Possible replacements for Hawaii on 2016 schedule

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

Since the Hawaii AD is having grave concerns about the fate of their football program, let's just say they do have to drop football.

That would leave Michigan with a short amount of time for a replacement game. 

Here is the current schedule for 2016

9/3 vs Hawaii
9/10 vs UCF
9/17 vs Colorado
9/24 Bye Week
10/1 vs Wisconsin^
10/8 at Rutgers*
10/15 vs Penn State*
10/22 vs Illinois (HC)^
10/29 at Michigan State*
11/5 vs Maryland*
11/12 at Iowa^
11/19 vs Indiana*
11/26 at Ohio*
12/3 B1G Championship Game#

I used FB schedules.com to and went through all FBS school's schedules in 2016 to look for openings on 9/3. I eliminated teams Michigan has scheduled future games with, teams they will play in 2014-2015 and teams who have a TBA date with an opponent already lined up in 2016, assuming that it will be their opener.

Teams followed by Michigan's record against them

  • Appalachian State
  • California (6-2)
  • Connecticut (2-0)
  • Florida State (1-1)
  • Georgia (1-1)
  • Georgia State (Never played them; new team to FBS)
  • Kentucky (1-0)
  • Louisville (Never played)
  • Marshall (Never played)
  • Mississippi (1-0)
  • Missouri (2-2)
  • New Mexico (Never played)
  • Ohio University (Never played)
  • Old Dominion (Never played)
  • San Diego State (2-0)
  • Southern Mississippi (Never played)
  • Syracuse (6-5-1)
  • Troy (Never played)
  • UAB (Never played)
  • Utah State (Never played)
  • UTSA (Never played; started playing football in 2012)
  • Vanderbilt (10-0-1)

There are also two other possibilities. Swap the bye week, which I don't see happening. Or, schedule an FCS team. 

MGoBoard
Football

1464

August 19th, 2014 at 1:14 PM ^

You missed the "never played" tag for Appalachian State.  Is that because we play them in a week and a half?  If so, I'd still like to see it on there, for the sake of consistency.

Thanks.

Joined: 06/21/2010

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MGoBender

August 19th, 2014 at 1:17 PM ^

No chance of happening.  They won't give up a home game to possibly come up here and lose.  Not on short notice.  That's a program that would require an in-advance home and home game.

Unless you make that game a neutral site game, UGA and FSU can be ruled out.

Joined: 03/26/2010

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MGoBender

August 19th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^

I think you can eliminate UConn since we just played them.  Florida State and Georgia can probably eliminated as well, unless we give a return game in 2046.

So....  I'd like Louisville.  Probably a tough get, though.

Joined: 03/26/2010

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Real Tackles Wear 77

August 19th, 2014 at 1:16 PM ^

I would love to see Cal, Ole Miss, Mizzou, SDSU (actually because of the Hoke factor, that might be the most likely), Vandy...but since it's Hawaii they're swapping out it'll probably be the easiest one they can find.

That said, I am on record saying I hope Hawaii doesn't drop football.

Joined: 07/05/2008

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MGoChippewa

August 19th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^

system taking over, this should be used as an opportunity to boost SOS as much as possible.  Would suck playing a touch matchup (UGa, FSU, L'Ville, Mizzou) in week one, but there could be huge benefits to doing that as opposed to scheduling the also-rans in WD's list.

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elm

August 19th, 2014 at 1:26 PM ^

This would almost certainly be a one-off home game, so, as others have, any of the big names are off the table.  Even the Louisville's and Syracuse's are probably off the table.

I would say Ohio (NTO) and Marshall are the most likely as they are likely to take the payday and are fairly local.  I'm surprised we've never played Ohio (NTO) before and so, amongst the schools that I think we could get, I'll put them at the top.  Also, that way, we can beat both Ohio (YTO) and Ohio (NTO) in the same year. 

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Maize.Blue Wagner

August 19th, 2014 at 1:26 PM ^

Ohio seems likely to me. I can't believe they've never played before, but they fit the MAC mold of Bowling Green, Ball St. and the three Michigan schools that get played early in the year. And it would be an easy trip for them to make. It seems like they would be glad to keep those costs down. 

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MGoPoints: 2646

ijohnb

August 19th, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

needs to start.  They will get worse before they get better.  Pretty soon you will be getting "If we lose to App. State you are going to......" type thread that will get like 6 responses each and they will all be "did this really need its own thread?"

It feels like football season so people want to talk, but there is just not quite enough to talk about yet. 

Joined: 09/21/2009

MGoPoints: 69986

Don

August 19th, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^

So speculation about a replacement for a future opponent that's in dire financial straits and considering dropping their football program is bad, but repetitive "what are you drinking" threads filled with arguments about the virtues of Yeti Imperial Stout or Heady Topper or Dogsquat Rye Ale are just fine.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148248

Cali Wolverine

August 19th, 2014 at 8:17 PM ^

Despite "grave concerns", Hawaii still has a football team that we are contracted to play against in 2016. If I am wrong then let's just say the University of Florida is hit by a Sharknado...what teams are available and would you like to see us play in Dallas? At least we can agree that we don't need 10 Braxton Miller threads...so we have that in common.

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MGoPoints: 21755

Wolverine In Exile

August 19th, 2014 at 1:29 PM ^

Ga St, Ut St, Old Dominion, NM, Troy, UAB, UTSA... it's replacing Hawaii so I'm not worried about strength of schedule. We got enough meat with UCF (who will still be good Big 5 be damned) and Colorado. 2016 should be Year 2 of the Shane Morris Project so I'd like a tasty cupcake to get things rolling please.

Joined: 11/08/2008

MGoPoints: 10790

alum96

August 19th, 2014 at 1:39 PM ^

With UCF and Colorado that schedule is actually missing a non conf patsie so I wouldnt be surprised to see Ohio be scheduled.  Seriously.   If not, teams most like Ohio would be high on the pecking order - say Marshall.   UCF based on last year was a top 8 team in the nation.

It won't be a high profile matchup this late.  Wildcard is SDSU who we played recently and Hoke obviously has connections with.  Basically whatever mediocre team that is willing to come here for a $1M payday is who it is going to be.

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