Updated Big Ten Schedule Released
Finally, the Big Ten has updated their 2022 schedules. No more message board threads asking whether the MSU game got moved back to the OSU home/road schedule. It did not, but that flip demanded a bunch of schedule rearranging to fix problems it caused, e.g. Michigan would have had to play its entire November on the road.
2022 | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Opp | Where |
Sep 3 | Colorado State | Ann Arbor, MI |
Sep 10 | Hawaii | Ann Arbor, MI |
Sep 17 | UConn | Ann Arbor, MI |
Sep 24 | Maryland | Ann Arbor, MI |
Oct 1 | at Iowa | Iowa City, IA |
Oct 8 | at Indiana | Bloomington, IN |
Oct 15 | Penn State | Ann Arbor, MI |
Oct 22 | Open | |
Oct 29 | Michigan State | Ann Arbor, MI |
Nov 5 | at Rutgers | Piscataway, NJ |
Nov 12 | Nebraska | Ann Arbor, MI |
Nov 19 | Illinois | Ann Arbor, MI |
Nov 26 | at Ohio State | Columbus, OH |
And here's the whole conference:
The Big Ten has announced its revised 2022 football schedule: pic.twitter.com/znNrBByuON
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) January 12, 2022
MSU and PSU have bye weeks before facing Michigan. It's Ohio State's turn to have November Maryland. Also starting this year the East-West guaranteed games have rolled over to their second pairing, so Michigan now gets Nebraska while Ohio State is the one locked into Wisconsin for a time.
[After THE JUMP: Discussion. Also, THE JUMP will take you right to this spot now]
Date | 2022 Schedule | Was |
---|---|---|
Sep 3 | Colorado State | - |
Sep 10 | Hawaii | - |
Sep 17 | Connecticut | - |
Sep 24 | Maryland | - |
Oct 1 | at Iowa | - |
Oct 8 | at Indiana | Penn State |
Oct 15 | Penn State | Nebraska |
Oct 22 | Bye Week | Michigan State |
Oct 29 | Michigan State | Illinois |
Nov 5 | at Rutgers | Bye Week |
Nov 12 | Nebraska | at Indiana |
Nov 19 | Illinois | at Rutgers |
Nov 26 | at Ohio State | - |
The big boons for Michigan are two home games in November where there were none, a slightly tougher test the week before Ohio State, and a bye week in front of MSU. They still get a game at Iowa that will probably be a night game, and September Maryland, which as we all know is vastly different than November Maryland.
The non-conference slate is weak because a home and home with UCLA was canceled. They would have had UCLA at home this year and played in Pasadena in 2023. Big Ten schedules for 2023 and beyond are still being hashed out, but the mgoblue.com schedule was updated sometime in the last half hour.
January 12th, 2022 at 12:51 PM ^
Does anyone know why the UCLA series was canceled?
January 12th, 2022 at 12:54 PM ^
From Michigan's perspective it was to 'get' two home games instead of a home and away, though worth noting that Michigan paid $1.5 million to get out of the deal, and scheduled two pretty crappy teams as the replacements.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
Considering there’s zero punishment for playing a shit out of conference schedule. I’m fine with playing no one.
January 12th, 2022 at 6:04 PM ^
And you must not have season tickets. Paying for 8 games and most are shit on the schedule just stinks.
Go Blue!!!!
January 12th, 2022 at 12:57 PM ^
Probably Warde and Harbaugh cancelling a Dave Brandon idea.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:34 PM ^
I can’t picture Brandon scheduling a home-and-home with a Power 5 team when he could bring in two MAC opponents instead. Gotta maximize that home revenue.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:27 PM ^
I looked back today actually. The UCLA games were scheduled in 2013 so definitely a Brandon Era thing. What I find most interesting is that Rutgers and Maryland both had announced in late 2012 they were joining big ten so we likely had an idea we would expand to 9 games and go 5/4 in alternating years.
Wonder if Brandon just didn't care about 8 home games one year and 6 the next whereas Warde is adamant about having 7 minimum.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
If that's the case, Warde and Harbaugh made a huge mistake
January 12th, 2022 at 4:58 PM ^
Much prefer using the ooc as a warm up or preseason. We’ll be highly ranked next year so we don’t need quality wins to establish ourselves. Looks like everything should be on the line for our trip to Columbus
January 12th, 2022 at 6:18 PM ^
1. I like college football. I love Michigan football. Hence 10 real games and two "warm ups" is better than 9 games and three "warm ups". Not sure why anyone that likes football would want to watch less meaningful football. The only reason not to play that game is because you're scared of losing. That's sad loser thinking. Why even play or watch if you're scared of losing?
2. The benefits of playing at least one good team outweighs the potential costs. If Michigan wins, they could still potentially lose to OSU and make the playoffs (the way OSU did in 2016 when they didn't win the division). As it is, Michigan has no margin for error next year. They now must win the division with the shit ooc schedule they have.
January 12th, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
Yea for the life of me I don't see how any Michigan fan would be against a home and home with UCLA? Why would any Michigan fan want to see more body bag games?
January 12th, 2022 at 7:07 PM ^
Exactly. Especially because UCLA isn't even that good. It's a cool matchup with a great institution and low probability of losing.
The Washington game was fun this year. People got excited! Fun is good. Why would we not want more of those kinds of games? It's baffling to me.
January 12th, 2022 at 9:24 PM ^
Seriously--it's not like Michigan cancelled Bama or Oklahoma. UCLA would've been less challenging while still generating excitement because it is a historic program and some people still believe Chip Kelly is a great coach.
January 12th, 2022 at 10:40 PM ^
We would fill the Rose Bowl like its a damn home game. Huge missed opportunity.
January 12th, 2022 at 10:45 PM ^
The benefits of playing at least one good team outweighs the potential costs. If Michigan wins, they could still potentially lose to OSU and make the playoffs (the way OSU did in 2016 when they didn't win the division). As it is, Michigan has no margin for error next year. They now must win the division with the shit ooc schedule they have
I like big OOC games too, but this reasoning is flawed. History has shown us over and over that an undefeated team will get the nod over a one-loss team - and a two-loss team has absolutely no chance at the playoff.
If you lose an OOC game, you must run the table in conference, period. If you went 3-0 OOC, you may be able to afford one conference loss, as we did this season (and OSU did in 2016). This encourages teams to lighten up their schedules. Playing a marquee team and losing does nothing for you. I wish this weren't the case, but it is.
January 13th, 2022 at 7:01 AM ^
Plus having a legit. opponent early in the schedule adds a sense of urgency to training camp. I remember when we played ND early and everyone was working intensely to get ready for that matchup.
Conversely, blowing out inferior competition can lead to a false sense of superiority and can also diminish the level of effort put out on the practice field. The coaches will have to work to prevent that.
And whoever is going to replace Aidan as our adrenaline pump is going to have to step up big time.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:00 PM ^
We are slated to have 4 home B1G games next year, unless they change significantly with the 2023 reworks as well. So in order to get to our AD's public desire of 7 home games a year we would have needed to have 3 home OOC games. Guessing they tried to switch it and UCLA either couldn't or didn't want to so we canceled. Now have 8 home games this year and 7 next year.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:29 PM ^
Good call. A bummer from the fan's perspective. A UCLA home and home would have been really cool - I might've made the trip to Pasadena.
I could care less about this non-conference slate. Just brutal.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
Definitely agree. I love having interesting out of conference matchups as a fan, even if it makes our road to the playoffs harder. My wife is on board with my desires to go to these cool away sites where we had or have home and homes scheduled. Of course we've canceled UCLA, Arkansas and VT recently, and the Washington game was postponed (had flights and hotels already booked when it was canceled).
Still hoping the Oklahoma and Texas home and homes get played in the future but who knows with how much things are changing.
January 12th, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
It doesn't even make the road to the playoffs harder. You're more likely to be helped by a win than hurt by a loss and you're also much more likely to win than lose if you're a playoff caliber team, and if you're not, concern over the playoffs is moot) so we should want to play these.
January 13th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
I think there's examples both ways but it's telling that we still have not had a 2 loss team make the playoff. If PSU in 2016 plays and wins against a G5 instead of Pitt in the OOC they probably get in over 11-1 OSU who they beat head to head and who didn't win their division. Same with OSU in 2017. If they don't lose to Oklahoma they likely get in over 11-1 Bama who didn't win their division.
Granted both of those teams had ugly losses in the regular season in-conference which hurt quite a bit but I think the final tipping point in each situation was that 2nd loss.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:37 PM ^
If this Big Ten-ACC-PAC 12 alliance is a real thing, teams are going to have to get on board with Power 5 away games. Michigan can't sit there and demand 3 non-conference home games every year. And I assume everyone is on board with this or the alliance wouldn't have been created and announced. But it's ironic that the very thing that's contemplated for the future (home and home with UCLA) was canceled.
January 12th, 2022 at 2:45 PM ^
I'm highly skeptical that it's a real thing, seeing as how the commissioners openly admitted that there's no written agreement in place and no plans for executing one.
January 12th, 2022 at 4:52 PM ^
Yes that whole B1G, PAC 12, ACC alliance thing was a farce last summer. They just wanted to do that in response to Oklahoma and Texas going to the SEC.
January 12th, 2022 at 11:10 PM ^
They're not demanding three non-conference home games every year.
They're demanding three non-conference home games during seasons in which they have five B1G road games.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
I attended the last two M-UCLA games in Pasadena. M won the 1989 game on a last minute field goal after a successful onside kickoff, so quite exciting for us M fans. The 2000 game was the hottest M game I ever attended. The temp before the game was 103. It was John Navarre's second game. It looked like M's players wilted in the heat. My wife stayed in the car before the game, and then the entire game because she just didn't want to brave the heat. I drank three or four large Pepsi's and never had to get to the men's room! I swear you could have cooked an egg on the aluminum seats. On our way out of the stadium (after 5 or so) the temp was still reported at 110. That was a mid-September game. January 1 much preferred!
January 12th, 2022 at 3:10 PM ^
I remember that game. The defense did okay against Ryan McCann, but we couldn't get anything done on offense. A freshman John Navarre was thrust in as starting QB after Drew Henson got injured, and he played horribly.
That year, UCLA beat then-No. 3 Alabama and then-No. 3 Michigan and generated a lot of buzz as a national championship contender... but then they lost 5 games and finished 6-6 after a loss to Wisconsin in their bowl game.
January 12th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
I was at the game, on the UCLA sidelines, courtesy of Greg Robinson who was then the UCLA offensive coordinator. One of my many memories with Greg and the family. I’m so bummed he passed.
January 12th, 2022 at 7:02 PM ^
Removed.
January 12th, 2022 at 12:55 PM ^
Other than @ Kinnick, this schedule is pretty favorable. Bye between PSU and MSU, the fighting Berts before OSU.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:23 PM ^
Agreed.
For those curious, here is the list of games where only one participant has a bye week leading in. UM arguably has the toughest of these with PSU coming off a bye, but at least it's at home. Overall the schedule is a major improvement.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:31 PM ^
I would think that Penn State game at home would be prime for a night game. If we can get through Iowa, we'd be looking at 6-0 and probably a Top 5 ranking. Would be a great environment.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:48 PM ^
With the current B1G TV contract, you can almost guarantee the PSU and @Iowa will be at night along with one other game.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:03 PM ^
Also, similar to this past season, OSU/PSU is the same day as our MSU game. So we're probably looking at one being the Big Noon FOX game and the other being on ABC at night (FOX has the World Series).
January 12th, 2022 at 4:53 PM ^
We will probably be the noon game then against MSU. I’m assuming that will be the white out game and therefore a night game for PSU
January 12th, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
Not sure why at Iowa would be almost guarantee night game. Fox and ESPN/ABC split first choice of Big Ten games for the season. Most of the time Fox puts their first choice at Big Noon kickoff. So I am inclined to say it is 50/50 it is a night game at best.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
Night Game..... Maize out!
January 12th, 2022 at 2:06 PM ^
Yes! There's reason--at least right now--to be hopeful that we could be undefeated rolling into Columbus!
January 12th, 2022 at 3:03 PM ^
This is the easiest schedule going into a season I can remember. Our young/rebuilt defense will have plenty of time to come together before going to Columbus.
The best offense we face before that would be ... (September) Maryland?
January 13th, 2022 at 7:20 AM ^
Yes it's an interesting cycle where we alternate the Nuts at home and Staee, PSU and last year Nebraska on the road and this year obviously at the Nutshoe and our other biggest games at home.
The game against the Bucknuts will be huge, great for the rivalry.
January 12th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Ohio State has a pretty difficult schedule with Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa, @Penn State, and @Michigan State (and Michigan, of course).
January 12th, 2022 at 2:58 PM ^
Ohio St. hasn’t had anywhere near the trouble with MSU as Michigan has over the last...10 years? 15?
January 12th, 2022 at 3:49 PM ^
Been a little bit, but 2011 - 2016 was a knife fight annually between OSU and MSU. Games decided by 3, 1, 12, 3, and 1 points, with MSU winning 2 of 5.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:51 PM ^
I'm not too worried about the ND, Wisconsin, and Iowa at home in the Shoe. All those games could be at night too. OSU does pretty well at PSU and MSU in the past. PSU made a mistake by keeping James Franklin.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:02 PM ^
I am very happy not to have Iowa, Penn State, Nebraska, and Michigan State back to back to back to back.
Instead we have Iowa, Indiana, Penn State, and a Bye. The new schedule is significantly easier.
Yay!
January 12th, 2022 at 3:26 PM ^
You can’t just post a “Yay!” without the photo…
January 12th, 2022 at 1:03 PM ^
Happy to trade Wiscy for Nebraska for a few years, especially since now Ohio State has them on their schedule for awhile. That's a tough game every year and extremely tough to get a win in Madison for anybody.
January 12th, 2022 at 3:15 PM ^
[Deleted]
Replied to wrong comment.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:05 PM ^
Schedule looks pretty favorable except for one item: OSU's tough games are pretty front loaded and their three games leading up to THE GAME are: Northwestern, Indiana, and Maryland. That's a full month to focus all their energy on revenge.
Not a huge detail and certainly not worth crying to anyone but thought I would point it out.
January 12th, 2022 at 1:08 PM ^
Eh, lull them to sleep. Kind of like Sparty did this year.
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