Five division one football teams from the state of Michigan have some interesting non-conference games this season.
Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan have some non-conference games that fans in the state of Michigan are looking forward to seeing them play this Fall.
This may be one of the most anticipated upcoming seasons for the State of Michigan teams who play Division-1 football as 2023 saw some on-field success for the State of Michigan teams for most of the five teams who call the State of Michigan their home.
It is somewhat likely that the five teams from the state of Michigan can all make a bowl game this upcoming season. It would not be shocking that all five teams in non-conference games are victorious against a quality opponent in 2023. You can make a case that Michigan wins the Big Ten title this season, Michigan State makes a bowl game, and either Western, Eastern, or Central Michigan captures the MAC West Division title in 2023. Nothing is guaranteed or even highly likely to occur but all five teams can exceed expectations in 2023.
Before we look at the first three teams that all participate in the Mid-American Conference, let’s take a look at some of the reasons with the Eagles, Broncos, and Chippewas play the opponents they face on the field in non-conference play.
There are a few factors that MAC teams like EMU, CMU, and WMU consider when scheduling their non-conference games. These include:
Strength of schedule: MAC teams want to schedule at least one or two Power 5 opponents each year to improve their strength of schedule and make it more likely that they will be selected for a bowl game.
Revenue generation: MAC teams also want to schedule games against opponents that will generate revenue, such as teams with large fan bases or teams that are located in major media markets.
Geography: MAC teams try to schedule games against opponents that are located within a reasonable distance to travel, in order to save money on travel expenses.
Tradition: MAC teams may also schedule games against in-state power five schools, such as this season’s matchup between Central Michigan and Michigan State.
In recent years, MAC teams have been more aggressive in scheduling Power 5 opponents as the Broncos have scheduled three Power Five teams this season. This is due in part to the fact that the MAC has been granted automatic qualifying status for a bowl game, meaning that the conference champion will always receive a bowl bid. This has made it more important for MAC teams to schedule tough non-conference games in order to improve their chances of winning the conference championship.
Let’s first take a look at Western Michigan’s non-conference schedule games.
Western Michigan’s four non-conference games.
This is WMU’s only game against an FCS opponent this season.
Match Up: St. Francis (PA) at Western Michigan
Date: Thursday, Aug 31
Time: 1:30 pm ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN +
Prediction: Western Michigan 44 SFU 7
Last meeting between both schools: Syracuse defeated Western Michigan at home by a final score of 52-33 in 2019.
Prediction: Syracuse 37 Western Michigan Michigan 31
Last three games of this series between these two schools: Western Michigan has won two out of the last three games against Iowa.
Last meeting between both schools: Iowa defeated Western Michigan at home by a final score of 59-3 in 2013.
Prediction: Iowa 24 Western Michigan 13
Last meeting between both schools: This game will be the first-ever match-up between these two programs on the gridiron.
Prediction: Mississippi State 27 Western Michigan 23
Eastern Michigan looks to have a winning record in non-conference play.
This is EMU’s only game against an FCS opponent this season.
Match Up: Howard at Eastern Michigan
Date: Friday, Sept 1
Time: 6:30 pm ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN +
Prediction: Eastern Michigan 41 Howard 14
Last meeting between both schools: This game will be the first-ever meeting between these two schools on the football field.
Prediction: Minnesota 27 Eastern Michigan 21
Last four games of this series between these two schools: Both teams have won two games each out of the last four games against one another.
Current Win Streak: The Eagles have won the last two games between these schools, having a two-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between both schools: Eastern Michigan defeated UMass at home by a final score of 20-13 last season.
Prediction: Eastern Michigan 28 UMass 14
Match Up: Eastern Michigan at Jacksonville State
Date: Thursday, Aug 31
Time: 5 pm ET
TV/Streaming: TBD
Prediction: Eastern Michigan 33 Jacksonville State 30
Here is a look at Central Michigan’s four non-conference games.
This is the season opener for Central Michigan for the 2023 season.
Last five games of this series between these two teams in-state schools: Michigan State has won four out of the last five games against Central Michigan.
Current Win Streak: The Spartans have won the last four games between these two in-schools, having a four-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between both schools: Michigan State defeated Central Michigan at home by a final score of 31-20 in 2018.
Prediction: Michigan State 34 Central Michigan 17
This is CMU’s only game against an FCS opponent this season.
Match Up: New Hampshire at Central Michigan
Date: Saturday, Sept 9
Time: 1:30 pm ET
TV/Streaming: ESPN +
Current Win Streak: The Chippewas have won the last two games between these two schools, having a two-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between both schools: In 2013, Central Michigan on their home field defeated New Hampshire by a final score of 24-21.
Prediction: Central Michigan 28 New Hampshire 10
Last meeting between both schools: The game will be the first-ever meeting between these two programs on the football field.
Prediction: Notre Dame 41 Central Michigan 17
This is the final non-conference game for the Chippewas for the 2023 season.
Current Win Streak: South Alabama has won the only game played between these two in-schools, having a one-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between the schools: The Jaguars defeated the Chippewas on the road by a final score of 38-24 in 2022.
Prediction: South Alabama 34 Central Michigan 30
Michigan’s three non-conference games.
This is the season opener for the Wolverines for the 2023 season.
Last meeting between both schools: The game will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the football field.
This will be Michigan’s only game against an opponent from the AAC conference this season.
Prediction: Michigan 51 East Carolina 21
Current Win Streak: The Wolverines have won the only game between these two schools, having a one-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between both schools: Michigan defeated UNLV at home in 2015 by a final score of 28-7.
Prediction: Michigan 31 UNLV 10
Current Win Streak: Michigan has won the two games between these two schools, having a two-game winning streak in this series.
Last meeting between both schools: Michigan defeated Bowling Green at home in 2010 by a final score of 65-21.
Prediction: Michigan 49 Bowling Green 7
Michigan State’s Non-Conference slate of games
This is the season opener for the Spartans for the 2023 season.
Last 5 games of this series between these two teams: The Spartans have won four out of the last five games against the Chippewas.
Rivalry Trophy: No
Current Win Streak: Michigan State football has won the last four games between these two schools, having a four-game winning streak in this rivalry.
Last meeting between both schools: The Spartans defeated the Chippewas at home by a final score of 31-20 in 2018.
Prediction: Michigan State 34 Central Michigan 17
Match Up: Richmond at Michigan State
Date: Saturday, Sept 9
Time: 3:30 pm ET
TV/Streaming: Big Ten Network
Last meeting between both schools: The game will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools on the gridiron.
This will be Michigan State’s only game against an FCS opponent this season.
Prediction: Michigan State 48 Richmond 10
This is a rematch of last season’s game that saw Michigan State fall on the road to Washington. This season at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, the Spartans are expecting a better ending to this year’s game against the Huskies.
Last 5 games of this series between these two teams: The two schools have only played each other four times going back to the year 1969 and the Huskies have won three out of the last four games against the Spartans.
Current Win Streak: The Huskies have won the last three games between these two schools, having a three-game winning streak in this rivalry.
Last meeting between both schools: Washington defeated Michigan State at home by a final score of 39-28.
Prediction: Michigan State 37 Washington 33