Michigan has plenty of nonconference matchups to toot its horns about. (USATSI)
Michigan has plenty of nonconference matchups to toot its horns about. (USATSI)

Michigan's future nonconference schedules will take on an American Athletic feel, with the Wolverines announcing a pair of future games in the Big House against new additions to the ex-Big East.

Michigan will host current conference leader UCF Sept. 10, 2016, and first-time conference members SMU Sept. 15 2018. The Wolverines have never faced the Knights, and have played the Mustangs only once, a 27-16 home win in 1963.

Michigan also announced another meeting with Air Force , which will visit the Big House Sept. 16, 2017. The Wolverines defeated the Falcons 31-25 in 2012. Per mlive.com, Air Force has announced it will collect a $1.3 million fee from Michigan for the game. 

The Wolverines also confirmed a date for their previously announced home-and-home series against Arkansas, naming the Hogs their opponent for the 2018 season opener on Sept. 1 of that year. 

That series makes sense for both teams as they attempt to beef up their future nonconference slates with an intriguing inter-regional matchup. But Wolverine fans can be forgiven for wondering if the UCF game comes with as many positives; with such relatively little high-level success in the program's history, UCF may not help the Wolverines move a lot of tickets, but their win at Louisville shows that they also represent a substantial risk of dealing Michigan a home loss for its troubles.

It's easy, of course, to criticize -- and much harder to say who Michigan should have scheduled instead. But the game nonetheless stands out as one Dave Brandon might regret in the future.