2016 Non-Con
Perhaps the one thing Brandon did decently after losing the ND series was attempting to fill the void with good future opponents, including Florida (at JerryWorld, but better than nothing) U-Dub, Arkansas, Virginia Tech, UCLA, Texas and Oklahoma. But next year is hot garbage, aside from the return of Wisconsin to the schedule. Michigan may well be facing three new coaches (though I'd doubt CU makes a change and George O'Leary is his own boss at the moment). Does anyone recall if this is largely the result of the move the 9-game conference schedule or a lack of creativity in finidng a good Power-5 opponent, or a combination of the two?
Two of the teams currently have winning records (including Hawaii beating CU), but I'd imagine Brandon was counting on UCF to be the strongest of the three, and they just lost to Fuman. But hey, at least its a good way to break in a new quarterback and linebacking corps.
And, it's rare for a schedule to have three past BCS selections, I suppose.September 21st, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
Great. Another game against another opponent (Colorado) in which the only interesting component to the game will be to watch highlights of an unforgettable Michigan loss of years past.
Sorry, Colorado at night is not worth it.
And my goodness, I just looked at the 2016 schedule. That's a load of trash. 10-2 is the worst case.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
In what world can you call 10-2 "the worst case" where Ohio State and Michigan State, currently ranked #1 & #2 in the country, are both on the schedule and on the road, and Michigan has gotten above 8 wins exactly once in the last seven years?
I know MSU and OSU will be worse next year, but those are both very, very tough games. We're supposed to think games at home against Wisconsin and Penn State, and at Iowa are guaranteed wins?
We're in no position to whine about weak schedules. Let's just win some god damn football games.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
In no way is it realistic to compare the last seven years to what is happening now and in the coming years.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:22 PM ^
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September 21st, 2015 at 2:26 PM ^
You're absolutely right. It would be way more realistic to expect us to perform at a level that we've only performed at in 2 seasons since Y2k.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
Stave, (maybe/probably) Clement, 3/4 of their current secondary and both wideouts. May be good to get them early.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
I agree -- probably have a decent to good chance of winning that game. 10-2 as a "worst case" remains laughable.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:59 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
Not as entertaining, though it did end with some spectacualrly awful clock management that allowed for CU to get a Hail Mary shot at the end of the game.
September 21st, 2015 at 8:56 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
UTL IV: Night of the Jumpman
September 22nd, 2015 at 7:06 AM ^
UTL IV will feature MJ skydiving into Michigan Stadium amidst fireworks, a squadron of F-16's, and a chorus line of Curly Fries mascots while "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" plays over the PA.
This pregame spectacle is brought to you by Dave Brandon and Lochdawgg.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
It's a result of the rest of the Big ten being crap, and having both MSU and OSU away in the same year. Wisconsin and Penn State are probably the only interesting games in that slate. Besides scheduling good non-conference opponents, we're likely going to have every other year be quite meh.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
2018: Arkansas and SMU (both at home), Nebraska, PSU and Wisconsin on Conference slate
2020: @ Washngton, Home against VT and Ball State
2022: Home with UCLA
2024: Opening against Texas at home
2026: Oklahoma
Conference schedules have only been announced through 2019.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
Wisconsin will probably back off the schedule. Maybe we'll get Iowa and Nebraska at home.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 4:23 PM ^
Of course if he does, he'll probably complain that we play a shitty OOC slate that year.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^
non-conference, Brandon's legacy is clearly visible in conference scheduling and the reason behind it is mostly because his peers didn't like him much, and stuck the school accordingly. Maybe it was just Michigan getting comeuppance.
I mean having MSU and OSU at home is great considering we just got done suffering through a two-year cycle of road games in EL, which regardless of historical scheduling imbalance in Michigan's favor, just seemed like Brandon got taken to the cleaners by the league and its minions. In any case, I blame him for that, and also for not fighting for spilt home and away games with our rivals. Contending that at least both rivals must come to Michigan Stadium every two years doesn't justify that scheduling outcome.
And it especially doesn't bode well when both schools are in the Top 5 and you're team is still in development mode.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
Sparty also has Michigan and Ohio State both at home or both away. Meanwhile, Ohio State gets Sparty at home and Michigan away or Michigan at home and Sparty away.
The obvious solution: time to give Michigan two straight home games against Sparty and re-equalize the schedule for both teams.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^
make it a home and home or don't play it at all. I'm not a fan of neutral site games. Why not just play Texas or A&M if we're going to play a game in that state?
September 21st, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:07 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:08 PM ^
I don't get why they wouldn't do a home and home considering the game would be early in the season (sept 2) and still warm out.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 2:25 PM ^
the number of times an SEC team has played against an Up North School, whether it's Michigan or not. Just doesn't happen. The SEC doesn't travel outside its region to play anybody.
In Bo's day, Michigan played South Carolina, Florida State at the Big House. But considering the Big Ten plays bowl games in Florida every year, you would think there would be more crossover games. And they just don't happen.
Michigan has regularly traveled to the West Coast to play games. And the PAC-12 and the Big Ten were going to have an annual slate of games before that got axed by conference scheduling requirements.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:49 PM ^
Florida hasn't played a non-conference road game outside of Florida since 1993. That was against Memphis, I believe. I'm stunned Michigan got them to agree to Texas!
Getting them to Ann Arbor would be almost impossible.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:02 PM ^
They can wait to play us in a playoff game then. We've had a few down years, but this seems like we're begging a superior program to play us.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 4:26 PM ^
to be in the playoffs in the near future?
Methinks they'll need to go through another coaching change before that is possible.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^
Good call, Mad Hatter. I, too, cannot stand neutral site games, especially when they are played in NFL stadiums.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
September 22nd, 2015 at 3:01 AM ^
The bye week is what I find most interesting about the schedule. I dont like it being so early, as I would rather the team get a chance to rest when they are more likely to need it. At least it may help the team start Big Ten play playing at full strength.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
Apologies, my wife went to a Pac-12 school also located in the state of Washington, and I've been living in PST since 2010. Just going with the shorthand.
September 21st, 2015 at 4:45 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 5:48 PM ^
During the Paul Wulff era, which managed to combine Beckman-style coaching incompetence with Kyle Flood like off-field behavior, she's not the biggest fan of football, outside of the Apple Cup (She has two sisters, the oldest is a Husky and the youngest is also a Coug).
September 21st, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
University of Washington, but everyone calls them U-Dub
September 21st, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
Kids these days. Don't even know their Singles anymore.
September 21st, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
Personally, I am not a fan of the nuetral site games. They don't reward the loyal fan base and season ticket holder. An occasional game, fine. But two in five years, I will pass. Now, on to 2016. The schedule is the result of the switch to 9 B1G conference games and the availability of P5 teams that had open dates. We will sell out the opener no matter what. The UCF game looks pretty bad on paper right now. Hard to get excited for that one. Colorado, well at least they are a PAC 12 team. However, that looks like a great start for us next year (3-0).
September 21st, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:43 PM ^
I assume players at Fuman look like this
September 21st, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
September 21st, 2015 at 1:42 PM ^
Yeah it's weak but we should be favored in every game before MSU, then we will see. Should be favored in at least 10 games next year with that schedule.
September 21st, 2015 at 1:56 PM ^
They just lost to Furman.
He'll retire and Brent Key will be the new coach...however, if they can get rid of O'Leary altogether, they'd be smart as hell to go after Charlie Strong if he gets fired. That's a match made in Sunshine State heaven.