Reviewing Michigan football's non-conference opponents through 2034

On3 imageby:Anthony Broome05/04/22

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Michigan football has plenty to do in filling out its non-conference schedules in upcoming years. Currently, the three games before Big Ten play kicks into high gear are set through the 2025 season. There are also a handful of home-and-home dates that will have games filled in around them.

The Wolverines will open the 2022 season – its first Big Ten title defense in 17 years – against Colorado State on Sept. 3 in Ann Arbor. That will be followed by games against Hawaii and UConn at Michigan Stadium the following two weeks. The 2023 slate is also an all-home set of non-conference games with East Carolina (Sept. 2), UNLV (Sept. 9) and Bowling Green (Sept. 16) coming to the Big House.

The 2024 and 2025 schedules start to provide a bit more intrigue. Michigan opens the 2024 campaign at home vs. Fresno State (Aug. 31) before heading to Texas on Sept. 7. It will be the second meeting between the two programs with the last coming in the 2005 Rose Bowl, a 38-37 Longhorn victory. The Wolverines close out the non-con slate on Sept. 21 vs. Arkansas State following a bye week.

Michigan opens its 2025 season at home against New Mexico on Aug. 30 before heading to Oklahoma the following week. It will be the first showdown between the Wolverines and Sooners since the 1976 Orange Bowl, a 14-6 Oklahoma win.

Oklahoma and Texas will make their return trips to Ann Arbor in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Other future dates set are a trip to Washington on Sept. 9, 2028 and the return of the Notre Dame series. The Fighting Irish come to Michigan on Sept. 3, 2033, while the Wolverines head back to South Bend on Sept. 2, 2034.

Future Michigan non-conference opponents

2022

Colorado State (September 3)

Hawaii (September 10)

UConn (September 17)

2023

East Carolina (September 2)

UNLV (September 9)

Bowling Green (September 16)

2024

Fresno State (August 31)

at Texas (September 7)

Arkansas State (September 21)

2025

New Mexico (August 30)

at Oklahoma (September 6)

Central Michigan (September 13)

2026

Oklahoma (September 12)

2027

Texas (September 11)

2028

at Washington (September 9)

2033

Notre Dame (September 3)

2034

at Notre Dame (September 2)

Five thoughts on the future non-conference slates

1. Those who believe the 2021 season opened a window of contention for Michigan football will like the 2022 and 2023 slates. All non-conference games over the next two seasons will happen in Ann Arbor against teams Michigan will be heavily-favored. Each season brings a new set of challenges and players to work in, so this should be a nice cushion to help the next two teams hit the ground running.

2. The Texas and Oklahoma matchups have a little more juice to them now with both programs headed to the SEC. Fans have been yearning for something new and interesting on the non-conference schedule. Each of these should have ramifications both on the field and on the recruiting trail.

3. It is good for football in the area when the directional schools cross over with Michigan and Michigan State. Central Michigan coming to Ann Arbor in 2025 should be fun for alums of both schools, especially the ones with degrees from each. If two non-conference games each season (at least) are going to be buy-games, showcasing other programs in the area adds more juice than bringing in an FCS school or something along those lines.

4. Michigan and Washington were supposed to meet in Seattle to kick off the 2020 season. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic happened. The trip was postponed to 2028 and cannot come soon enough. The Seattle area is gorgeous and Washington’s campus (and sailgating) are a peak college football experience.

5. The Notre Dame series is great and has always been a backbone of Michigan’s non-conference schedules. The fact that we have to wait until 2033-34 for this to resume is a bummer for both fanbases. Michigan gets to hold onto the last laugh for now with a 45-14 win in 2019 as the last meeting between the two for 14 football seasons.

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