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We are still waiting to see what the 2020 college football season will officially look like, but as of now everything is still on as scheduled as it pertains to the slate of games. The Michigan Wolverines typically have a tough schedule yearly given the conference and division they play in and this year will be no different.
According to numbers run by SportsBettingDime.com, Michigan heads into the 2020 season with the third-toughest schedule in the country trailing only Purdue (255.22) and Georgia Tech (223.97). SBD says its calculations are not only based on winning percentage, but also last year’s efficiency numbers for teams and how much production they lost ahead of this season.
Here is the top 25 based on SBD’s algorithm:
SBD’s Strength of Schedule Rankings
| Rank | Team | Conference | SOS Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Conference | SOS Total |
| 1 | Purdue | Big Ten | 255.22 |
| 2 | Georgia Tech | ACC | 223.97 |
| 3 | Michigan | Big Ten | 211.92 |
| 4 | Nebraska | Big Ten | 210.8 |
| 5 | Vanderbilt | SEC | 195.22 |
| 6 | Iowa | Big Ten | 190.39 |
| 7 | Michigan State | Big Ten | 183.86 |
| 8 | Colorado | Pac-12 | 179.85 |
| 9 | South Carolina | SEC | 179.19 |
| 10 | Wisconsin | Big Ten | 170.24 |
| 11 | Arkansas | SEC | 159.38 |
| 12 | Northwestern | Big Ten | 139.78 |
| 13 | Houston | AAC | 135.17 |
| 14 | Ohio State | Big Ten | 133.95 |
| 15 | Alabama | SEC | 133.05 |
| 16 | South Florida | AAC | 132.41 |
| 17 | Indiana | Big Ten | 129.67 |
| 18 | Kansas | Big-12 | 129.51 |
| 19 | Maryland | Big Ten | 128.16 |
| 20 | LSU | SEC | 122.13 |
| 21 | West Virginia | Big-12 | 116.39 |
| 22 | USC | Pac-12 | 115.12 |
| 23 | Notre Dame | Independent | 113.13 |
| 24 | TCU | Big-12 | 109.85 |
| 25 | Georgia | SEC | 108.32 |
2020 Schedule
Sept. 5 at Washington
Sept. 12 vs. Ball State
Sept. 19 vs. Arkansas State
Sept. 26 vs. Wisconsin
Oct. 3 vs. Penn State
Oct. 10 at Michigan State
Oct. 17 at Minnesota
Oct. 24 vs. Purdue (homecoming)
Oct. 31 — BYE
Nov. 7 vs. Maryland
Nov. 14 at Rutgers
Nov. 21 vs. Indiana
Nov. 28 at Ohio State
Because the Wolverines play in the Big Ten East, that schedule is typically going to be loaded. On the years where Wisconsin is also on the slate, this is even more true. Given that Michigan always tests itself with at least one strong non-conference opponent and they are always going to rank fairly high here.
It will be interesting to see how home-field advantage this season is affected by either few or no fans being allowed to attend games as we try to pull ourselves out of the coronavirus pandemic as a country. Normally, you would feel pretty good about your chances against a Wisconsin or Penn State at home due to the environment, but it will obviously be a very different year. On the flip side, perhaps that makes a trip to Columbus just a little less daunting, as well.
We will see what happens, but if Michigan is able to break through its 9-10 ceiling that has been established, it will be well-earned. The good news about any breakthrough seasons for Michigan is that nobody can argue they will have skated through the schedule.