On Tuesday, it was announced that Michigan’s game against Air Force on Sept. 16 will kick off at 12 PM, making it at least the fifth game in 2017 that will begin at noon for the Maize and Blue. In fact, of the Wolverines’ seven start times that have already been announced for this upcoming season, five of them have been declared noon starts.
That number could obviously still increase, with a home date against Minnesota on Nov. 4 and a road game at Maryland on Nov. 11 appearing to be the most likely candidates for early kickoffs.
Noon games have become a bit of a dying breed in recent years in college football, due to TV markets and the attraction of 3:30 and primetime starts.
In fact, Michigan’s five (and counting) 12 PM starts in 2017 already outnumber last year’s, as the Maize and Blue played just four in all of 2016.
The 2013 and 2014 seasons hit perhaps an all-time low, with the Wolverines playing a total of just five noon games those two seasons.
Legendary coach Bo Schembechler preferred early start times, as did Brady Hoke, and now Jim Harbaugh. Needless to say, Harbaugh is likely pleased with the amount of noon kickoffs his team will participate in during the 2017 season.
Here’s a look at the number of 12 PM starts for Michigan over the last 10 seasons.
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