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College football 2019: Biggest trap game facing every Top 25 team

By Cody Williams

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 24: Tee Higgins #5 of the Clemson Tigers gets away from R.J. Roderick #10 of the South Carolina Gamecocks during their game at Clemson Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 29: Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson (2) during the Peach Bowl between the Florida Gators and the Michigan Wolverines on December 29, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 29: Michigan Wolverines quarterback Shea Patterson (2) during the Peach Bowl between the Florida Gators and the Michigan Wolverines on December 29, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

9. Michigan Wolverines

Biggest Trap Game: at Indiana (Nov. 23)

To this point, Jim Harbaugh has become the face of falling short of expectations as the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. He seemed to be turning that around last season as they won 10-straight games following a season-opening loss to Notre Dame. However, they were then blown out by Ohio State and then Florida in their bowl game. Now it’s put up or shut up time for Harbaugh but the pieces may be in place for the former to actually happen.

The returns on quarterback Shea Patterson in his first year at Michigan after transferring from Ole Miss were certainly mixed. Having said that, the hiring of Josh Gattis as offensive coordinator should, in theory, allow Patterson to be more comfortable in a spread offense, which should also help maximize the talent of a high-profile wide receiver group that includes Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nico Collins and Tarik Black.

Oddly enough, it may be defense — where Harbaugh’s teams have largely been consistent in Ann Arbor to this point — where the Wolverines have some growing pains after losing Chase Winovich, Devin Bush and Rashan Gary. Even still, there is plenty of talent remaining and, if they can step up, they should be a formidable unit still.

While yet another Big Ten game against Maryland could be a trap game as it’s between games against Notre Dame and Michigan State, their penultimate game against Indiana seems much more dangerous. Not only are the Hoosiers always frisky but that game comes between the aforementioned matchup with the Spartans and the Ohio State rivalry game. With that spot on the schedule, Michigan can’t take Indiana lightly.