Michigan Football: Ranking the Wolverines' Hardest Challenges in 2012

It's easy to look at Michigan's 11-2 season under first-year head coach Brady Hoke—the program's best season since 2006—and decide that Michigan is, in fact, back.

But what typified Michigan football over the last, oh, century or so wasn't the single great season here and there; it was the prolonged, sustained success of a powerhouse program, and if that Michigan is back, it's going to need to put together another big year. And another. And another. And so on.

But unlike 2011, Michigan has a murderous schedule in front of it, with five games it could legitimately lose, even though the 2012 team is probably better on paper than last season's iteration. And that doesn't include the bowl game or conference championship (although to be fair, if Michigan loses five regular season games, it's probably not going to Indianapolis). Let's take a look at those five games.

5. Michigan at Nebraska, October 27

Yes: a trip to Nebraska is Michigan's fifth-toughest game in 2012.

The Huskers look strong yet again, and one does not simply walk into Memorial Stadium and come out a victor. Ask Ohio State.

And yet, Michigan ran roughshod on the Husker defense last season, winning in a 45-17 laugher that put the final nail in Nebraska's division title hopes. That defense isn't much better (if at all) this time around, and Michigan's rushing offense is every bit as dangerous as before.

That all said, it's still a road game at Nebraska.

4. Michigan at Notre Dame, September 22

It's been almost 10 full months since Michigan's incredible 35-31 victory over Notre Dame, so we can probably admit to ourselves that the Wolverines had no business winning that game, right? Notre Dame took a 24-7 lead into the fourth quarter and scores the go-ahead touchdown with 20 seconds left in that contest, and Michigan needed several stunning breakdowns in the Notre Dame secondary to pull off its comeback.

The 2012 matchup is in South Bend, and while Denard Robinson averages 447 yards of total offense per game (NOT A TYPO) against the Irish, the Notre Dame defense should be stiff enough to give Michigan fits this time around.

3. Michigan State at Michigan, October 20

Michigan faces an intrastate rival that, for the first time in decades, now has a sustained edge in the rivalry. Michigan State has four straight wins against the Wolverines, boasts what's likely the best defense in the conference—far and away the best in the Legends Division, at least—and just held Denard Robinson to 9-24 passing and 123 yards in 2011.

Michigan State's offense has to rebuild, but all in all, the team looks primed to go back to the Big Ten Championship in Indianapolis this December. This game has enormous division title implications, and Michigan had better be prepared for another war.

2. Michigan at Ohio State, November 24

That photo is from the crowd storming the Michigan Stadium field after the Wolverines capped off a 40-34 victory over Ohio State. It was Michigan's first win over the Buckeyes since 2003.

And if eight-year droughts are bad, what's to be made of Michigan's 12-year streak of losing at Ohio Stadium, where this season's contest will be held? Add to that the fact that Ohio State will be rounding into form over the course of the season, plus the fact that due to a postseason ban, this is effectively Ohio State's bowl game. As if they needed the extra motivation.

Urban Meyer's boys will be waiting with bared teeth for the Wolverines, and even if Michigan comes into the game with a better record than the Buckeyes, don't be surprised to see Big Blue go home empty-handed here.

1. Michigan vs. Alabama, Cowboy Stadium, September 1

The last time we heard from Alabama, the Crimson Tide were annihilating LSU in the BCS Championship Game, securing their legacy as the best team of 2011.

Now, it's a new season and both teams went through their own offseason changes, of course, but still: Alabama is still incredibly strong.

Basically, Michigan needs to take a new leap forward. Denard Robinson has to throw well against a very good secondary. He needs to perform well away from home. Will Campbell has to turn his potential into on-field dominance. And the Michigan defense needs to make big plays against an offense that rarely makes mistakes.

And that's just for a chance to beat Alabama.