Michigan’s 2027 trip to Texas may already be on shaky ground after a reported scheduling tweak involving Eastern Michigan.
According to FBSchedules.com, Michigan and Eastern Michigan have agreed to shift their 2027 meeting from Sept. 18 to Sept. 11. The revised deal adds $50,000 to the payment for Eastern Michigan, raising the total payout to $1.55 million.
That change matters because Michigan was already set to play at Texas on Sept. 11, 2027. That game is the second half of a home-and-home series that opened in 2024 at The Big House, and putting Eastern Michigan on the same date creates an obvious conflict for the Wolverines.
At this point, it’s not clear whether Michigan-Texas will be moved or scrapped entirely. The contract between the schools reportedly includes a $2 million cancellation fee unless both sides agree to void the game.
There are basically three ways this can play out. Michigan and Texas could find a new date and keep the series intact.
They could mutually agree to cancel the game and avoid the penalty. Or one school could back out on its own and take the $2 million charge.
If a new date can’t be found, a mutual cancellation sounds like the most realistic outcome given the money involved and the way Power 4 schedules are built now. Michigan already has a loaded 2027 slate with Big Ten games at Penn State, at Indiana, at Iowa, at UCLA, plus home dates against Ohio State and Oregon. Texas’ SEC schedule for 2027 hasn’t been released yet, but the Longhorns will still have their annual neutral-site game against Oklahoma and their rivalry game with Texas A&M.
With College Football Playoff contention a real goal for so many programs, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Michigan and Texas decided to walk away from the matchup. Coaches and players can talk about playing anybody, anytime, but the reality is that tougher non-conference games can put a team at a disadvantage.
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