An Early Look At The 2020 Football Schedule

September 5th: at Washington
The Wolverines have lost heartbreakers the last two times they ventured out to Seattle for a non-conference game (1983 & 2001). This could very well be the marquee matchup of Week 1 next season. Expect College Gameday to be there, unless USC hires Urban Meyer, then there's no way its missing out on his first game being against Nick Saban and Alabama. As for the Huskies, they're currently starting 10 seniors. Both tackles on the OL will be gone, and the DL will have to replace three of four starters as well. If Jacob Eason returns for his senior season, this will be a preseason top 25 team. Albeit somewhere in the bottom half. This is one of the loudest stadiums in college football when the team is good, so coming out of there with any kind of win would be a huge early momentum boost to the season.

September 12th: Ball State
The Cardinals are having a bit of a surprise 2019, finding themselves in the thick of the MAC race. Right now, they're on pace to return about 13 starters next season, including quarterback Drew Plitt. But they'll be a massive underdog in the home opener.

September 19th: Arkansas State
This is usually one of the better Sun Belt programs, but the Red Wolves are scuffling so far this season. Saddled with injuries, and then a tragic start to the season with the death of Coach Blake Anderson's wife, which kept him away early on. Next season they should be better, with upward of nine starters returning on offense. But again, Michigan is the superior team obviously.

September 26th: Wisconsin
Needless to say the Big Ten opener is a big revenge game for the Wolverines. The Badgers could return the best OL in the country, or have to replace their two best players if Tyler Biadasz and Cole Van Lanen elect to leave early for the NFL Draft. Jonathan Taylor obviously will decide to do so, leaving a gaping void in the backfield. Yes, Wisconsin has been replacing NFL running backs for decades now, but this time they don't have an obvious heir apparent waiting in the wings. As many as nine starters could return on defense, but the two losses are probably their two best players -- Zack Baun and Chris Orr. Jack Coan will be back under center for a team that will be somewhere in the preseason top 25.

October 3rd: Penn State
Essentially the entire offense returns, including some guys making an impact that might not even be counted as returning starters. This should be one of the top offenses in the Big Ten. However, the front seven on defense could be Micah Parsons and the question marks if Yetur Gross-Matos and Shaka Toney go pro as expected. That would make Parsons potentially the only returning starter in the front seven. The secondary loses two starters as well, and Lamont Wade could be a third if he elects to declare for the draft. So this defense will likely be young. Then there's the status of Coach James Franklin, whose name has been mentioned for both the USC and Florida State openings. A coaching change of that magnitude could put a lot of things in flux for next season.

October 10th: at Michigan State
It's not over-stating it to say virtually every player in this program you know is good could be gone next season. The defense, in particular, could lose as many as eight starters. And we know the offense is a road to nowhere. Will there be a head coaching change? Given how the administration has been gutted and Mark Dantonio's campus clout, who knows who's calling the shots there. The situation is a mess, albeit one of their own making.

October 17th: at Minnesota
Talk about a midseason gauntlet, this could be Michigan's third ranked opponent in the opening half of its conference schedule (with a Sparty rivalry game thrown in). The Gophers are having their best season since 1941, and still have one of the youngest rosters in the Big Ten. As many as nine starters could be back on a pretty good offense. Minnesota will have already played key West division rivals Iowa and Wisconsin by the time the Wolverines come to town, so we'll know how good they really are.

October 24th: Purdue
This is my early leader for "look out" game. After playing four straight headline-type clashes, the Wolverines come home for a Purdue team that should rebound strong next season. All the injuries that wrecked its 2019 are building depth for 2020. And the combination of David Bell and Rondale Moore could be the best receiving duo the Wolverines face all season. Elijah Sindelar has another year of eligibility at quarterback, too. The Boilermakers also get Rutgers and Illinois before this one, thus they could come in with loads of confidence.

November 7th: Maryland
After a much-needed bye, this should resume Michigan's perennial wood-shed beating of the Terps in the Harbaugh era. Who knows if talented skill guys like Anthony McFarland and Javon Leake stick around for this mess, or hit the transfer portal. And a defense that already wasn't good loses every one of its best players. Oh, and Mike Locksley is still the coach.

November 14th: at Rutgers
Talk about program upheaval, the roster needs a total rebuild and a head coach still needs to be hired. Will it be a Greg Schiano homecoming? Joe Moorhead returning to the Big Ten? Butch Jones trying to resurrect his career? Needless to say Michigan will be a massive road favorite here either way.

November 21st: Indiana
The final home game of the season is once again those pesky Hoosiers. Coach Tom Allen may have a hard time holding onto coveted offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer with the job he's done. Don't rule out Indiana getting some preseason top 25 love. As many as 16 starters could return -- including quarterbacks Michael Penix and Peyton Ramsey. The backfield duo of Stevie Scott and Sampson James should give opponents headaches, too.

November 28th: at Ohio State
If J.K. Dobbins goes pro as expected, Justin Fields is going to be surrounded by an almost entirely new cast in 2020. Granted, given the way the Buckeyes recruit, those new guys will be good but they'll still be new. It's possible Fields will be one of just four returning starters on offense. The DL could lose five of its top six players. And if Jeffrey Okudah goes to the NFL as expected, the secondary will have to be renovated, too. It's not inconceivable Ohio State will only bring back as few as eight returning starters next fall. This could be one of the youngest teams in the Big Ten, if not the country.