Two years ago, the Texas Longhorns stormed into Ann Arbor and marched away with a 31-12 victory over the Michigan Wolverines.
Then, the Horns walloped the Wolverines, once again, at the end of last season, handing them a 41-27 loss in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
The 2024 matchup was the first in a home-and-home series between the two powerhouse programs, and the second game (to be played in Austin) was scheduled for the 2027 season.
Now, all of a sudden, it looks like the Wolverines are still licking their wounds from two seasons ago, and new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham (who is 0-1 against Texas in his career) is trying to avoid the same kind of loss to the Horns.
In a recent report from FBSchedules, it was announced that Michigan had moved its 2027 game against the Eastern Michigan Eagles to one week earlier in the season, to Sept. 11, exactly when the Wolverines and the Longhorns were scheduled to play.
Interesting, right?
The Horns already have their two other non-conference matchups scheduled for 2027, with the New Mexico State Lobos coming to town on Sept. 4 (Week 1) and the UTEP Miners coming to town on Sept. 18 (Week 3).
Of course, the Horns could similarly adjust their schedule to accommodate the Wolverines' latest move, but why should they when Michigan would owe Texas a $2 million cancellation fee?
Texas could easily replace Michigan in 2027, especially with an extra $2M
Previously, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said that he had no plans to back away from the two-game series against the Wolverines, or their similar series against the Ohio State Buckeyes, which will reach its conclusion this season:
"We're going to nine SEC conference games, so to think that we're going to play a 10th game against Ohio State or Michigan, and who knows else down the road, I hope we get credit for that," Sarkisian said, following it with a statement that anything after 2027 could be up for debate. I think anything beyond that is up for discussion."
According to the contract originally agreed upon by Texas and Michigan, both teams have to agree to void the game, or the team looking to cancel it would owe the other $2 million.
Currently, with the Wolverines' revised 2027 schedule, that $2-million debt would fall on their shoulders, unless the Horns agreed to simply cancel the matchup.
However, Texas could simply assert that it has no desire to cancel the game, and Michigan would suddenly be on the hook for the cancellation, adding $2 million to the Longhorns' war chest as well as adding a quickly-building price for the Wolverines' 2027 schedule.
In the amendment between Michigan and Eastern Michigan, the Wolverines are already on tap to shell out an extra $50,000 to the Eagles for moving the game up a week, bringing the total guarantee to $1.55 million.
Simply put, the Longhorns have an opportunity to stand by their original contract with the Wolverines. If Michigan doesn't work to reschedule the previously scheduled matchup, not only will Texas look consistent, but it will have an extra $2 million to find a new opponent for the 2027 season.
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