The Day The Earth Stands Still: September 12th

OK, so maybe not the Earth, but at least the world of College Football. For anyone who hasn't seen the Michigan Schedule this year, September 12th is the day Michigan and Notre Dame face off in Ann Arbor.

After an abysmal 3-9 last season, which most Wolverine fans would like to forget, the big question is: Can they return to the Nation Scene? Many simply say, "Look at Rich Rod's history. He does a lot better his second year!" While this is a valid point, it doesn't quite satisfy the question. The truth is you can predict what you want...you can say that Michigan will go 10-2 if you want or even 3-9 again, but the only thing that is going to solve this question is football. Now, that being said most of you are probably thinking September 5th right now, and its true the season opener against Western Michigan will be one to watch. Yet the game which will answer this question is going to be player seven days later.

Notre Dame is a team on the rise, after three years of rebuilding, they're finally starting to win games. While they aren't ranked, they're well on their way. The Irish are returning some key starters like Jimmy Clausen, who has shown a night-day difference from the guy who was sacked eight times by our defense in '07, Golden Tate, who had 1000+ receiving yards in '08, and Michael Floyd. Unlike the last time they took the trip up to Ann Arbor, Notre Dame will be ready for this game.

Michigan is a lot harder to peg, although everybody and their uncle is willing to give it a try. This is a Wolverine team coming off their worst season in 129 years of football, and yet there is very little that these 2009 Wolverines have in common with the 2008 Wolverines. The obvious difference is at quarterback. Threet is gone and Forcier is now the "unofficial" field general. Brandon Minor, who rushed for over 500 yards last year while battling an injury, is finally 100 percent healthy and ready to lead the deepest running back corps in the Big Ten. However, the defense, no longer under the command of Scott Shaeffer, is probably the hardest group to figure out. With whole new positions, such as the Spinner—Hybrid Safety-Linebacker position, and a year of experience in Rich Rodriguez's system the defense is near impossible to predict. Don't underestimate Michigan because of last season, This is a much-improved squad, and even more dangerous...they have more to prove.

September 12th is looking to be the match-up of the season simply because these are both teams looking to rebound, and one of them—despite having already played a game—will be unpredictable, unknown if you will. My prediction is that this game will be close, really close, and win or lose in the end the question will have a definite answer: Yes

Disclaimer: Before anyone says it, this doesn't mean I think that Michigan is, at this point, ready to take on the USC's or the LSU's, but it does mean they will be.