Michigan Football: Weak Early Schedule Won't Reveal Wolverines' True Colors Yet

The first ever night game at the Big House ended with a miraculous finish in favor of the Michigan Wolverines.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time we've seen a rebuilding Michigan program upend the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in tremendous fashion.

In 2009, then quarterback Tate Forcier did much of the same for then coach Rich Rodriguez.

Following two wins against weak and inferior opponents, the Wolverines went on to lose seven of their last eight games that year.

Oh, and Michigan did the same thing again last year also. Denard Robinson scored with under 30 seconds left to give his team a four-point win against the Irish.

The Wolverines went on to win the following three games against weak and inferior opponents and then lost six of their final eight games.

So what changes in 2011?

The Wolverines just knocked off the Irish in dramatic fashion once again and now have home games against Eastern Michigan, San Diego State and Minnesota on tap before they finally hit the road.

As with the previous two years, this team is likely to play their first road game with an undefeated record.

Coach Brady Hoke knows just one win—a thrilling, could-have-gone-the-other-way-in-a-heartbeat win—is not going to elevate this team to higher status just yet.

The Wolverines are just on the outside of the rankings though, and should they win next week and a ranked team or two lose, they will certainly find themselves carrying an AP top 25 ranking.

It won't be for real though, not until we see them tussle with someone like Michigan State in East Lansing. Even then the rest of their schedule isn't too difficult until the final two weeks when they host Nebraska and Ohio State.

It will be road games against Northwestern, Michigan State, Iowa and Illinois that truly defines this Wolverines team this season.

Unfortunately, the Wolverines haven't fared well in this position in recent seasons. Coach Hoke is a different man and will certainly handle it his own way, but the weak early schedule will only hide Michigan for so long.

This team still has a lot of work to do before they can even consider competing for the Big Ten championship.