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Newsstand: Michigan football ripped by ESPN over 2023 non-conference schedule

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome08/01/23anthonytbroome
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Michigan football’s schedule has been a point of contention nationally over the last two years, and it continues to get bashed heading into this season. The Wolverines do not play a Power 5 opponent in the non-conference for the second year in a row, and that has drawn criticism from ESPN’s Chris Low.

Low says that Michigan plays the easiest non-conference schedule slate in the country this year by hosting East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green at home. Oddly enough, Low says their only rival in that regard is the Georgia Bulldogs, who many expect to be in the mix for a national title once again, along with Michigan.

Here is what Low had to say about the slate:

We have a repeat winner. For the second season in a row, Michigan has earned the “honor” of playing the nation’s cushiest nonconference schedule. The two-time defending Big Ten champion doesn’t face a single Power 5 opponent. This was also the case a year ago, marking the first time in 78 years the Wolverines didn’t play a nonconference game against a current Power 5 member or Notre Dame. Michigan opens this season with three straight home games against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green. It originally had a home-and-home series with UCLA set for 2022 and 2023, but canceled it in 2019 to guarantee at least seven home games each season.

The only team rivaling Michigan in this category is Georgia, which plays UT Martin, Ball State and UAB at home and closes the regular season against in-state rival Georgia Tech on the road. The Bulldogs were originally scheduled to play Oklahoma, but the SEC dictated that game be scrapped with the Sooners joining the league in 2024.

Maybe things will change for how Michigan is viewed in 2024 when it hosts Fresno State, Texas and Arkansas State in the non-conference.

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“In every which way, honestly. Getting better with the receivers, getting that connection going with everyone on the offense. Honestly, it’s just been amazing to be healthy, not have that in the back of my head, not have it on my mind all the time when I’m going into throwing sessions, so it’s been really awesome.

“I just feel like it’s been peaceful. It’s been great to have those opportunities to be with the guys and know what’s happening. Nobody is unsure of anything. It’s been really good.”

– Michigan football junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy on his productive and healthy offseason heading into fall camp

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