Michigan has excessive expectations going into 2022, and whereas pundits do have the Wolverines close to the highest of the preseason polls and estimations, there’s one thing of a disconnect in the case of the place the maize and blue will end.

Make no mistake: the 2022 schedule is extremely advantageous for a crew that’s trying to rebuild on protection will sustaining continuity on offense.

Everyone knows that the final recreation of the common season poses a problem, however what about dwelling video games towards Penn State and Michigan State, in addition to the street journey to Iowa in Week 5? We thought of the entire preseason storylines and ranked every recreation in 2022 primarily based off of how troublesome it will likely be to win every, beginning with the simplest as much as the toughest.

12
UConn

Picture: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports activities

There’s not a lot to say about this one. Michigan is predicted to be among the finest groups within the nation, whereas UConn was the worst. With Jim Mora taking on the reins, it’s a program that would enhance rapidly, however probably would be the best recreation on the schedule for the Wolverines.

11
Colorado State

Picture: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports activities

CSU is one other crew that will likely be severely overmatched, nevertheless it maybe has the advantage of having a component of shock, with it being the primary recreation of the season. Nonetheless, it appears unlikely that an upset will happen.

10
Hawaii

Picture: Isaiah Gap

A sheer stroke of luck for the Rainbow Warriors noticed this recreation slated for an evening kickoff, that means it gained’t be at some otherworldly time for a crew coming from six hours away. Nonetheless, Hawaii will likely be severely overmatched on this one, and it’s laborious to examine it being a recreation.

9
Indiana

Picture by: Isaiah Gap

A yr after Indiana gained towards Michigan for the primary time since 1986, the Hoosiers had been rudderless and hapless. Whereas prevailing knowledge signifies that IU will likely be a lot better in 2022, there’s no telling what it’ll do, particularly with loads of query marks on the quarterback place.

8
Rutgers

Picture: Isaiah Gap

Whereas most chalk this recreation as much as a straightforward win, the final two matchups towards Rutgers have been surprisingly thrilling. It went to triple additional time the final time the Wolverines went to Piscataway, and it took a late-game takeaway to safe a win over the Scarlet Knights at dwelling final yr.

This one will likely be on the street once more, and whereas Michigan ought to win, these matchups have been more and more troublesome in recent times.

7
Illinois

Picture: Isaiah Gap

The Illini aren’t notably good, however they did handle to win at Penn State in 2021, half a season after shocking Nebraska in Week 0. Illinois’ power-run recreation might be an issue, and the truth that it comes the week earlier than the Ohio State recreation might additionally pose points.

6
Maryland

Picture: Isaiah Gap

If there’s a crew that would pose a quiet risk in 2022 it’s Maryland and its high-powered passing recreation. Michigan might nonetheless be figuring out some defensive points because it replaces the majority of 2021’s manufacturing. With it being the primary convention recreation and with the street recreation towards Iowa developing the next week, this actually might be a entice recreation.

5
Nebraska

Picture: Isaiah Gap

The Huskers had been one of the crucial snakebit groups within the nation — if not essentially the most — in 2021, and got here awfully near taking down the Wolverines and their season. Nebraska replaces Adrian Martinez with Texas switch Casey Thompson, and Scott Frost has a renewed focus after a moribund marketing campaign final yr.

There’s no telling what Nebraska will likely be in 2022, however given how shut it was to successful a complete bunch of video games it misplaced, likelihood is it’ll be higher this yr than the final.

4
Michigan State

Picture: Isaiah Gap

Regardless of how good Michigan is and it doesn’t matter what MSU is any given yr, the Spartans at all times appear to have a leg up on the Wolverines in recent times. MSU will likely be with out Kenneth Walker III, and there’s no telling if both of the incoming switch operating backs will likely be as much as his caliber, in addition to if the protection can, all of the sudden — you realize — play protection, at the very least towards the go. However the Spartan go recreation ought to take a step ahead in 2022.

However that is Mel Tucker’s first journey to The Massive Home with followers concerned, and there’s no telling how the Spartans will fare in that regard. They’re not as proficient because the Wolverines, however that hasn’t mattered in most years.

3
Penn State

Picture: Isaiah Gap

Make no mistake, Penn State is a really proficient, difficult crew. Whereas Michigan did handle to win in Glad Valley in 2021, it did so on the backs of edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo — neither of that are at present on the crew. Additionally, Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford was coming again off of an harm.

Nonetheless, PSU must be formidable and searching for revenge after dropping on their dwelling turf in 2021. Michigan will likely be equally proficient and at dwelling, so it can come right down to teaching and recreation plans.

2
Iowa

Picture: Isaiah Gap

If it is a evening recreation at Kinnick, it’ll be infinitely more durable than if it’s a day recreation. However the way in which that Michigan is at present constructed, until Iowa all of the sudden finds an offense, even so, it’s laborious to examine the Hawkeyes successful this one.

Iowa’s energy is on protection, and the Michigan offense was explosive sufficient to use it within the Massive Ten championship recreation in 2021 — it was Iowa’s offense that saved issues from being aggressive.

It’s going to nonetheless be a tricky, robust recreation, the Wolverines’ first on the street. And although final yr’s squad was strong on the street, you by no means know year-over-year how sure groups will reply in a hostile setting. However this recreation ought to give followers a good suggestion of how good the 2022 crew simply could be — or not.

1
Ohio State

Picture: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

Naturally, this will likely be Michigan’s hardest recreation — essentially the most expertise, on the street in a really hostile setting, towards a crew searching for revenge in a rivalry recreation.

Nonetheless, Ohio State’s protection, whereas working beneath new coordinator Jim Knowles, won’t be fastened in a single day. Nevertheless, with it being the ultimate recreation of the season, most of the kinks must be labored out. However with how the Wolverines are at present constructed, it very properly might nonetheless not be sufficient. Or, it might be Michigan’s worst nightmare — particularly given how the Buckeyes are constructed offensively vs. the maize and blue’s inexperienced protection.

Like in 2021, it’ll take a stellar recreation plan together with near-perfect execution, particularly because it’ll be a street recreation. We’ll know come late November if Michigan could make it two in a row.