The Michigan Wolverines are set to be a major part of a shifting landscape in college sports in the coming years, which could include the scheduling of opponents. This season marks the first year of an 18-team Big Ten Conference and first season of the 12-team College Football Playoff.
There are not any major changes coming to the non-conference slates, at least for the next few seasons. The teams that Michigan will play in the first three games of the year are set through the 2027 season. It is 2028 and beyond where the opportunities could be endless.
Here is a look at what is lined up over the next several years.
2024
Fresno State (August 31)
Texas (September 7)
Arkansas State (September 14)
Michigan’s meeting with Fresno State is the first-ever between the two schools and the showdown is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on NBC, marking the full-time debut of Sherrone Moore as Michigan’s head coach.
Originally the Texas game this season was going to be played in Austin prior to a condition of the Longhorns’ exit from the Big 12 being a location flip and FOX Big Noon Saturday broadcast. The lone previous meeting between schools came in the 2005 Rose Bowl, a 38-37 Texas victory.
The game against Arkansas State is another first for the Wolverines and will take place at noon on Big Ten Network.
2025
New Mexico (August 30)
at Oklahoma (September 6)
Central Michigan (September 13)
Kick times for all of these games will be revealed at a later date, likely late spring/early summer 2025. The game against New Mexico is another first for the Wolverines, who get a tune-up game before heading to Norman, Oklahoma for the first leg of a planned home-and-home series with the Sooners. The Wolverines round out the 2025 slate with a home game against the Central Michigan Chippewas, where Michigan holds a 4-0 advantage all-time. The last meeting game in a 59-9 win in 2013.
2026
Western Michigan (September 5)
Oklahoma (September 12)
UTEP (September 19)
Michigan plays all of its non-conference games at home again in 2026 with Western Michigan opening the season in Ann Arbor. U-M has an 8-0 advantage in the series, with the most recent being a 47-14 win in 2021. The Wolverines host Oklahoma to close out that series the following week on Sept. 12, followed by the third meeting between Michigan and UNLV in series history on Sept. 19. The Wolverines took down the Rebels 35-7 in Week 2 of the 2023 season.
2027
Buffalo (September 4)
at Texas (September 11)
Eastern Michigan (September 18)
Michigan has emphasized adding new teams to the buy game mix, hosting Buffalo for only the second time in program history to kick off the 2027 season. The last game took place in 1901, which was a 127-0 U-M victory in Ann Arbor. The return trip to Texas takes place in Austin on Sept. 11 before returning home to take on fellow Washtenaw County resident Eastern Michigan at the Big House. U-M is 10-0 all-time against EMU.
2028
No dates currently set
2029
Western Michigan (September 1)
WMU comes back to Ann Arbor to kick off the 2029 campaign, its 10th game against the Wolverines.
2030
Eastern Michigan (Sept. 7)
EMU makes its 11th trip to the Big House in Week 2 of the 2030 season.
2033
Notre Dame (September 3)
Michigan could wind up renewing its rivalry with Notre Dame sooner than this if the two teams meet in the expanded College Football Playoff, but the next scheduled game in the series takes place in Ann Arbor.
2034
at Notre Dame (September 2)
Michigan will make its return to South Bend the following season.
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