wolverines’ 2022 slate.

Bye: Week 8

Week 1 – Sept. 3 vs. Colorado State (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

The Wolverines kick off the 2022 marketing campaign in opposition to a program in Colorado State that has received simply 4 video games within the final two seasons. That stated, the Rams turned over their roster this offseason below new head coach Jay Norvell, bringing in 10 transfers, most of which got here from his earlier cease at Nevada. Norvell will as soon as once more make use of his Air Raid offense and does have some items to work with proper off the bat with proficient redshirt freshman quarterback Clay Millen, and a trio of skilled receivers in Tory Horton, Melquan Stovall and Dante Wright.

Week 2 – Sept. 10 vs. Hawaii (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Hawaii was a program in determined want of a reset after two mediocre seasons below head coach Todd Graham who was let go after experiences surfaced of verbal abuse in direction of gamers. His substitute is faculty legend and former quarterback Timmy Chang, who spent the earlier 5 seasons as a positional coach inside the Mountain West at Nevada. It is a tall order forward for Chang as he inherits a roster that’s lifeless final within the nation in returning manufacturing from a yr in the past.

Week 3 – Sept. 17 vs. UConn (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

The third straight sport to open the season wherein the Wolverines will face a crew with a brand new head coach because the Huskies employed Jim Mora Jr. away from the ESPN desk for his second stint on the collegiate degree. Not fairly the rebuild that Chang has in entrance of him at Hawaii, because the Huskies do return little bit of expertise from final yr’s roster, however one other program that was in determined want of a reset. Offensively, Mora will inherit little bit of expertise with three starters again on the offensive line and an thrilling receiving corps that options Cameron Ross, Keelan Marion and Aaron Turner.

Week 4 – Sept. 24 vs. Maryland (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Michigan has received 9 of the ten matchups with Maryland because the Terrapins joined the Massive Ten with just one contest (Maryland win in 2014) determined by fewer than 10 factors. Final yr’s matchup was a lot of the identical because the Wolverines ran away with the sport by halftime, profitable 59-18 behind greater than 500 yards of whole offense. The Terps received’t be favored in Ann Arbor, however their offense might trigger some issues for the Wolverines’ younger secondary as Maryland boasts one of many prime large receiver teams within the convention with Dontay Demus, Rakim Jarrett and Florida switch Jacob Copeland.

Week 5 – Oct. 1 at Iowa (Iowa Metropolis, Iowa)

Whereas Michigan followers completely loved their earlier matchup with the Hawkeyes, defeating Iowa 42-3 within the Massive Ten Championship Sport final season, the considered touring to Kinnick Stadium is at all times unnerving. The final win for the Wolverines in Iowa Metropolis was all the way in which again in 2005, and the earlier matchup in 2016 value Michigan a shot on the Faculty Soccer Playoff. 9 starters are again on offense for the Hawkeyes, although appreciable enhancements are wanted after ending 13^th within the Massive Ten in whole yards per sport.

Week 6 – Oct. 8 at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.)

The final time the Wolverines and Hoosiers met in Bloomington, Indiana ended a 24-game shedding streak to Michigan. They now have a one-game shedding streak after falling 29-7 on the Massive Home in a contest that was indicative of Indiana’s complete 2021 season, because the Hoosiers gathered simply 195 yards of whole offense. IU wound up ending the yr lifeless final within the Massive Ten and 13^th in scoring, failing to capitalize on probably the greatest seasons in program historical past in 2020. Head coach Tom Allen attacked this situation full-on this offseason, bringing in a brand new OC in Walt Bell, together with a pair of potential starters by way of the portal in quarterback Connor Bazelak (Missouri) and working again Shaun Shivers (Auburn).

Week 7 – Oct. 15 vs. Penn State (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

James Franklin isn’t on the new seat getting into 2022, however there’s appreciable strain for a profitable season after compiling an 11-11 report over the past two years. Fixing the offensive line should be precedence No. 1 for Franklin because the Nittany Lions have been lifeless final within the Massive Ten in sacks allowed and averaged simply 3.21 yards per carry as a crew. The Nittany Lions may also have a new-look protection below former Miami head coach Manny Diaz.

Week 9 – Oct. 29 vs. Michigan State (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Michigan’s lone loss through the common season got here by the hands of their in-state rivals in a really entertaining 37-33 defeat in East Lansing. For the second straight yr, head coach Mel Tucker hit the switch portal laborious within the offseason, bringing in seven P5 transfers that ought to play integral roles instantly on each side of the ball. Probably the most intrigue resides within the backfield for who will take over at working again for the departed Kenneth Walker III, the Doak Walker Award recipient and the nation’s second-leading rusher final season. Jarek Broussard (Colorado) or Jalen Berger (Wisconsin) are the likeliest candidates to start out.

Week 10 – Nov. 5 at Rutgers (Piscataway, N.J.)

In 5 Michigan-Rutgers matchups between 2015-19, the Wolverines outscored the Scarlet Knights by a margin of 256-37. Whereas Michigan has received each conferences within the final two years, the video games have been way more aggressive with the Wolverines profitable by a complete of 13 factors. Head coach Greg Schiano should determine his quarterback scenario this offseason because the Knights ranked simply 114^th in passing yards in 2021. Veteran Noah Vedral and former 3-star recruit Gavin Wimsatt will compete over the summer season.

Week 11 – Nov. 12 vs. Nebraska (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

It’s by no means an amazing signal when an athletic director should put out a public assertion of help for a head coach. Scott Frost’s homecoming has been a battle, to say the least, coming to a head final season with a 3-9 report that put him at 15-29 since his arrival in Lincoln. Drastic modifications have been remodeled the offseason in what might probably be Frost’s last-ditch effort, together with the additions of offensive coordinator Mark Whipple and certain beginning quarterback Casey Thompson (Texas). Frost has misplaced each conferences with the Wolverines since taking up the job.

Week 12 – Nov. 19 vs. Illinois (Ann Arbor, Mich.)

Michigan and Illinois are heated rivals on the basketball courtroom. Not a lot on the gridiron because the Wolverines have received the final 5 conferences in decisive trend and lead the general sequence 71-25. The Illini have been advantageous defensively within the first yr below head coach Bret Bielema, rating in the midst of the pack within the Massive Ten, permitting simply 22 factors per sport. It was offensively the place Illinois struggled, rating 112^th within the nation in whole yards per sport. Bielema employed a brand new offensive coordinator in Barry Lunney who comes over from UTSA and added Syracuse switch quarterback Tommy DeVito who will probably get the nod on this run-heavy scheme.

Week 13 – Nov. 26 at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio)

Assume the Buckeyes can be amped for this one after the blowout loss they suffered a yr in the past? Ohio State is as soon as once more the favourite to win the Massive Ten in 2022 with the seemingly endless quantity of star energy Ryan Day’s crew possesses, together with a trio of Heisman contenders on offense in quarterback C.J. Stroud, working again TreVeyon Henderson, and large receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. If all goes to plan for each groups previous to the regular-season finale and every matches expectations, this yr’s model of The Sport may very well be one for the ages.

Podcast: Nick Saban’s Risk to CFB, the Way forward for the Sport on TV, and Takeaways from Spring Video games

— Written by Mike Bainbridge, who’s a part of the Athlon Contributor Community. Bainbridge is a graduate of Northern Illinois College. Comply with him on Twitter @MBainbridgeCFF.