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Michigan Football: 5 must-win games for Wolverines in 2021

By Chris Peterson

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /
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If Michigan football is going to have a successful season in 2021, here are five games that the Wolverines need to win. 

We are less than 100 days away from the start of the 2021 Michigan football season. Before long, the Wolverines will be in fall camp and before we know it, Sept. 4 will be here.

Michigan opens the season that day against Western Michigan. It’s the first of three non-conference games and then nine games in the Big Ten schedule.

It’s one of the most difficult schedules in the country as it includes Ohio State, Wisconsin, Penn State, Northwestern, Indiana, and Washington.

But if the Wolverines can figure things out at quarterback, they have enough talent to build some positive momentum in 2021 and possibly even contend in the Big Ten East. Keyword being contend.

I don’t expect Michigan to beat Ohio State this year. The Game will be at the Big House and Ohio State will have a first-time starter in it too. By then, Michigan might even be playing five-star freshman J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.

Either way, Ohio State is on another level right now and the Wolverines don’t have to beat Ohio State for next year to be a step in the right direction. That’s the ultimate goal yes, but the Ohio State game is not on this list.

The Wolverines need to win eight or nine games next year. They need their 2022 recruiting class to hold and in particular, Will Johnson. If you keep him on top of guys like McCarthy and Donovan Edwards, plus some of the O-line talent and Michigan might stand a chance.

But not this year. So these are the five games Michigan has to win in 2021, in order for it to be a success and for Jim Harbaugh to get some positive momentum going forward. (No Particular order)

Washington

This is pretty obvious but it’s still an important game. It’s going to be the second week of the season and at home. Both teams have looming competitions at quarterback and talented freshmen just waiting to take over.

This will be a huge first test of Harbaugh and his new staff. It’s a game the Wolverines should win and one they need to win if they want to have any kind of momentum heading into Big Ten play.

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