Balas: Michigan's 2024 schedule will include USC, UO, UW
Chris Balas of On3 is reporting ($) that Michigan's 2024 schedule will include USC, Oregon, and Washington, alongside Texas and "protected rivals" OSU & MSU. Not sure how that achieves competitive balance among conference members, but Warde's inability to stand up for Michigan is something we've gotten used to.
Damn that is one hell of a tough schedule that Michigan will get. WOW!!!!
— Big Ten information. College football fan (@Genetics56) October 3, 2023
Oregon, USC, Texas at home and Michigan State, and road games with Ohio State and probably Washington.
Thus,
Oregon
USC
Texas
Michigan State
Ohio State
likely Washington
ITF EXTRA: Michigan football…
October 4th, 2023 at 7:00 PM ^
There’s been enough nfl throws in the first 5 weeks to guarantee a top 10. Those throws are the equivalent of a 6 4” lefty throwing 98 in high school. Guaranteed money.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
From a future earnings perspective, going in the 20's would be more ideal. It usually means you are going to a better situation from a franchise perspective. In the short term, yes you get paid less, but the second contract is where they make the big money anyway. Being with the right franchise can mean everything in terms of development and opportunity for success.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:28 PM ^
CJ Stroud seems pretty happy being a top 5 pick.
Burrow has already been in a SB. Josh Allen has been close. Goff has been.
Don't think Matt Stafford is giving back any of his money for being #1 and playing for a trash team for a decade.
Too simplistic of a take. Elite QB can change a franchise in 2 years. NFL is built for quick turnarounds unlike other sports.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:27 PM ^
It's one mock. There will be 10,000 more between now and December forget April. Generally he looks to be back half of the first round to early second round. If he does well vs PSU OSU and playoffs (like the TCU game minus the pick 6s) he will solidify himself for sure. Maye has been a bit less than desired so far but its generally Williams and Maye as top 2 and then a host of guys rotating at QB3. Rarely is it JJ other then one random mock. (p.s. that one had Bo Nix like 8th overall) But you could get 4-5 in a first round - they were taking Anthony Richardson fergodsakes first round.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:27 PM ^
Most of the projections I'm seeing right now have him late first/early second. Granted, still time to change that perception of him, but that mock with him as 5th overall is a serious outlier.
That said, if Michigan wins the natty this year, does he go while the getting is good (i.e., before the Big 10 Pac happens and his draft stock is presumably strong after, you know, winning the natty)?
October 4th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Mel Kiper said he was 5th best QB.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:54 AM ^
Good point. Let's hope.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:56 AM ^
Not sure what JJ is going to do but if he stays and goes 3-0 vs an OSU, plus another on the bench, he'll go down as an all-time UM great.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
2-0 with a national championship will do.
October 4th, 2023 at 8:08 PM ^
Not 3 - 0 ?????
October 4th, 2023 at 12:35 PM ^
Going into the season I thought he'd stay just cause he loves Michigan and wants his degree. But as the season goes on, I'm thinking he leaves. Right now Williams, Penix, Maye, and Ewers are all above him based on super early mock drafts. Last year Tyler Van Dyke and Will Levis were both projected ahead of Anthony Richardson, and by the end of the season that had changed. Similarly, while I don't see JJ passing Caleb Williams. I think he could move up into the 3rd qb spot, and get taken in the top 10.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
Penix came back for mo' money when he was being mocked in the 2nd round. So who knows. That said it makes sense for injury reasons to go. QBs go higher than other positions due to positional value alone so what is seen as an early 2nd round grade in December often turns into mid 1st round in April.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:08 AM ^
Aren't Keegan and Zinter both gone as well after this year?
October 4th, 2023 at 2:33 PM ^
Next year is going to be a step back whatever the case. You cannot portal in all the talent the team is set to lose. It will be a young team and fun from that perspective but it won't be a team like this year and the last 3 that was experience laden.
October 4th, 2023 at 7:25 PM ^
And we all said that 2 yrs ago when Hutch and co were leaving. We’ve recruited well enough and the coaches are getting the next crop plenty of playing time. If JJ leaves they’ll be some growing pains. But the nucleus is there to compete again.
October 4th, 2023 at 1:28 PM ^
No JJ, Corum, RW, CJ, or Edwards....
So like, our ENTIRE offensive production? LOL. Good luck replacing that with...whoever is on the depth chart. Next year is going to be a big down year if all these guys leave. There currently isn't another JJ in the locker room and even with a highly talented freshman QB, he still wouldn't be capable of picking up where JJ left off. Enjoy this year folks, cause it's gonna be down for a bit after this.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:14 AM ^
Granted, USC, Oregon and Washington will all have new QBs next year, so that helps a little. And we don't play PSU, who might be really good.
But yeah, tough draw overall.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:24 AM ^
I think getting Penix and Williams into the league helps more than just "a little." Neither school will replace them easily.
October 4th, 2023 at 2:37 PM ^
Penix replacements rarely go very well.
October 4th, 2023 at 5:08 PM ^
I heard they're looking at a guy named Ben T. Caret
October 4th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
Well I'm sure that tOSU will have to play UCLA so that seems like equal schedules!
The scheduling disparities are gong to be a huge problem for the the B10 going forward. How do you compare a team's schedule that plays 5 top ten teams in a season to team like IOWA who plays nobody? Yet this is the situation that will occur every single year in the new B10.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:09 AM ^
Exactly.
Fox was involved in the latest round of re-allignment and paid a grip to get the Big Ten TV rights.
They didn't do that so they could broadcast UCLA vs. Illinois.
In order to justify that big contract, they need the top teams playing each other every week, so they're totally going to slant the scheduling.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:35 AM ^
Don't forget - FS1 is broadcasting Nebraska at Illinois this Friday night. My guess is - that game will draw at least ten or twelve people to watch it in a Nebraska bar.
October 4th, 2023 at 7:27 PM ^
At my age I’ll watch it just because I LITERALLY won’t have anything else to do.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:01 AM ^
"In order to justify that big contract, they need the top teams playing each other every week, so they're totally going to slant the scheduling."
So, I guess any rumors of Fox Sports working with the IRS to formally become a 501 (c) (3) are in inaccurate - false and misleading.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:34 AM ^
Which is another reason why the conference should have gone after Cal and Stanford to provide some additional buffers, even if it diluted the money.
October 4th, 2023 at 12:03 PM ^
In particular, it's going to make selection for the Big 10 championship game a total crap shoot of who teams play and what the bizarre tie-breaking situation is. Obviously, divisions had all kinds of down-sides in a conference that big (essentially, teams in separate divisions would rarely play each other and it would make the Big 10 no longer a conference but a kind of league of its own containing two separate conferences). However, the one upside is that it would make clear who teams are competing against to make the championship game.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:05 AM ^
That is currently five top 10 teams, I've never heard of a more brutal schedule
October 4th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
IIRC - the season you referenced turned out "ok" for Michigan. Perhaps we'll see something similar this near and next.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:26 AM ^
I hadn't realized this before but, no bye weeks either.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
9/13/97 was their first game?? Maybe they had a bye during week 1...
*insert shrugging emoji guy here*
October 4th, 2023 at 10:42 AM ^
That was the year we got the super late start to the season. IIRC we started after the Lions did.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:06 AM ^
That was also when we finished with Ohio State the weekend before Thanksgiving. I really wish that would come back as I do not want to travel on Thanksgiving weekend. I know, I know ... never coming back unless we move The Game earlier in the season.
October 4th, 2023 at 11:55 AM ^
The "Saturday after Thanksgiving" OSU game in Ann Arbor is now a tradition in our household, which makes for a very busy - and late - Thanksgiving day.
My kids are students at Michigan, and I promised my son we'd make a trip to Columbus next year so he can witness first-hand what it's like there. Having been to several Michigan - OSU games in Columbus, I can't say that it's something I'm looking forward to.
October 4th, 2023 at 6:00 PM ^
Yes. That's when they started the week after Labor Day and finished before Thanksgiving (playing only 11 regular season games).
October 4th, 2023 at 11:45 AM ^
That's as brutal as 1989:
October 4th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
And 1991:
October 4th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
and the coaches poll still fucked them
October 4th, 2023 at 12:50 PM ^
just to revisit my absolute distain for ozbourne, frost, the polls and the voters for having to sweat out 1/2 a natty that year. for comparison purposes. the OT "win" against Mizzoo should have settled this...I still can't accept it.
1Aug 30, 1997Sat(6) Nebraska Akron MAC W 59-14
2Sep 13, 1997Sat(6) NebraskaUCF Ind W38-24
3Sep 20, 1997Sat(7) Nebraska@(2) Washington Pac-10 W27-14
4Oct 4, 1997Sat(3) Nebraska(17) Kansas State Big 12 W56-26
5Oct 11, 1997Sat(3) Nebraska@Baylor Big 12 W49-21
6Oct 18, 1997Sat(2) NebraskaTexas Tech Big 12 W29-0
7Oct 25, 1997Sat(1) Nebraska@Kansas Big 12 W35-0
8Nov 1, 1997Sat(1) NebraskaOklahoma Big 12 W69-7
9Nov 8, 1997Sat(1) Nebraska@Missouri Big 12 W45-38 OT
10Nov 15, 1997Sat(3) NebraskaIowa State Big 12 W77-14
11Nov 28, 1997Fri(2) Nebraska@Colorado Big 12 W27-24
12Dec 6, 1997Sat(2) NebraskaN(14) Texas A&M Big 12 W54-15 Big 12 Championship Game
13Jan 2, 1998Fri(2) NebraskaN(3) TennesseeSEC W42-17 Orange Bowl (Miami, FL)
October 4th, 2023 at 6:08 PM ^
Ah, the good old days. When Michigan's goal every season was to beat its rivals and win the Big Ten and a trip to the Rose Bowl and ('mythical" national championships were just a cherry on top), and the whole schedule was oriented toward that, meaning Michigan wanted a strong non-conference schedule to best prepare them for the Big Ten, especially if they could get those non-conference games at home.
The BCS and especially the playoffs changed all that.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:33 AM ^
I have to say, I am jelly of your profile pic.... I remember that hit and reaction so well!
October 4th, 2023 at 11:30 AM ^
Well to be frank, most of the SEC have played rough schedules the last few decades.
Like GA in 2021: #3 Clemson, #8 Ark, #18 Auburn, #11 Kentucky, #3 Alabama, #2 Michigan
October 4th, 2023 at 10:07 AM ^
so five games against teams currently ranked in the top 10...dang, that is a gauntlet.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:18 AM ^
Pennix and Williams are both going to be in the NFL, right? Nix going pro too? We dodge PSU, MSU is dumpster fire, OSU loses Harrison.
This schedule looks bad in 2023, but in 2024, when accounting for the QB and talent transitions, maybe it takes some of the sting off.
October 4th, 2023 at 10:24 AM ^
certainly true...but those are all solid programs, not just solid teams...so while they are not all likely to be top 10 quality next year, they will absolutely be good. Definitely better than playing that schedule this year though!
October 4th, 2023 at 10:11 AM ^
I'm not complaining. I don't care if it leads to 1 or 2 more losses than we otherwise would have if were lined up with Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, etc ...
We're going to have a lot of exciting football to watch, which is a nice change of scenery from the last 3 years
It would be nice to lose the protected matchup with MSU. That game will be a bloodbath on the field and, unfortunately, might also be off of it
October 4th, 2023 at 10:25 AM ^
I'm not complaining. I don't care if it leads to 1 or 2 more losses than we otherwise would have if were lined up with Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Nebraska, etc ...
We're going to have a lot of exciting football to watch, which is a nice change of scenery from the last 3 years
I'll never understand this take. To me, a boring win is infinitely better than an "exciting" loss. Actually, there's no such thing as an "exciting loss" to me; losing ruins the experience...
October 4th, 2023 at 10:41 AM ^
Yeah. In my childhood ('80s/'90s) almost every single year we lost a big game in September - usually in an agonizing fashion - that knocked us out of the national title race. I don't really miss that.
(Granted, with 12 teams in the playoff our margin for error is better.)