Ranking Michigan Football’s 2022 opponents by difficulty
As we get closer to the 2022 Michigan football season, we rank the Wolverines’ 2022 opponents according to difficulty.
Compared to last season, Michigan football’s schedule seems a little easier. The non-conference doesn’t include a power-5 team and a number of key games are at home.
However, there are many of the same challenges as usual such as Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, and Iowa. The Wolverines didn’t play the Hawkeyes in the regular season a year ago but beat them in the Big Ten championship game.
Michigan football will avoid playing Wisconsin this season, as well as Minnesota and Purdue, other teams viewed as possible Big Ten West contenders. In addition to Iowa, U-M will host Nebraska and Illinois as the Wolverines will play four conference road games.
The season starts on Sept. 3 against Colorado State and we’ll start our rankings with the non-conference.
12. Hawaii (Sept. 10, home)
The last time Hawaii came to the Big House, Michigan won by 50-something and you can probably expect a similar result this time around. The Rainbow Warriors have a new head coach in Timmy Chang and while they will certainly throw it all over, which could be some nice work for the secondary, Michigan football will manhandle Hawaii on its way to an easy win.
11. UConn (Sept. 17, home)
The Huskies hired Jim Mora Jr., a former NFL head coach who was also the head coach of UCLA at one time. Since finding success with Michael Vick as his QB early in Atlanta, Mora has struggled to win wherever he’s coached.
UConn has been in as rough a shape as any program in the country, but with a legitimate head coach, who can recruit and coach up whatever talent he has, UConn should improve. But early in the season, the Huskies shouldn’t challenge the Wolverines.
10. Colorado State (Sept. 3 home)
Believe it or not, all three of Michigan football’s opening games are against teams with new head coaches as Colorado State hired Jay Norvell away from conference rival Nevada.
Coming out of the Mountain West, the Rams are a solid program and they should provide the most resistance out of any of the non-conference opponents, but it’s a cupcake schedule and if Michigan struggles with any of them, that’s a cause for concern.