Michigan is set to open the 2026 football season in just a few days as the Wolverines take on Western Michigan in The Big House on Saturday at 7:30. However, it seems some attention is being turned to the Wolverines 2027 schedule with a recent adjustment that could have big implications for Michigan's biggest non-conference matchup.
It was reported that Michigan and Eastern Michigan have moved their matchup one week earlier, from September 18 to September 11, in Ann Arbor, but Michigan already has a game scheduled that weekend. The Wolverines were set to take on the Texas Longhorns on September 11 as part of a home-and-home series that started back in 2024 when the two met at The Big House.
There isn't any announcement about whether or not the Texas game will be rescheduled or flat-out cancelled. The contract between the two schools states a $2 million cancellation fee that Michigan would be responsible for if the game can't be rescheduled. There is an option that involves both schools coming together and deciding to mutually cancel the game, avoiding any sort of penalty fee.
https://t.co/xhF1uakaoC pic.twitter.com/RseUznbbpU
— HornSports (@HornSports) September 2, 2026
Michigan isn't trying to avoid facing Texas with Eastern Michigan game moved
Since winning the National Championship in 2023, Michigan has not ducked elite non-conference matchups, facing the Longhorns in 2024, Oklahoma in 2025, and the Sooners again this upcoming season in Week 2 in what should be a Top 15 matchup.
The Wolverines also tend to face the toughest talent in the Big Ten, with five preseason-ranked conference teams on their schedule this season. So, anyone who believes that Michigan is trying to avoid facing Texas next season is just making a mountain out of a molehill.
While there is no explanation for the decision to move the Eastern Michigan game to the same week as the Texas matchup, trying to avoid tough competition just feels outlandish. The two teams could still come together to find a way to reschedule the game to honor the home-and-home series, but if they don't, that doesn't mean either team isn't going to have marquee games on their schedules for years to come.
The Big Ten and the SEC aren't in a shortage of elite teams, and with the College Football Playoff being 12 teams and potentially expanding to more, both Texas and Michigan have excellent chances to make the playoff at the beginning of every season.
So while these teams most likely won't be meeting in 2027, Michigan will need to focus on the decision to either cancel or reschedule and also find a new non-conference opponent before heading into conference play.
Add us as a preferred source on Google