Michigan football's Big Ten opponents set through 2028 with major changes and marquee matchups
The Michigan Wolverines Big Ten football opponents through the 2028 season was released on Thursday afternoon with major changes to it, which were first reported by TheWolverine.com’s Chris Balas.
With USC, UCLA, Washington and Oregon joining the conference in 2024, the previously announced schedules were always going to be amended. Michigan will host Oregon and USC at home while heading to Washington. The two schools were previously set to play in Seattle in a return date of a home-and-home series in 2028.
The rest of Michigan’s home slate in 2024 includes Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern, while trips on the road include Illinois, Indiana and Ohio State.
In 2025, Michigan will host Ohio State, Purdue, Washington and Wisconsin while making trips to Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern and USC. 2026’s slate includers home dates with Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA.
In 2027, Michigan hosts Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon and Rutgers while heading to Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA.
The 2028 slate includes home games with Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC and trips to Ohio State, Purdue, Washington and Wisconsin.
Under the new scheduling format, Michigan has retained Ohio State and Michigan State as its protected rivals.
Here’s how it breaks down over the next five years:
2024
Home: Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, USC
Away: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington
2025
Home: Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, Wisconsin
Away: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC
2026
Home: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA
Away: Minnesota, Ohio State, Oregon, Rutgers
Top 10
- 1Hot
Jake Paul tops Mike Tyson
Netflix fight ends in Paul victory
- 2New
Nico Iamaleava update
UT QB status revealed vs. Georgia
- 3
Nick Saban
Coach regrets leaving LSU
- 4
Gruden talks Tennessee
Ex-NFL coach addresses past rumors
- 5
DJ Lagway
Florida QB to return vs. LSU
2027
Home: Illinois, Ohio State, Oregon, Rutgers
Away: Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State, UCLA
2028
Home: Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, USC
Away: Ohio State, Purdue, Washington, Wisconsin
The 2024 non-conference slate will still include Fresno State, Texas and Arkansas State, all in Ann Arbor. Some had wondered if the Texas game would be removed with a harder schedule coming. But Texas’ exit from the Big 12 to the SEC was contingent upon 2024’s game taking place in Ann Arbor.
As far as the Ohio State game goes, head coach Jim Harbaugh said his team would play it whenever, and that people are used to the Thanksgiving weekend, tradition.
“We’ll play that whenever it’s scheduled to be played. We know we’re going to play it every season at least once,” Harbaugh said at Big Ten Media Days. “I don’t have a particular opinion of when it should be played. Right now it’s played the last game of the season. I think everybody’s used to that. It’s part of the Thanksgiving tradition now. So, that’s when we’ll expect it.”
For the next two seasons, the Big Ten Championship will take place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The location could rotate after that with Vegas, Minneapolis, Detroit and Los Angeles as rumored spots in the future.
This story is developing.
