Michigan vs. Oklahoma kickoff time announced and FOX once again has fans losing it

Just because it was painfully obviously does not make it land any better... Of course, FOX Sports was going to schedule the second leg of the Michigan Wolverines' home-and-home with the Oklahoma Sooners at 12:00 p.m. ET. This had Big Noon Kickoff written all over it. While that has become the Big Ten's marquee viewing window, it could play a huge part in the Sooners completing the series sweep.

Michigan shared out this non-conference game's start time, and fans were not happy about it at all...

Not only was last year's game in Norman played under the bright lights in primetime, but the result played a part in OU making the College Football Playoff. Had Michigan somehow won that game over the Sooners, maybe the Wolverines would not have needed to beat arch rival Ohio State to punch their ticket in? Given that both teams may be vying for the same at-large spot this fall, it is significant.

Add in the fact Kyle Whittingham has a brutal first schedule at Michigan, and this shall make it harder...

Michigan, Kyle Whittingham cannot love playing Oklahoma on Big Noon

Let's unpack this for a second... While further College Football Playoff expansion seems to be even more en vogue now, only 12 teams can make it in. For the sake of simplicity, let's say Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon are locks to make it back for a third season in a row. Miami should be back again this fall. Notre Dame and Texas nearly made it in a year ago. Seven of those 12 spots are filled.

The Big 12 will get its champion in. Whether that is Texas Tech, BYU, or somebody else entirely remains to be seen. The Group of Six will get its best team in there, too. That gets us to nine spots largely reserved. Only three remain, and Michigan will be vying for one of those last seats at the table. USC is the other contender out of the Big Ten. Oklahoma is one of a few SEC teams in the mix as well.

In short, the winner of this non-conference game between Michigan and Oklahoma may tell the tale of both teams' seasons. While the winner stands a good chance of making the playoff, the loser might be out of it before October. Oklahoma has a brutal schedule in SEC play as well. The fact that this game will be played during the day, as opposed to at night gives Oklahoma a better shot at winning it.

With Michigan still having to play Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon this fall, not only do they have to win at least one of them to realistically make the playoff with a 10-2 record, but they would need to win two of them, if the Wolverines were to drop this one to Oklahoma in the non-conference. This game is Michigan's litmus test under Whittingham. A win over OU might mean the playoff, while a loss will not.

This may be a signature game early in the season, but Michigan's slate has gotten even tougher now.

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