If the Michigan Wolverines play soccer this fall, they will do so playing alone against teams in the Big Ten Conference. The schedules have yet to be released, but the theory is that the conference would try to bring them forward with division games and build a damper on either side of the schedule in a setting where the season had to be shortened postponed.
There are also rumors that there may not be a week off and that they would play for ten weeks. For programming purposes, we have left it where it is now.
With that in mind, here is a look at a schedule that might make sense in these circumstances. This is based solely on speculation and is not based on any internal information.
September 19 – in Minnesota
We are going to start the first two weeks of the year with clashes between larger divisions for two reasons. The first is that it is still more than just a striking enough way to start the year. The second is that if games have to be eliminated from the front and rear half of the schedule, they are not important in the East division race. This would give Michigan a trophy game to play from the beginning.
September 26 – against Wisconsin
The same logic as above applies here and really allows this game to stay where it was originally programmed.
October 3 – in the state of Ohio
An early season version of The Game? Purists would riot, but if there is any chance that a season to begin will be delayed, the conference should make sure one of its biggest games goes off. Some people think that it should open the season, but we’ve built a few weeks earlier in case they decide to go ahead with a delayed season.
October 10 – vs. Penn State
In this scenario, Michigan ends the beginning of the year playing with the four most difficult teams on the calendar in the first four weeks of the season. Most people agree that Ohio State is the team to beat at the conference, but the Michigan and Penn State debate as the next in line is set on the field here.
October 17 – in the state of Michigan
This game could be a candidate to open the season. However, since the matchup will not have the expectation it usually has due to a rebuilding MSU, it remains a mid-season matchup.
October 24 – vs. Indiana
Michigan was set for a Nov. 21 tilt with the Hoosiers, but the divisional games’ frontload sets the matchup a month earlier.
October 31 – vs. Maryland
This game was scheduled for November 7, but has moved up without a week off in this scenario.
November 7 – at Rutgers
The Michigan to Rutgers trip is a week early, but is still taking place later in the season to allow for more relaxed travel restrictions later in the season.
November 14 – vs. Purdue
It was originally scheduled for homecoming on October 24, but we changed it to be the end of the house.
November 21 – in Illinois
Illinois is not on the current schedule, but they will have to add a team to reach 10 games. It looks like it could be Illinois or Iowa, so we choose the smaller of the two teams in case the season is shortened early.
What do you think about how this is formed? Turn off the sound below in the comments.
