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Michigan football: 4 games that will provide the most fireworks in 2023

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•07/03/23•

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(Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

Michigan football has Big Ten Championship and national title aspirations this year, but it will have to be earned. Even with a loaded roster returning from the last two seasons, the Wolverines always have a major target on their backs.

With the Fourth of July nearing, now is as good a time as ever to discuss the games that could provide the most fireworks this fall. This could mean a variety of things, whether it be points on the board, juicy storylines, close calls and more.

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Here are four quick picks.

1. vs. Ohio State (Nov. 25)

This one is self-explanatory. The Wolverines have beaten OSU 87-50 over the last two years in games that tilted Michigan’s way late. The Game has been largely competitive, but U-M’s conditioning and physicality has given them the mental edge over the Buckeyes. Simply put, when OSU plays a four-quarter game against a team that has the goods to beat them, it does not go their way of late.

This one is going to be physical, and nobody would be surprised if it was a shootout. The Game could be college football’s most consequential this season. If Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines pull out another win, Ryan Day’s seat could be scorching hot in Columbus.

2. at Penn State (Nov. 11)

There were other candidates for the No. 2 spot, but this has the chance to be a game that puts one team in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten title. Plus, we saw some explosion with tempers flaring over in last season’s game, which allegedly included peanut butter and jelly sandwiches being thrown around Lloyd Carr’s tunnel.

Silliness aside, this could easily be Michigan’s most physical game on the schedule in a play that is historically tough to play in. Michigan avoided the White Out game, so that bodes well for at least softening the environment a little. While it might not be the Big Ten’s premier rivalry tilt, there is no love lost between these two programs. Head coach James Franklin was once thought of as a superior coach to Harbaugh, but history has tilted the other way over the last few seasons.

3. at Michigan State (Oct. 21)

As far as tempers flaring goes, this game could be No. 1 on the list despite the two programs heading in opposite directions. The Michigan/MSU rivalry has gone beyond toxic and has divulged into full-on nuclear warfare. There is no longer any mutual respect between the two schools and fanbases, which is a bummer.

This probably will not be a close game, but there is going to be something inflammatory that happens between game week and when the teams leave the field. The hope is that it does not result in assaults and criminal charges. Here is to hoping that last year is as low as it will ever get, because it is not a whole lot of fun for the fans anymore.

Whatever happens, it will be interesting.

4. at Nebraska (Sept. 30)

Nebraska is going to get things turned around quicker than expected under Matt Rhule. They have the resources for a swift rebound, especially with a coach now that is willing to put in the work rather than rest on his reputation as the program’s prodigal son.

Michigan’s first road game of the year will be difficult, and we know that Nebraska fans will bring their A-game to make it a crazy atmosphere. The Wolverines just barely got out of Lincoln with a win in 2021. We have this circled as a game that could be more wild than it looks on paper.

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