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Looking at the schedule for Michigan football coming into 2019, it seemed tough but with a few breaks. They would have their three biggest games of the season, (Notre Dame, Michigan State, Ohio State) at home. The release of the first AP Top 25 poll on Monday though, showed it’s tougher than expected.

The Wolverines play six — with the possibility of a seventh — ranked teams this season. Now, this could certainly change throughout the season, as two or three teams could still be ranked in December. But as of today, it’s a big challenge.

As of the first AP poll, the only other team in the country who plays six ranked opponents is Auburn. Auburn has two ranked teams at home (Georgia, Alabama), three teams on the road (Texas A&M, Florida, LSU), and a neutral site game against Oregon.

While the Wolverines three toughest games will be at home, that doesn’t mean it’s a guaranteed win. The Wolverines host Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. Their big away games are against Wisconsin and Penn State. If Army turns into a ranked team by Week Two — which is possible as they were just on the outside of the first top 25 ranking — it could be a seventh team that is ranked that the Wolverines play, trouncing Auburn’s six.

There is certainly a lot of hype around the Wolverines in 2019, more so then there was in 2018. This team is getting predicted to win the Big Ten Conference Championship, appear in the College Football Playoff and possibly win the whole thing.

What gives this team a chance and the belief that they can do it, is winning these games. Every game is important no matter what the circumstances are, but these six, possibly seven, they are heavily circled on the schedule. Winning these games backs up your talk. It shows that the hype was real and this team is a legit threat to your Alabama’s and Clemson’s.

Having the toughest schedule in college football is what the Wolverines would probably want. It can build their resume for the CFP, and it can help show they are as good as we think they are. Going 12-0 in a soft schedule is still impressive, but it’s not as impressive as doing it against the toughest.

What better way to shut up the haters, then, to get the toughest hand and still walk out on top. Michigan can do that in 2019. The time is coming and all they have to do it go out and play.