Big Ten conference expansion may force Michigan football to change

Next year, due to the Big Ten conference expansion, four PAC-12 teams, including the USC Trojans, Oregon Ducks, and more, will be joining the conference. For Michigan football, which has won two-straight Big Ten titles and could win a third this fall, the road to a conference title and CFP berth just got harder and could force some changes to the Wolverines’ approach in the years to come.

Michigan football may have to change things up a bit in the future due to Big Ten conference expansion into the PAC-12

Over the past two seasons, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football have fully embraced their roots, running the football and playing sound defense en route to a pair of Big Ten titles and more. Right now, the Wolverines’ strategy of wearing down an opponent and playing stellar defense has worked well in conference play, especially when the calendar turns to November and the weather turns throughout the Great Lakes Region.

That said, next year, Michigan football could play a series of 70-degree November games along the West Coast — Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA are all on their way to the Big Ten, which shuffles up the conference quite a bit. Over the past two College Football Playoffs, it’s been clear that the Wolverines have some trouble adjusting to indoor conditions against non-conference teams — the Wolverines got smoked by UGA in 2021 and fell short against TCU last year.

With PAC-12 teams like the Oregon Ducks and USC Trojans on their way to the Big Ten, Michigan football may have to change things up — the Wolverines can still run the ball often, but establishing a strong pass offense and defense will be crucial if Michigan is to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the sport. Even before the Big Ten conference expansion takes place, it appears that the Maize and Blue are looking to change things up a bit in hopes of finally getting over the hump and winning a national title this season.

If the Wolverines can continue to use that momentum — establishing a complete and balanced offense and defense — in the following years, there is no reason that Michigan football should not be able to continue to compete for Big Ten titles and more, even with new, flashy, pass-heavy West Coast teams on their way into the conference.

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