Michigan last season posted a second consecutive 10-3 season in the second year under head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines however fell to Florida State in a thrilling Orange Bowl to end the season, 33-32.
Michigan since then has seen 11 of its players from last year's team hear their name called in the 2017 NFL Draft, a new program record and the most among any school this season. Add in the guys who went undrafted but signed free agent deals with teams, and the Wolverines enter the summer months having to replace at least 18 key contributors from last year's team.
The team just recently finished up a vacation/spring practice package deal over in Rome. They will not take the field again for an official, competitive game until September 2 against Florida down in Arlington at AT&T Stadium. That will kick off the 2017 season.
News on future schedules down the road was recently made public by the school. The team just confirmed its non-conference slate of games for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, which includes the return of Notre Dame on the docket.
Michigan announces football schedules for 2018 & 2019 seasons #GoBlue 〽️https://t.co/nxVls1ruLm pic.twitter.com/JiOTQjdAN2
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) May 4, 2017
The biggest hurdle in finalizing the schedules was getting confirmation on some non-conference games. Michigan will have all of their games played on a Saturday and are not a part of the Big Ten's slate of Friday night conference games. (NOTE: The Big Ten has since then removed two scheduled Friday games for the 2017 season)
In addition to Notre Dame (4-8 in 2016) for both '18 and '19, Michigan has signed on to play Western Michigan (13-1 in 2016) and Southern Methodist (5-7 in 2016) in 2018; agreeing to play Middle Tennessee (8-5 in 2016) and Army (8-5 in 2016).
When Michigan and Notre Dame reunite to kick off the 2018 season, it will end a three-year hiatus to what has always been a thrilling, near-annual rivalry going back to the late 1970's. Michigan owns the all-time series 19-16-1, but I'm sure is well-aware of the 31-0 drubbing they took the last time they played the Irish back in 2014.
The Wolverines and Broncos have met six previous times, with Michigan coming out on top in every tilt. It'll be just the second ever game for Michigan against SMU (first since 1963). They have never played Middle Tennessee in football, and it will be the tenth meeting against the U.S. Military Academy (first since 1962; 4-5 all-time).
Here is a look at the Michigan football schedules for the three upcoming seasons:
