Michigan Spring Game 2016: Date, Start Time, TV Schedule, Live Stream and More

Jim Harbaugh, as many figured he would, continues to make things interesting at Michigan, the latest innovation coming at the 2016 Michigan Spring Game.

This year's event is one of the earliest on the calendar in recent memory, but it occurs much later in the day than usual.

In fact, the Wolverines will play under the bright lights of the Big House.

It's a nice change of pace for a program continuing to climb an upward trajectory after last year's 41-7 blowout of the Florida Gators in the Citrus Bowl. Now positional battles, new arrivals and more take center stage as Michigan once again starts the march to another season.

2016 Michigan Spring Game

When:  Friday, April 1, at 6 p.m. ET

Where: Michigan Stadium

TV: Big Ten Network (first hour)

Live Stream: BTN2Go

It's only right a program as prestigious as Michigan helps kick off the notable spring games. Along those same lines, it's only right Harbaugh is the man in charge and adding a dash of innovation to a rather routine event, honoring the past while making things interesting. 

Harbaugh told Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press history played a role in the date of the game, while a desire to keep things fresh altered the game's outlook.

“Friday, April 1, Bo Schembechler’s birthday, Bob Ufer’s birthday, Joe Cipiti’s birthday (his grandfather),” Harbaugh said. “It had something to it. Friday Night Lights. Do it under the lights, a night game, not the stale 12 o’clock noon spring game. Something different. Why not?”

Go figure the program with an innovative personality as head coach will feature the most noteworthy factor of all for a spring game, too—a quarterback competition. 

This one's better than most, too, as Harbaugh has to pick from three viable guys who have made themselves known as contenders. Those honors go to John O’Korn, Shane Morris and Wilton Speight. O'Korn is a transfer with starting experience, Morris redshirted last year and Speight was the backup.

That makes the situation sound dire, but more than anything, Harbaugh sounds excited to throw the guys into the fire of what he promises is a spring game sure to resemble live action, according to Angelique S. Chengelis of the Detroit News:

"

That’s what they need to see right now. Looking forward to some game-like action (in the spring game). We’re going to make it game-like. Everything’s going to be real tackle football, live on the quarterbacks, everybody. There will be live bullets for them. That will be a nice good-sized test for us. Looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

"

No pressure on the guys in the competition in front of a national audience on a team most pen as a Big Ten favorite, right? 

Pressure abounds throughout the roster. Fans can expect to see their favorite players take significant playing time regardless of whether they have a roster spot locked. Take De'Veon Smith, for example, the tailback who rushed for 753 yards and six touchdowns last year.

Chengelis captured Harbaugh's thoughts on the matter, as well as a heated battle between wideouts Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh set to unfold:

Elsewhere on the roster, the coaching staff will keep mixing things up along the offensive line until it finds the proper combination of guys. On the other side of the football, serious competitions will take place in the defensive secondary and in the linebacking corps after losses and guys getting healthy.

Long story short, Friday's event will pair the traditional spring-game factors with wrinkles no better described than Harbaughisms. The event will start with a draft under the bright lights and then move right into live action to see who really wants starting gigs and helps form the best roster possible, likely with future recruits taking in all the action from the sidelines.

It's a big night for Michigan football—and college football—at the Big House.

Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise specified. Broadcast and spring game info via MGoBlue.com.