A Michigan Football fan’s Week 1 Viewing Guide

The Spartans open their 2022 season against the same team the Wolverines dispatched 47-14 in 2021 — the Western Michigan Broncos.

Michigan State is favored by more than three touchdowns and likely will cover as the Spartans try to send a message that they will be a dangerous team once again this season.

After losing Heisman candidate running back Kenneth Walker III, it will be interesting to see what Michigan State’s offense looks like without him.

Another angle to watch for is the Spartan pass defense which really struggled last season.

Can they show improvement even against a lesser opponent?

Michigan football takes on the Spartans in Week 9 after a bye week as they will try to avenge their 37-33 loss in East Lansing a season ago.

The first of two Big Ten conference games this weekend, Penn State hits the road to West Lafayette to take on Aidan O’Connell and the Purdue Boilermakers.

Purdue lost a lot last season including their best player on each side of the ball in wide receiver David Bell and defensive end George Karlaftis.

However they return quarterback Aidan O’Connell who was a top-five passer in the Big Ten last season, and Purdue is at home here in a night game.

How will Penn State perform in hostile territory coming off an underwhelming season?

The Nittany Lions are largely being projected for a bounce-back season, but if it gets off to a rocky start in West Lafayette, Sean Clifford and Co. could be in some trouble.

The Wolverines will welcome Penn State to the Big House in Week 7 and it will be one of their toughest tests of the season.

Possibly the biggest game of the weekend across the national college football landscape, the Wolverines’ biggest rival takes on a hated rival of the past (until 2034).

There are so many storylines to unpack in this one, so let’s start with the Buckeyes.

Head coach Ryan Day went out and poached Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles this offseason to shore up a Buckeye defense that was toothless in some of its biggest games last season.

Will the Buckeyes see immediate improvement on that side of the ball? Or will Notre Dame run the ball down their throat with similar success to what Michigan and Oregon did in Ohio State’s two losses in 2021?

Offensively, Ohio State should be a top-three passing attack nationally and will likely hit the ground running, but I’m more interested in Treveyon Henderson.

How does he look entering his second season as the starter?

Ohio State teams of the past were built on their running game, and this year’s team could be the same way.

Notre Dame will trot out an energized group led by first-year head coach Marcus Freeman, a former Buckeye himself.

An unproven, yet talented team, the Irish have the horses to make this competitive, but this game is on the road, making things even tougher.

Can the Fighting Irish pull off the upset? Will the Buckeyes make a statement? Or will Michigan fans hoping for divine intervention or a meteor to hit Columbus have their prayers answered?

Find out Saturday at 7:30 PM on ABC.

Our final game of the viewing guide is, of course, the Wolverines’ opener against Colorado State.

The biggest storylines for this one include the quarterback battle, where Cade McNamara is scheduled to start, but also the defense.

Michigan football was built on a strong running game and a stifling defense en route to their first Big Ten Championship since 2004 and first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.

This year things should be a bit different.

The running game will remain strong with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards providing one of the best one-two punches in the country, but the defense remains a bit of a question.

Especially as it pertains to pass rush, it remains to be seen who will step as leaders on that front.

The secondary is also introducing some new starters, but plenty of talent is there to step up, especially at the safety position.

Colorado State could be Michigan football’s toughest non-conference opponent, but that isn’t saying much.

Expect a 30+ point blowout as the Wolverines cover the spread and could cash the over 62 by themselves.

Cheers to the 2022 season, Michigan fans! Go Blue!