The Michigan Wolverines face a grueling schedule for the 2015 college football season. To be clear, the slate does not hold a single "small" conference opponent, and given the Big Ten's difficult nature with rivals like Michigan State and Ohio State on the agenda, the sledding could be tough for Jim Harbaugh during his maiden voyage as the head coach in Ann Arbor.
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Leading up to the start of the season, we will take a quick look at each of Michigan's 12 opponents, ranking them from easiest to toughest in terms of difficulty. Obviously, things are quite fluid once the season begins, but in advance of the campaign, this is an informed estimate of what to expect on the field in the Fall.
Without further ado, let's glance at the "easiest" opponent on the schedule in the form of the UNLV Rebels.
2014 Performance
While it is certainly true that UNLV doesn't qualify as an also-ran when it comes to university size, the Rebels have operated like a small, off-the-radar football school in recent seasons. That was never more evident than during the 2014 campaign, as the Rebels finished with a dismal 2-11 record that included a 45-point loss to Rich Rodriguez and Arizona in UNLV's biggest non-conference game.
Schools in the Mountain West should garner some level of respect on the surface, as that is usually a quality league. However, UNLV was the laughingstock of the conference last season, garnering just one conference win, and that must be taken into account.
What to expect in 2015
UNLV hired a new head coach in advance of this season, and Tony Sanchez was the choice. You're probably thinking that you don't have any recollection of a coach by that name, and you're probably correct, as Sanchez most recently served as a high school coach in Nevada.
Yes, UNLV (a major D-1 school) hired a high school coach to run its football program.
While giving Sanchez the benefit of the doubt, UNLV isn't exactly stocked with talent. The Rebels do return their starting quarterback (senior Blake Decker, who also serves as a top rushing threat) and some intriguing talent at the skill positions, but in fairness, The Golden Nugget (a Las Vegas-based casino) opened a preseason line with Michigan as a 33-point favorite over the Rebels. No, that isn't a misprint.
Baseless prediction
Michigan may not boast the offensive talent (especially at quarterback and wide receiver) that long-time fans are accustomed to seeing, but that shouldn't slow down the Maize and Blue in this spot. The friendly confines of Michigan Stadium should provide a backdrop for what will likely be Jim Harbaugh's largest margin of victory during the 2015 season, and something tells me that the Wolverines aren't likely to let up on September 19.
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Stay tuned as the preseason opponent countdown continues.
