A way-too-early Michigan football schedule prediction for 2022

Michigan football’s schedule of games for the 2022 season became official on Wednesday afternoon. The Big Ten released an updated slate that moved some dates and locations around.

No more uncertainly. The schedule is locked and loaded into our calendars.

It is never too early to look ahead. Michigan has a lot of questions to answer in spring football and throughout the offseason. However, it brings a good nucleus back and a schedule that sets them up for growth.

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Here is a way-too-soon prediction on how the Wolverines could fare in 2022. Take it with the biggest grain of salt possible as these teams round into form.

Sept. 3 vs. Colorado State (3-9 record in 2021)

The non-conference slate is pretty pedestrian for the Wolverines. There is not a Power-5 caliber test in the early going, which sets the team up to find its footing. This will be a blowout.

Prediction: Win (1-0)

Sept. 10 vs. Hawaii (6-7 in 2021)

This will be the third time Michigan football meets Hawaii with the latest matchup coming in 2016 (63-3 W). Expect another multiple-score blowout in favor of the home team.

Prediction: Win (2-0)

Sept. 17 vs. UConn (1-11 in 2021)

To call this an FBS opponent would be too kind. UConn has been a doormat but brings in a new head coach in Jim Mora Jr. He could bring them to competence in time, but they are far away from being that. This will be the most lopsided game of the non-conference slate.

Prediction: Win (3-0)

Sept. 24 vs. Maryland (7-6 in 2021)

Maybe this will be the year Mike Locksey breaks through in the Big Ten East. Or was that supposed to be last year? Or next year? It is hard to tell. Taulia Tagavailoa and a high-upside passing attack will be a test for Michigan’s young secondary. They will pass that test.

Prediction: Win (4-0, 1-0 B1G)

Oct. 1 at Iowa (10-4 in 2021)

The lock of the century seems to be the idea that Iowa could host Michigan in another night game at Kinnick Stadium. That place has been a house of horrors for the Wolverines in the past and will be the first true test of the season. It would not be a shock to see the Hawkeyes grind their way to Big Ten Championship game revenge under the lights.

Prediction: Loss (4-1, 1-1 B1G)

Oct. 8 at Indiana (2-10 in 2021)

It is funny how quickly things can change. A year ago, people in Michigan circles were dying to see their team show the passion Tom Allen’s Hoosiers did in 2020. Then the bottom fell out for Indiana. Next year’s squad probably does not have the horses to keep up with the Wolverines and would get an angry team on a mission after losing to Iowa.

Prediction: Win (5-1, 2-1 B1G)

Oct. 15 vs. Penn State (7-6 in 2021)

The Nittany Lions are 11-11 in the last two seasons, but that still came with the reward of a major contract extension for James Franklin. Sean Clifford will be back for what seems like his 10th year in Happy Valley. These two teams met in a dogfight this season. Look for Michigan to come out on top in this one as the Big Ten pecking order sorts itself out.

Prediction: Win (6-1, 3-1 B1G)

Bonus prediction: This will be Michigan’s home night game in 2022.

Oct. 22 – Michigan football’s bye week

Prediction: Rest for the staff at TheWolverine.com

Oct. 29 vs. Michigan State (11-2 in 2021)

Michigan State sure is paying its head coach a lot of money to finish third in the Big Ten East and finish behind its rivals in the standings! At least, that was the common refrain up the road from Spartan fans on Jim Harbaugh all these years.

Credit where credit is due. Mel Tucker has done a great job getting MSU back into relevance quickly. The proof is in the pudding and he is 2-0 against Michigan. The Wolverines have to wear that. There is going to be a ton of juice in this game. The identity of these two squads was built around Kenneth Walker and Aidan Hutchinson and now they are gone. There are more program narratives to knock off the list. Beating Tucker is at or near the top.

Prediction: Win (7-1, 4-1 B1G)

Nov. 5 at Rutgers (5-8 in 2021)

Rutgers is much improved in two seasons under Greg Schiano, but there is still a lot of work to do. It seems reasonable to expect them to continue getting better. Their stage of the rebuild is entering territory where a signature win is needed. Given how tough the Scarlet Knights have played Michigan recently, they have to be on high alert.

Prediction: Win (8-1, 5-1 B1G)

Nov. 12 vs. Nebraska (3-9 in 2021)

This was a much better team than its record indicated last season. The problem is that they are poorly coached under Scott Frost. Anything less than a bowl appearance in 2022 seemingly gets him canned. Michigan can drive one of the final nails in.

Prediction: Win (9-1, 6-1 B1G)

Nov. 19 vs. Illinois (5-7 in 2021)

The week before the Ohio State game is always one to keep an eye on. Michigan does not want to get caught overlooking anyone. We know that Bret Bielema is building a physical football team that wants to pound the rock. Still, this should serve as a tuneup game for the big one the following week.

Prediction: Win (10-1, 7-1 B1G)

Nov. 26 at Ohio State (11-2 in 2021)

Hooboy. There likely will never be as much juice between these two teams as there is heading into this version of The Game. Michigan football physically dominated OSU in both sides of the trenches in 2021. The Wolverines should have that advantage in 2022’s showdown, as well.

Buckeye fans can complain about the snow or the cold, but at last glance, they still play football in the midwest. The Bucks have massive problems defensively, but a new coordinator in Jim Knowles that will look to turn that around quickly. Michigan makes it two in a row to send Buckeye Nation in full-blown Ryan Day meltdown mode.

Make your St. Elmo’s reservations again.

Prediction: Win (11-1, 8-1 B1G)

Michigan football schedule overview

Again, these are to be taken lightly until we see how the offseasons play out for every team. At first glance, the slate sets up nicely for Michigan to get back to Indianapolis if it can answer the questions on the roster. Replacing the departing pass rushers is going to be incredibly difficult. It likely means the offense has to carry more of the load in 2022, which in turn sends attention to the quarterback battle between Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy. This year was a great baseline. Now, it has to get better in all facets.

With how the schedule sets up, this looks like a year that could come with a 9-3 floor and a ceiling that could have Michigan favored in every game but one. It will play itself out on the field, but there should be a blend of established contributors and young names that emerge. Continuing to develop there can keep Michigan in the Big Ten title hunt in 2022 and beyond.

We will go on record with final projections much later in the offseason. As an exercise in January, it is far easier to see a path to maintaining momentum.