Michigan Football: Ranking the Wolverines most difficult games in 2020
By Nick Popio
Besides the annual trout down to Columbus, Michigan football’s new makeshift path to the playoffs is fairly reasonable.
The renovated Michigan football schedule is locked in place and there were not too many significant changes that remained from the original one.
There will be an equal of five home and away games combing a span of 12 weeks that could expand until mid December. The flexibility of it all will be crucial if something unfortunate should occur.
There was also the moving up of the Ohio State game to October and moving the Michigan State game from East Lansing to Ann Arbor.
But now, if things go as scheduled, Michigan football will be on the field in a month and here’s a ranking of the Wolverines schedule from easiest to hardest.
10. @ Rutgers
The Scarlet Knight haven’t put up much of a fight in the past few years, but with a familiar face returning to Piscataway, they shouldn’t be taken lightly. Greg Schiano has proven to be capable of putting together a respectable squad together, but Rutgers is a couple of seasons away from that.
9. Maryland
The Terps are bound to get better in year two under Mike Locksley. They could be lead at quarterback by Tua’s brother, Taulia Tagovailoa, if he’s deemed eligible by the time September hits.
8. Purdue
Stopping Purdue’s offense is always a problem for any defense to handle. Opening the season with the Boilermakers can help Don Brown’s unit get prepped for what remains on the rest of the Big Ten docket.
7. Michigan State
This might seem to low on the list for a vicious rivalry game, but the Spartans have their hands full traveling back to Ann Arbor for a rematch they’ve been yearning for.
6. @ Northwestern
Ending with the Wildcats in Evanston looks tricky on paper. They are a school that routinely fights to the finish as long as Pat Fitzgerald is running the show. Just think back to the 2018 Big Ten road opener when Michigan football had to rally from 18 points down to win.