Michigan enters 2012 with incredible expectations following a brilliant 2011. Despite having a very similar squad to the underperforming 2010 team, Brady Hoke’s influence was felt as soon as he stepped off the plane.

A massive improvement on defense and an Orange Bowl win later, and the Wolverines now have expectations to live up to after giving us a taste of what’s to come. They also return Denard Robinson, the spark plug of their team and the most exciting player in college football.

Also working in their favor is recruiting, which they are absolutely dominating, especially early on in the 2013 class. The future is very bright, but the 2012 team is not without its glaring holes.

Those holes will get an early test soon enough as the national champion Alabama team will greet them in Dallas on September 1st.

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