Michigan football to open vs. Purdue, host MSU in revised 2020 schedule
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Michigan football’s revised 2020 schedule is out and includes several changes, including a different location for its in-state rivalry, a new date for its much anticipated matchup with Ohio State and an additional crossover game from the East.
The Big Ten unveiled 10-game conference schedules for each of its 14 teams on its network Wednesday morning, set to begin for everyone the week of Sept. 5.
That’s a departure from several other Power 5 football conferences who have said they have delayed play to mid-to-late September. Earlier this week, the Southeastern Conference said it would begin a 10-game conference schedule on Sept. 26.
For Michigan, play begins on Sept. 5 at home against Purdue, a matchup that was originally scheduled for Oct. 24 and designated as the school’s homecoming game. It’s unclear whether it will stay that way.
The Wolverines still have a road game at Minnesota, this time scheduled for Sept. 12 in Minneapolis, and home game against Penn State. The matchup with the Nittany Lions will serve as Michigan’s second home of five home games, on Sept. 19.
After a Sept. 26 road game at Rutgers, Michigan will now host Michigan State on Oct. 3 in Ann Arbor, a departure from the original schedule that called for the Wolverines to play in East Lansing.
Three bye weeks are built into each team’s schedule, with Michigan’s first coming on Oct. 10. Then the Wolverines will play two opponents normally reserved for the end of its schedule: Indiana (Oct. 17) and Ohio State (Oct. 24).
Michigan has home games scheduled against Wisconsin and Maryland on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, respectively, before its second bye week. Then the Wolverines close the schedule with an additional West crossover game, at Northwestern on Nov. 21.
The third bye week comes Nov. 28, in anticipation of the scheduled Big Ten championship game on Dec. 5 in Indianapolis. The conference has also kept Dec. 12 and Dec. 19 as open dates, serving as potential make-up game weeks.
Of course, this is all contingent upon the spread of COVID-19 across the country. Players are beginning to opt out of the season, Rutgers is experiencing an outbreak in its football program and Northwestern has paused voluntary workouts.
And just today, the University of Connecticut, unaffiliated, said it has canceled the football season entirely.
As it stands now, teams will open preseason camp on Friday, a date set by the NCAA, and be allowed to practice a total of 25 times before their season opener.
Michigan’s revised 2020 schedule:
Sept. 5 PURDUE
Sept. 12 at Minnesota
Sept. 19 PENN STATE
Sept. 26 at Rutgers
Oct. 3 MICHIGAN STATE
Oct. 10 Bye
Oct. 17 at Indiana
Oct. 24 at Ohio State
Oct. 31 WISCONSIN
Nov. 7 MARYLAND
Nov. 14 Bye
Nov. 21 at Northwestern
Nov. 28 Bye
Dec. 5 Big Ten title game
Dec. 12 Open
Dec. 19 Open
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