There was so much to like about Saturday in the Big House – for Michigan fans, for college football fans and especially for Big Ten fans. Welcome to the conference, USC.
Two storied football institutions will now play a lot more often, and if Saturday was any indication of how that’s going to go – bring it on. These two teams will play again next year at the LA Coliseum and this could be the start of something very special.
Before we look forward, let’s take a step back. It’s hard to believe these two amazing programs have only played each other 11 times since Jan. 1, 1948. Michigan is 5-6 in those games. They won the first game 49-0 in 1984 but lost in the Rose Bowl to the Trojans in 2006, 2003 and 1989. Michigan won the 1988 Rose Bowl 22-14.
But let’s play it forward.
There is so much to get excited about with not only the new football alignment and playoff format but just the schedules over the next few years. Next season, the Wolverines will play week two at Oklahoma sandwiched in between a few gimmies. But then U-M will play games at Nebraska, USC, and Michigan State among others and host the likes of Ohio State, Washington and Wisconsin.
In 2026, Oklahoma, UCLA, Penn State and Michigan State will visit the Big House. The Wolverines also will play at Oregon and Ohio State. Sidenote: Can we get Notre Dame back on the schedule – a topic for another day.
The Wolverines need to take care of business at home against Minnesota but there are no layups this year for Big Blue. They don’t have the offense to blow games open – at least not yet – so teams are going to be able to at least stick around (like Fresno State).
After Saturday’s game, U-M hits the road for tough games against Washington and Illinois. The Huskies are 3-1, 1-0 Big Ten and play Saturday at Rutgers (3-0). No. 19 Illinois visits No. 9 Penn State on Saturday fresh off an impressive win over Nebraska. Then it’s home for Michigan State and top 10 ranked Oregon.
Let’s say U-M beats Minnesota to improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten and 4-1 overall. Of the next four, an optimistic best-case scenario would be 3-1 but more likely 2-2 if we take off the maize and blue shades.
Still, there weren’t many folks not wearing those sunglasses that give U-M a shot against USC and look how that played out. What we learned on Saturday was that the Wolverines are going to run the ball down your throat until you stop them. We also learned that this team has heart and is starting to show its own personality after last season’s championship run.
The win extended the season with hopes of making the playoffs and competing in this new Big Ten. Every game they win, extends that hope. It all goes to show how big Saturday’s victory over USC was and what it means going forward – both for this year and the exciting future.
