Michigan Football: Ranking the Wolverines football opponents by difficulty

The Michigan football team is getting ready for an abbreviated 2020 season, but what games are toughest on their schedule?

The Big Ten schedule 3.0 came out a little over a week ago and a lot has been made about it. Nebraska is complaining about opening the season with Ohio State. Almost everyone is thinking the Big Ten is protecting the Buckeyes because their crossover games are against Illinois and Nebraska.

While it is doubtful that the Big Ten purposely protected the Buckeyes, it is a fact that they have an easier schedule than the Wolverines. Michigan football has crossover games with Wisconsin and Minnesota, arguably the two best teams in the Big Ten West.

While the Wolverines have a tough schedule, it will give them every game they need to prove they belong in the College Football Playoff. They obviously have a lot of work to do to get there, but with the schedule they have, it is a possibility.

The Wolverines will likely play at least four ranked teams this year in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Ohio State. It is also possible that Indiana could win enough early to be ranked when they play Michigan. That may not seem possible but the Hoosiers are much improved and could be a tough out.

The season is going to be tough playing eight games in eight weeks and then the championship weekend for game number nine. It will be a grind if nobody tests positive and could be even worse if they lose some players to COVID testing.

But the good news is that they get to play football and there is some cautious optimism around the program. Joe Milton is getting great reviews for his work during the offseason and could be just the guy the Wolverines need to take them to the next level.

A lot of questions need to be answered, but on October 24th we get to the see Michigan play for the Little Brown Jug against Minnesota. So which games are the toughest for the Wolverines? We take a look at the schedule and rank the teams by difficulty.