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USA Today
5 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan football vs. Western Michigan set to take place in Germany per a report
Get your passports ready, Michigan football fans, the Wolverines are going international. And this time, not just for a vacation. The Wolverines have not been one of those teams that have played a neutral-site game outside of America, though it has had quite a few throughout the country. According to On3's Brett McMurphy, that's about to change. McMurphy reports that the 2026 season opener against Western Michigan will no longer take place at The Big House and now will be played in Germany. Michigan and Western Michigan will open the 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, sources told On3. The game will be held at Deutsche Bank Park, a 55,000-seat retractable roof soccer stadium that has hosted five NFL games. It's interesting to see Michigan willing to lose a home game in favor of an international one. Also odd is that it's against a Group of Five team rather than a more prestigious opponent. Either way, it will be interesting to see the Wolverines suiting up on foreign soil for the first time — outside of the practices the team had in Rome back in 2017. Update: Michigan has confirmed that this is in progress via press release: The University of Michigan Football program is engaged in ongoing discussions to kick off the 2026 season on foreign soil, playing host to Western Michigan at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, on Saturday, Aug. 29. This non-conference matchup would become the first game played by the Wolverines outside of North America. Also known as Waldstadion, Deutsche Bank Park is the home field for Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga, which is the top tier of the German football (soccer) league. The retractable roof stadium has a capacity of 55,000 seats and was opened in 1925. Germany has hosted five previous NFL games in the country, with Deutsche Bank Park hosting two regular-season games during the 2023 season: Kansas City Chiefs 21, Miami Dolphins 14 (Nov. 5) and Indianapolis Colts 10, New England Patriots 6 (Nov. 12). "We are in advanced discussions to create this first-of-its-kind opportunity for our student-athletes and fans," said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique. This would be a great opportunity to teach 'Go Blue' to a new group of fans in Germany." "I am excited about the football and educational experience this game could provide for our players," said Sherrone Moore, U-M's J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. "We are always looking for unique opportunities to expose our student-athletes to other cultures. In the last 10 years, our program has been to Italy, France and South Africa, and this game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase." The matchup with the Broncos was originally scheduled to be played at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 5. This would become the first time that Michigan has played a Mid-American Conference school at a location other than Michigan Stadium. More details will be forthcoming regarding the date and location of Michigan's 2026 opener.
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Social media roasts Indiana for dropping its game vs. Virginia, is Notre Dame next?
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, many teams across the nation are looking for the easiest route to the 12-team tournament, and one of Notre Dame's future opponents, Indiana, as Brett McMurphy reported that they decided its 2027 and 2028 scheduled series against Virginia was too much for them and backed out. As social media often does, it reacted not very kindly to the news, as the Hoosiers opted to dull down its already unimpressive schedule. When looking at the Hoosiers future non-conference schedule, it's pretty light, as they don't play a team from Power-5 team, with the Irish scheduled in 2030 and 2031. This coming season, they'll face Old Dominion, Kennesaw State and Indiana State. Not exactly murderers row. The question now is what will happen to the series, which we'll get to later on. First, let's take a look at some of the best social media reactions to Indiana backing out of its series against Virginia. Curt Cignetti goes against his own quote Cignetti talks a big game, but when push comes to shove, it didn't work out very well for him this past fall. His first year with the Hoosiers did see them lose to the Irish in the first-round of the CFP, a season where they lost Both games against ranked opponents. The Big Ten schedule was one of the easiest in the conference, and it sure doesn't look like Indiana is 'undaunted,' as Cignetti has claimed. Scared of Virginia? It's kind of odd that the Hoosiers would make this decision, as the Cavaliers are one of the weaker teams in the ACC. They went 5-7 last year, not making a bowl game, and the future isn't very bright. You'd figure that any win over a P5 team would help a team's CFP cause, but Indiana isn't thinking that way. Is Indiana scared? I honestly don't think this is the case, it's more about creating an easier path to the CFP for them. There not a big chance that Virginia turns the program around by the time the two would play, so you'd have to believe that the Hoosiers would be favored in both contests. It's still a decision that is confusing to me. Cakewalk The Kobe Bryant gif is perfect, this is a very soft upcoming non-conference schedule. Sure, the Big Ten is one of the deeper leagues, but the Hoosiers are taking the easy way out. Sure, every team across the nation does this too, but not nearly at the same level. What about Notre Dame? I honestly don't think the scheduled games will change, most likely due to the fact that Cignetti will either be fired, retire or leave for a different job. He did sign an extension that will run through the series, but the soon to be 65-year old might not get to the end of his contract. As one of the oldest head coaches in all of college football, his time isn't long in the game. Now it is hard to tell the direction that the Hoosiers would go if he's gone by that time, but so much can change from now until then. Hopefully nothing changes and the two teams end up playing each other.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scared of the Arizona State Sun Devils? Report says Big 12 cancels media poll
Did coach Kenny Dillingham and the Arizona State Sun Devils just scare the Big 12 Conference out of doing preseason football media polls? A new report indicates that this could be the case. According to reporter Brett McMurphy, Big 12 athletic directors and coaches have decided to stop publishing the preseason media poll. The poll was comprised of sportswriters who cover the Big 12. Advertisement McMurphy said the preseason all-league teams will still be revealed moving forward. Infamously, last season, ASU was picked to finish last of 16th schools before going on to win the conference. The Sun Devils demolished Iowa State 45-19 in the conference title game, earning the No. 4 seed in the College Football Playoff and a spot in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. ASU went 11-3 on the season, culminating with a double-overtime 39-31 loss to Texas in the quarterfinals of the CFP. The Sun Devils finished No. 7 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Big 12 joins the Big Ten as the only conferences not to have a preseason media poll. Advertisement There was a lot of speculation about where ASU would land in this year's poll, with a number of key starters returning and a strong showing in the transfer portal. Fans will have to wait for the release of the major top 25 preseason polls, which typically come out in August, to see where the Sun Devils stack up. Logan Stanley is a sports reporter with The Arizona Republic who primarily focuses on high school, college and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human-interest stories and other news, reach out to Stanley at or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Big 12 cancels preseason football media poll, report says
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USC Receives Disappointing College Football Playoff Prediction
USC Receives Disappointing College Football Playoff Prediction originally appeared on Athlon Sports. USC reinstalled new momentum heading into the 2025 season. The influx of new faces on the roster and a favorable schedule points to a far improved campaign for Lincoln Riley and company. Which includes College Football Playoff hype. Advertisement Except one national college football columnist doesn't envision USC cracking the final 12-team bracket. In fact, USC is predicted to play on Dec. 30 in a disappointing bowl predictions. Despite the constant changes and renewed enthusiasm, Brett McMurphy of On3/Rivals picked USC to face Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl. The Wildcats are heading into '25 fresh off a 9-4 season and familiarity with Riley. The incoming fourth-year USC head coach faces KSU annually in the Big 12 during his run with the Oklahoma Sooners. He gets reacclimated with Chris Klieman here in San Antonio. USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Nicholson-Imagn Images This shockingly becomes USC's first appearance in the Alamo Bowl if the prediction comes true. The bowl contest used to pit Pac-12 against the Big 12. But now welcomes in Big Ten representatives. Advertisement This also hands USC a fourth straight bowl appearance for Riley. He'd join two-time National Champion winner Pete Carroll in becoming the last USC coach to hit that postseason mark. Carroll is also the last head coach in USC history to take the Trojans to four bowl games in his first four seasons at the helm. Riley still faces a make-or-break 2025. His Trojan teams have declined on the winning side since his first season. USC has gone 8-5 and 7-6 since its 11-3 campaign that resulted in the 2022 Cotton Bowl appearance. Related: USC Commit Names Off Two All-Pro Influences Who Helped Sway His Decision This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
02-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
On3's Brett McMurphy projects Notre Dame as the top overall seed in the CFP
While nothing major has changed for Notre Dame football over the last few months, the perception of the team has certainly done so, which was enough to push On3's Brett McMurphy to name them as his top overall seed in his latest College Football Playoff projection. The Irish are now able to qualify for one of the four first-round byes, and McMurphy believes that they'll take full advantage of the new seeding rules. In his projection, Notre Dame would face the winner of the first-round matchup between LSU and Oregon, the No. 8 & 9 seeds. It would be great to stick it to Brian Kelly, but he doesn't have it playing out that way, as the Irish would take on the Ducks in the quarterfinals. McMurphy has Notre Dame winning that game, setting up its fourth-straight season playing Ohio State. Unfortunately, the projection has this hypothetical game playing out like the last three, with the Irish on the losing end of it. He doesn't have the Buckeyes winning back-to-back titles however, as McMurphy has the Georgia Bulldogs winning it all. While this would still be a great season for Notre Dame if it plays out this way, the championship drought would continue to rear its ugly head.
