Holy Pants, It's A Real Opponent

I'd love to see Cal. The game at Cal would be interesting - I'd bet the alumni of the area would be out in full force.

Whoever it is, this is awesome news.

RR said, "I think everyone is cleared." The freep reported this as everyone being cleared. I'm still not counting on JT until after his results come back.

Cal would awesome! Now that I'm out in the real world, it's been great being frienemies with the other smarty-pants public school grads, and either a Cal or UVa mini-rivalry would be fantastic.

and i'm not really all that surprised. BM has been pushing for the opener to be a decent team for a long time and I think people have been in his ear re: 1-AA and MAC scheduling the last few years. It was pretty clear that he was taking this OOC opponent srsly, to me at least.

but so would OK State or UVA. Any of those three would be amazing and I'm absolutely giddy about the possibilities. I hope this isn't a one time thing we are just trying out and that the athletic department keeps trying to get a big opponent on the schedule.

The one thing that gives me pause is Michigan's penchant for losing anytime we pass the Rockies.

• 1-1-2007: USC 32, M 13
• 1-1-2005: Texas 38, M 37
• 1-1-2004: USC 28, M 14
• 9-20-2003: Ore 31, M 27
• 9-8-2001: Was 23, M 18
• 9-16-2000: UCLA 23, M 20

Last time we won a game that took place more than one time zone away: unless I've made a grave mistake, I believe our culprit is Hawai'i (48-17) in 1998.

By the way, that was when Hawai'i went 0-12 and were (appropriately) called the "Rainbow Warriors."

New "Michigan," smaller likelihood of Cal possessing Reggie Bush, Vince Young, etc., may offset that bugaboo. And California is a silly thing to be afraid of. And of the comers, I enjoy the idea of an academically equal institution, if for no better reason than their fans are generally less insufferable.

But until I hear otherwise, the idea of winged helmets on the West Coast gets my heebie jeebies going.

Considering I'm living in Berkeley for the summer, I'd like the opportunity to begin trash talking as soon as possible.

Cal would be a really tough game to win. The Big 10 in general is really bad on the West Coast. We haven't won out there since 1997 and we haven't won a regular season game out there since 1989. Oklahoma State will be in a severe down year next year. They will probably be a lot easier to beat than people expect.

I have no idea if this has any actual measurable effect, but if we are trying to bolster out-of-midwest recruiting in the long run, it seems to me like it would be nothing but helpful to put in physical appearances around the country outside of bowl-season. Also, it probably won't hurt that our rabid yet sophisticated national fan base will likely come out in droves wherever we end up to help put a face on that "alumni" recruiting point.

As an alum of both schools (Michigan undergrad/Cal grad), I've been dying to see this match up since Mack Brown and Texas snaked their way into the Rose Bowl.

That's an encouraging article. And I actually really hope it's OK State. The Big 12 is the strongest conference involved, and I think it would be a good game - and OK St. is the best team of the 3.

On a different note, I really liked RR's comment about not scheduling any games after OSU. At first blush, it seems like a no brainer, but I like that RR has an understanding of the tradition of the program, and is trying to enrich the legacy rather than change it.

A lot of talk about games with Virginia and Cal as being "amazing" or "awesome". These are fine games, but let's not get too overboard. Games with LSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, USC, V. Tech, Florida St. These would be amazing. Cal is pretty good but don't have the tradition behind it. We should bazooka Virginia off the map when we are up and running. Mich-Vir is not going to get the 8:00 ABC time slot it is not amazing.

Hell yes! I cannot wait for the press release on the actual opponent

"A nouveau riche looking for a big scalp" is probably the best thing for Okie State. I'd love to see Michigan in their awesome stadium (compliments of T. Boone.) However ,Okie State does not look to be as good next year or in the foreseeable future, as all their stars are NFL-bound (probably) after this year. As an OU fan I hate the T. Boones, I mean Cowboys and I'd love to see Michigan run over, around, and through their flimsy defense any day.

Cal would be cool too.

Pac-10 teams are well known for playing tough non-conference schedules. Big XII teams ... not so much. Cal also has a history of series with Big Ten teams (MSU and Minnesota recently).

Both Cal and OK St. seem like attractive options. They are respectable opponents and located in recruiting hot beds where Michigan would like positive publicity. (Thank you recent Rose Bowl performances)

Oklahoma State would be interesting, the Fighting T. Boone Pickenses have been a decent team and it would be a new opponent. We don't seem to ever really play any of the Big 12 teams in OOC games, the only time we ever see them is in Alamo Bowls.

I realize that these are the most likely schools based on the current schedules but I suspect we might be in for a surprise. This is partly wishful thinking but with the opening of the renovated big house and UM agreeing to a home and home, I personally would like to see a traditional power. It would not be out of the question for a Nebraska or Texas etc., to change a game to accomodate a huge nationally televised game.

This reminds me of choosing Prom dates, except with a little more bloodshed.

I'll be the sole vote for NC State so I can see them in Raleigh in 2011 (or whenever). I'm still disappointed the Michigan-North Carolina match-up never happened. It showed up on the long range schedule ~1999 for 2009-2010, but then disappeared ~2001. Anybody know why it was cancelled? I'd love to see UM crush the Wolfpack.

Duke and UCLA. Big wins such as these help put Michigan Basketball back on the radar and has helped recruiting. This is a statement game for Michigan's Football Program-I can't wait. A tip of the cap to Mr. Martin is in order-well done skipper.

...but in this day and age I just can't see Michigan traveling to Stillwater, Oklahoma for a football game. And to imagine a trip to Virginia, I have to squint really hard. I would think that of the ones Brian lists, Cal and Arkansas are the only likely possibilities for a home and home.

LSU would be the most exciting by far.

Don't bother tipping your cap to Bill. He got forced into this or we'd be playing Madonna University. His scheduling has lead to disaster for Michigan.

is that the Home and Home is with UConn.

Here's another vote for Cal. It's a natural choice - a solid program from another terrific public university, from a conference that we have a long history with, and to boot, they share our color scheme. Let's make it happen.

But I have very good memories from the last Michigan/Virginia game. It was so freakin hot I thought about leaving in the 4th quarter. Soooooooo glad I stayed. Of course, the return trip to Virginia wouldn't be as fun.....

Here's why:
1) b/c Big10+Pac10=4EVER. 'nuff said.
2) b/c, IIRC, ~ 10 yrs ago, UM and Cal signed a contract to play 5 games -- 3 @ UM, 2 @ Cal -- starting in 2008 or so. Said contract was later cxl'd, obv'ly, but may be resurrected now?
3) We haven't had a Pac-10 team as regular season opponent in a few years; we're due.
4) OK, pure speculation, but Google co-founder Larry Page (UM and Stanford alum) pro'ly personally paying for UM to beat stuffing out of Cal? Nah...

Tradition, pac10/big10 and a pretty equal team. I think it would draw a lot of national attention. Oklahoma state would be kinda "meh" in my opinion. Virginia would be great but I would personally still like to see Cal. Going to Cal would also be more exciting than Virginia. Either way next year is going to be one of the most exciting years in a while.

I am surprised that with Arkansas on the list of possibilities nobody has mentioned that they would in all likelihood be led by a certain ex UM qb. Is this a good thing or a bad thing. I am also very curious- as if anyone could possibility know - would the situation make it more likely or less likely to happen.

Virginia - Not likely seeing that UVA is scheduled to play at Southern Cal on 9-11-2010. The odds of the Cavaliers starting the season playing back-to-back road games against UM and USC are virtually nil.

California - Their current 2010 schedule has Cal opening with two home games--Louisiana Tech (9/4) and Colorado (9/11). You might be able to move the game against LaTech, but I also doubt the Golden Bears are going to start the season with a road game at Michigan followed by a game against Colorado. In 2011, Cal plays at Colorado on 9/10. In 2012/13, they have a home-and-home with Ohio State.

Oklahoma State - There certainly are openings on the Cowboys non-conference schedule in 2010 (Troy, Tulsa) and 2011 (at Tulsa). They've also upped their non-confernce schedule recently with games at Georgia (2007) and at Washington State (2008). OkState opens the 2009 season at home in Stillwater against Georgia.

Arkansas - The Razorbacks has a scheduled series with Texas A&M in 2010 and 2011. The game will be played in Dallas, TX. I find it highly unlikely that an SEC team would schedule both Michigan and Texas A&M in the same seasons when you have LSU, Auburn, and Alabama also on the schedule.

South Carolina - The other USC's 2010 schedule has Troy (9/4) and North Carolina (9/18) on it. As Funky mentioned, the Troy game would have to be moved to accomodate a game in Ann Arbor, but I don't think that's happening. Troy is a classic first-game, warm-up opponent and UNC's program has gotten markedly better under Butch Davis. Add in the SEC East (Georgia, Florida, Tennessee) on the schedule and I have a hard time envisioning Spurrier coming to Ann Arbor with the Gamecocks.

Oregon State - Funky thinks this unlikely, but there's a possibility there. The Beavers do have a home game against Louisville (9/18) and then they play at Boise State (9/25). The scenario here would have the Beavers playing the Wolverines on 9/4 in Ann Arbor, getting a bye week, then playing Louisville, etc.. With five home Pac 10 games, that means Oregon State would have six total in Corvallis. I also understand the Oregon State AD has ties to Michigan, and they did play at Penn State las year. Oregon State has a game at Wisconsin (9/10) in 2011.

Pittsburgh - Not likely to happen. As Funky mentions, Pitt has Miami-Florida and Notre Dame on their 2010 non-conference schedule. In 2011, Pitt plays at Iowa (9/3), Buffalo (9/17) and Notre Dame (9/24). On 9/10/2011, Michigan is scheduled to play ND in Ann Arbor--that's a scheduling conflict right there which drops Pitt from contention.

North Carolina State - As Funky mentions, they have a home-and-home series with Cincinnati for the open Saturdays of the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Would they try to change that arrangement with UC in order to get a home-and-home with Michigan? Possible, but not on a high order or likelihood.

Among the teams mentioned above, Oklahoma State looks like the most probable candidate. Other thoughts:

Duke has a home game with Alabama on 9-18-2010. Would the Blue Devils want to open the season at Michigan and then play 'Bama two weeks later? I doubt it.

Baylor has a home-and-home series with TCU and is scheduled to open the season with them in 2010 and 2011. Not likely to change that.

Maryland has a home-and-home series with West Virginia in 2010 and 2011. Again-- Maryland is not likely to play both Michigan and West Virginia in the same season.

Washington State is a possibility in that they have open dates on their 2010 and 2011 schedules. Mississippi State, OTOH, has three of its four non-confernce oppoents lined up (UAB, Memphis, Tulne/Houston) for 2010 and 2011. MiSU not likely.