A look at the 2012 schedule
Well the 2011 Big Ten regular season is over which always sucks cause it marks the nearing end of the entire college football season but looking ahead (I know it's early) at our 2012 schedule except OC wise hasn't changed a whole lot except we'll be on the road for the most part including a huge game against Alabama in Dallas, going to Lincoln to play Nebraska and the last game at the Shoe against tOSU. With our recruiting class coming in for 2012 what should our expectations be overall for Michigan next year? Will we win the Legends with the talent we have coming in or are we still aways away from being the leading candidate in our division. I know we're losing a lot of great seniors and possibly some juniors next year but with the way this team is looking and how much it's improved I can see us doing even better! Provided we win on the road which we struggled with this year. What do you think? I definitely know we'll beat Sparty at home. That shit ends next year.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
The B1G looks pretty soft yet again, and we should be improved. Bama and ND will be our toughest games all year, imo, and both of those are out of conference. We will be the favorites to win our division, and possibly the B1G outright. But because our schedule is so difficult, I don't see our overall record improving. Probably 10-2, BSC bowl (probably Rose imo).
Looking further down the line, 2013 is a bit of a wildcard. Hoke's recruits will finally be making a difference, and our D should be fantastic. At the same time, however, Denard leaves and the next QB will be either DG or a freshman Shane Morris. By 2014, Hoke's first class will be upperclassmen, and the QB position will be at least solid, at which point, watch out.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:14 PM ^
still have one game left,if it's houston i think we will win!Now looking at next year,the game in dallas will be crazy.We own norte shame!Looking at the big ten,i think we can beat everybody in the league.SHOELACE has balled out these last two games 9 total touchdowns only 2 turnovers.IF he has another solid performance in the bowl game that means the old SHOELACE is back. He is starting to get it now.He played one hell of a game against ohio!GO BLUE!!!
November 27th, 2011 at 2:08 PM ^
I'm hoping another spring and fall in the system will get us to the point we can compete if not beat bama. we know what they are, what we are is kinda an unknown. Fitz DR 1-2 punch it going to be really potent next year, and if denard can take these last few games and improve on them for next year we could be dangerous.
Dfence I'm not worried about, it isn't going to be 1997 world beater level yet but it will be good to above average at worst
but my forcast going forward
2012 should be able to make it tot he big ten champ game atleast if not win it.
2013, really comes down to Devin, if he really can make a step to become a Vince Young esqe QB then we could make a run for a magical season.
2014, if shane is legit this could be a fun year.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
I think not having home advantage for some big games might hurt us a bit. I would be pleasantly surprised if we won 10 games again next year.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^
Agreed.
UM will have a very difficult time matching this year's 10-2 record IMO. Neutral site game against Bama (loss) coupled with road games at ND, Nebraska and OSU (likely losses in all of these) puts UM at 8-4 next season. Hopefully, they can pull off an upset against Nebraska or OSU.
UM will still have a decent shot at winning the Legends division next year as I think they will probably finish 6-2 in the conference (road losses to Nebraska and OSU, only tough home game against MSU) while MSU has road games at UM and Wisconsin along with home games against OSU and Nebraska. Nebraska has road games at OSU and MSU with home games against UM and Wisconsin.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:10 PM ^
Beat Bama
November 27th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
that is a must and continue to beat tOSU. I think Hoke has been given a glorious chance to turn the tides now if this system keeps moving forward and getting stronger. With Mattison leading our D line I would not be surprised if we're the best overall defense going into 2012.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^
Hold on there one second. The best defense going into 2012, I doubt that. I know the defense has played much better and shows a lot of potential, but we lose our two best defensive players, Martin and Van Bergen, and will seem to lack a big playmaker on the defensive line. We are replacing 3 of our 4 defensive linemen, and, yes, Heininger is a walk-on but he is a walk-on who beat our scholarship players out for a spot (and he is solid, maybe good, but nothing more). We will still have some youth at the linebacker spots and will not have a shut-down corner. I think we can have a good defense going into next year, but I think you overestimate how much we are going to miss Van Bergen and Martin immensely. Also, we have a lot of great defensive recruits, but they will all be freshman who will be prone to make mistakes. The defense will be good but I don't think they will be that good.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:13 PM ^
If Michigan's schedule isn't considered the hardest out of the 120 teams, something is wrong with people. The only rival we have at home is Sparty and the Alabama game the first week is going to be insanely difficult to win.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:24 PM ^
Air Force either. That program has been getting better in recent years.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
after Bama game with having to prepare for triple option wishbone attack.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:46 PM ^
Bama will lose much of their secondary to either graduation or to the draft; they may also lose their Heisman tailback to the draft. I expect it to be a good game.
Tim
November 27th, 2011 at 3:52 PM ^
With all the oversigning, who knows how deep their roster is...
November 27th, 2011 at 5:19 PM ^
Said in the paper here that he was coming back next year. Don't know if that was just emotion or not. I hope he goes pro though.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
I think they might also lose 1-3 (out of 4) linebackers depending on whether Hightower and Upshaw go pro. Alabama could lose many players if some of their more talented Juniors go pro, but, as mentioned above, do not underestimate their ability to oversign and reload. Their backup RB Lacy is pretty good too. I would definitely consider them the better team heading into the game, but after another offseason (and bowl practice) we could be in a great place to secure a marquee win. Time will tell.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:15 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 2:17 PM ^
The huge advantage to next season is that our toughest games are out of conference. I wouldn't be a big surprised if we started 0-2 but had a monster comeback as the year went on. Along with this, although we have tough road trips to Nebraska and Ohio, we can't count out the fact that the only teams we lost to this year will be coming to Ann Arbor.
As of now, I think we'll likely end up around 9-3 and in the Big Ten Championship Game. Alabama is simply going to be too tough, especially in Dallas. We have been recruiting very well, but Alabama's been recruiting well and oversigning for a while, plus having Saban doesn't hurt either. If we came out of Dallas with a win, I would be beyond amazed.
Once again, Notre Dame will likely be favored, especially if we go to South Bend with a 0-1 record. Plus, I think their luck is due for something, but I thought that this year too.
Finally, I can't see 2 road trips to Columbus and Nebraska and winning both. Granted, we beat both teams this year and I think we will be better than both these teams next year, but winning 2 road games is simply going to be tough.
I think considering the schedule and improvement by the end of the season most people will leave satisfied, even if it isn't the perfect season
November 27th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 2:18 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
I am going to enjoy the next several weeks and the bowl game but I will be really concerned about replacing these two next year. Mattison is going to have to come up with something special to address the loss in the middle of the line.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:39 PM ^
I'd love to see it all fall in place. Beat Texas for the MNC! Odds?
November 27th, 2011 at 3:51 PM ^
you are trying to make a point. When I read this, I can only smile to myself and think: "who is the winningest program in college football?"
November 27th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
I think if we get a split out of Bama, ND, Nebraska, & Ohio, then we can win 10 games next year.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:55 PM ^
Does ND have much talent, though? I'm surprised that people are calling that a likely loss. They lose Michael Floyd, Te'O maybe leaves.
I don't foresee anyone in the Legends Division beating us out for the BTCG, but as a Michigan fan, I have a complete inability to foresee the success of Michigan State. Maybe Nebraska might beat us out, but I don't really foresee them getting a lot better.
I am pretty scared of Ohio State next year. We couldn't stop them this year at all. I think they punted twice. This was with a freshman quarterback, Jim Bollman as an offensive coordinator, and a defensive line far more veteran than the one that we will have next year. Next year, we will be facing Braxton Miller in an Urban Meyer offense. Greg Mattison's going to have to do better next year if we're going to roll into Columbus and start making Urban the next Earle Bruce.
November 27th, 2011 at 3:21 PM ^
I tried to watch ND last night but I had to turn it. They remind me too much of our last three seasons under coach rod. They kill themselves with stupid choices and seam to be cursed with bad luck. I'm glad those days are over for us but man is ND still a mess.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:02 PM ^
We got them when they were starting a walk on OG, a limited OG who didn't travel the previous week, and their best blocking TE. They had also lost a couple DT including Crick. It's hard to say if they be better or not though they'll have 16 returning starters and probably won't be as banged up as the game is earlier next year.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
Didn't Earle Bruce go 5-4 against Mich? This is a job for Cooper?
November 27th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
As much as I love to discount MSU as the next guy, I don't think we can. Even if they lose Worthy they return almost all of their incredibley talented (although classless) defense. They do lose Cousins and Cunningham which are big losses but their Oline will be that much better and they have a pretty good stable of RB's. They are going to be tough and the most redeeming factor we have is the game will be at home.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:56 PM ^
We will lose 4 UNLESS we are playing much better than this year. We didn't do well on the road at all. Northwestern was a home age basically. But f it! We will lose 1 is my bold prediction.
November 27th, 2011 at 2:57 PM ^
Home game! Swype lol
November 27th, 2011 at 3:46 PM ^
Our schedule next year is tough, but other than perhaps Alabama, we may well be better than every team we face. If we can fill the voids at DT and C, we will be very, very good.
(As for Bama, I guess I'm rooting for them to win it all this year, so as many players go pro as possible.)
November 27th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
2012 Schedule
-Alabama- 4 offense (OL. 2 WR, TE), 5 defensive (DL, 2 LB, CB, S)…possible they1 additional O players (RB) and 2 D players (LB and S) to the NFL Draft;
It is really possible they lose three quarters of their D and all of their 2011 starters at the O skill positions.
-Air Force- 6 offense (WR, TE, 4 OL), 4 defensive (2 DL, LB, S);
-UMass- NA;
-Notre Dame- 4 offense (WR, 3 OL), 7 defensive (2 DL, LB, 2 CB, 2 S)…**possible they lose Te’o as well to lose 8 defensive players total;
They will lose more than three quarters of their starters on D and potentially their best defensive player. On O, they are losing most of their OL, their best O player, and will probably have another QB controversy.
-Purdue- 3 offense (WR, 2 OL), 4 defensive (DL, LB, 2 S)…**possible they could lose DT Kewann Shot to the draft to lose 5 D players overall;
-Illinois- 4 offense (RB, WR, 2 OL), 3 defensive (2 LB, CB)…*very possible they lose Mercilus to the NFL draft for a total for 4 defensive players leaving;
-Michigan State- 5 offense (QB, FB, 2 WR, 1 OL), 1 defensive (S)…very possible they lose Worthy to the NFL Draft for 2 defensive players leaving;
Not losing a lot overall, but what they are losing on O is huge…two best O players and a really experienced QB.
-Nebraska- 2 offense (2 OL), 4 defensive (DT, LB, CB, S);
Not losing a lot, but what they are losing on D are fairly important players.
-Minnesota- 7 offense (TB, WR, FB, TE, 3 OL), 6 defensive (2 DL, LB, CB, 2 S);
-Northwestern- 5 offense (QB, TB, HB, WR, OL), 7 defensive (3 DL, LB, 2 CB, S);
-Iowa- 3 offense (WR, 2 OL), 7 defensive (4 DL, LB, CB, S)…**could lose Reiff to the NFL draft for 4 total O players gone (3 on the OL);
-Ohio State- 5 offense (RB, WR, 3 OL), 0 defensive;
A lot like MSU…losing nothing on defense, but they are losing a lot in terms of value on O...their best RB, their best WR, and most of their OL. If Meyer comes on board, I don’t expect an immediate transition and domination because outside of Miller, they lack the players for his system.
Michigan- 5 offense (FB, WR, TE, 2 OL), 4 defensive (3 DL, CB)
November 27th, 2011 at 3:53 PM ^
One addition - I believe MSU also loses its TE (Linthicum).
November 27th, 2011 at 4:08 PM ^
November 27th, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
Will depend on who goes pro or not. If guys like Kirkpatrick, Hightower, and Richardson decide to go pro then they will lose more guys than us. That being said, our ability to replace Molk, Martin, and Van Bergen is looking suspect, and with Alabama's ability to reload like the Persian Kings' bodyguards, the Immortals, (everytime one would die they would add another to guarantee their number was always 10,000 hence the name Immortals, not actually that they were any good at fighting if an MSU student or grad cites the movie 300) due to administrative oversight that prefers wins to ethics and the spirit of college athletics (oversigning), I would say that we lose more than they do, as we will struggle to replace Martin, Molk, Van Bergen, and Koger (no other TE's).
November 27th, 2011 at 4:10 PM ^
and he is not leaving. We are losing both starting WRs though.
Nebraska- can't count losing Crick as we didn't see him and he missed most of the conference schedule. Kind of like saying we are losing McColgan (FB) when he hardly played.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
We aren't losing both our starting WRs, unless you are counting Stonum. Still have Roundtree and lose Hemingway and Odoms (who has been playing great these last couple games and just generally is awesome).
November 27th, 2011 at 4:20 PM ^
once said that happiness is the difference between your expectations and your realities. If your expectations are too high, you'll never be happy. I think this 10-2 (maybe 11-2) season will jack up expectations and we'll be over-ranked in the preseason. But we need to realize that 5 losses are a strong possibility. I'll think we'll land somewhere around 8-4 or 9-3. Yes there should be improvement from everyone being in the system a year longer, but the losses on both lines and the tougher schedule are big challenges.
So I'm going to hope for 14-0, but I'm going to prepare for 7-5. Just in case.
November 27th, 2011 at 4:47 PM ^
Hopefully we pull a LSU... There schedule was BRUTAL this year.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:14 PM ^
the hype about the mediocre middle of the SEC. Its a two deep conference but gets talked about like Auburn, So Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia are awesome.
November 27th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
will play Tressel ball next year. They will have a terrific defense. Their problem will be QB where they have no experience at all since Counsins has pretty much taken every snap for the past 2 seasons.
November 27th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^
I have a few worries, chiefly at C and on the DL. The big problem is that I consider those huge holes to fill, as I share Hoke's mentality that games are won and lost in the trenches. I also think Molk is our best non-Denard offensive player and Martin and Van Bergen our best defenders, period.
I don't think we are likely to win 10 games next season. Bama is a loss (sad to say, but I have no confidence in getting a win). That means we can only afford one more to match this seasons total, and between ND away, MSU, Nebraska on the road, and Ohio in Ohio, I think we could drop 2 more.
Still, we might win the division (only MSU and Nebraska will really compete) and have a chance at a 10th win in the Championship or at the Rose Bowl.
All that being said, I think next season will be a success if we get to the B1G championship, even with fewer wins. Winning it would be the cherry on top, but whenever a championship is decided by a one-off, I refuse to put too much stock into it. Imagine if LSU loses to Bama in this year's championship in a tight game. Can we really say Bama is the better team? Even after their loss at home? This is why I hate the BCS and any playoff idea. But I'm rambling. As always, beat Ohio.
November 27th, 2011 at 7:32 PM ^
of the loss of Martin and RVB. The offense is going to be a lot better because DR has had one year under the current system. I just cannot see a defense, include Alabama, that could stop us.
8 wins seem very likely.
3 losses seem likely.
1 is a toss up.
9-3 would be good. 10-2 would be great. 8-4 sucks.
| Sept. 1 | vs. Alabama (Arlington, Texas) Loss |
| Sept. 8 | AIR FORCE WIN |
| Sept. 15 | MASSACHUSETTS WIN |
| Sept. 22 | at Notre Dame ??? |
| Sept. 29 | Bye Week |
| Oct. 6 | at Purdue* WIN |
| Oct. 13 | ILLINOIS* (HC) WIN |
| Oct. 20 | MICHIGAN STATE* WIN |
| Oct. 27 | at Nebraska* LOSS |
| Nov. 3 | at Minnesota* WIN |
| Nov. 10 | NORTHWESTERN* WIN |
| Nov. 17 | IOWA* WIN |
| Nov. 24 | at Ohio State* LOSS |
| Dec. 1 | Big Ten Championship Game |