Related Content
-
Michigan football commit Logan Tuley-Tillman burns recruiting mail from Ohio State
On Friday, Ohio State began targeting a Michigan football commit by formally offering 2013 four-star linebacker Mike McCray. A day later, the Michigan-Ohio State recruiting battle made waves again. Or, more specifically, fire. Michigan offensive ...
- It's official: Michigan football team to open season at night against Alabama
- Big Ten backs proposal to shift portion of baseball season to fall
Alabama's DeMarcus DuBose celebrates after a 21-0 win over LSU in the BCS National Championship game. Next up for the Crimson Tide is a 2012 season-opener against Michigan.
AP Photo
Next up for the Michigan football team: the national champs.
Alabama’s 21-0 win over LSU in the BCS National Championship game on Monday night assures the Wolverines will open their 2012 season against the defending champion for just the third time in program history.
Michigan and Alabama play Sept. 1 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Alabama's Nico Johnson (35) and Dre Kirkpatrick (21) celebrate after stopping LSU's Tyrann Mathieu on a kickoff return during the second half of the BCS National Championship game Monday in New Orleans.
AP Photo
A dominant Crimson Tide defense that led the nation in every major category -- scoring, total yards, rushing yards and passing yards -- smothered No. 1 LSU at the Superdome in New Orleans, allowing just five first downs and 92 total yards and recording the first shutout in BCS title game history.
Fortunately for Michigan, that defensive unit will look different when the Wolverines line up across from it in September. Five defensive starters’ eligibility expired at the conclusion of the BCS game and two key juniors -- linebacker Don’t’a Hightower and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick -- are expected to enter the NFL draft.
Offensively, Alabama loses four senior starters -- including both of its wideouts -- and junior running back Trent Richardson, a Heisman Trophy finalist, is considering entering the NFL draft. Offensive coordinator Jim McElwain was named head coach at Colorado State.
The Wolverines have opened the season against the defending national champion twice before, both in the 1980s. Coincidentally, the first came after Michigan made its only other Sugar Bowl appearance.
On Jan. 2, 1984 -- the day Michigan lost 9-7 to Auburn in New Orleans - Miami (Fla.) upset No. 1-ranked Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and was later voted national champion.
The Hurricanes opened the 1984 season at Michigan Stadium, losing 22-14 to the Wolverines.
Notre Dame hosted Michigan to open the 1989 season after it had won the 1988 national title by going 12-0 (including a 19-17 home win against No. 9 Michigan) and beating No. 3 West Virginia, 34-21, in the Fiesta Bowl.
Notre Dame also won the 1989 opener at Michigan Stadium, 24-19.
Notable: The Wolverines did play 1880 co-champions Princeton and Yale in their second and third games of 1881, losing both.
MONDAY'S RESULT
BCS National Championship
Alabama 21, LSU 0
New Orleans Times-Picayune coverage
Birmingham News coverage
Story | Boxscore
PREVIOUS RESULTS
SATURDAY, DEC. 17
New Mexico Bowl
Temple 37, Wyoming 15
Story | Boxscore
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Ohio 24, Utah State 23
Story | Boxscore
New Orleans Bowl
Louisiana-Lafayette 32, San Diego State 30
Story | Boxscore
TUESDAY, DEC. 20
Beef 'O'Brady's Bowl
Marshall 20, Florida International 10
Story | Boxscore
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 21
Poinsettia Bowl
TCU 31, Louisiana Tech 34
Story | Boxscore
THURSDAY, DEC. 22
MAACO Bowl
Boise State 56, Arizona State 24
Story | Boxscore
SATURDAY, DEC. 24
Hawaii Bowl
Southern Mississippi 24, Nevada 17
Story | Boxscore
MONDAY, DEC. 26
Independence Bowl
Missouri 41, North Carolina 24
Story | Boxscore
TUESDAY, DEC. 27
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Purdue 37, Western Michigan 32
Story | Boxscore
Belk Bowl
North Carolina State 31, Louisville 24
Story | Boxscore
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28
Military Bowl
Toledo 42, Air Force 41
Story | Boxscore
Holiday Bowl
Texas 21, California 10
Story | Boxscore
THURSDAY, DEC. 29
Champs Sports Bowl
Florida State 18, Notre Dame 14
Story | Boxscore
Alamo Bowl
Baylor 67, Washington 56
Story | Boxscore
FRIDAY, DEC. 30
Armed Forces Bowl
BYU 24, Tulsa 21
Story | Boxscore
Pinstripe Bowl
Rutgers 27, Iowa State 13
Story | Boxscore
Music City Bowl
Mississippi State 23, Wake Forest 17
Story | Boxscore
Insight Bowl
Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14
Story | Boxscore
SATURDAY, DEC. 31
Meineke Car Care Bowl
Texas A&M 33, Northwestern 22
Story | Boxscore
Sun Bowl
Utah 30, Georgia Tech 27 (OT)
Story | Boxscore
Liberty Bowl
Cincinnati 31, Vanderbilt 24
Story | Boxscore
Fight Hunger Bowl
Illinois 20, UCLA 14
Story | Boxscore
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Auburn 43, Virginia 24
Story | Boxscore
MONDAY, JAN. 2
TicketCity Bowl
Houston 30, Penn State 14
Story | Boxscore
Capital One Bowl
South Carolina 30, Nebraska 13
Story | Boxscore
Outback Bowl
Michigan State 33, Georgia 30 (3 OT)
Story | Boxscore
Gator Bowl
Florida 24, Ohio State 17
Story | Boxscore
Rose Bowl
Oregon 45, Wisconsin 38
Story | Boxscore
Fiesta Bowl
Oklahoma State 41, Stanford 38 (OT)
Story | Boxscore
TUESDAY, JAN. 3
Sugar Bowl
Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT)
AnnArbor.com coverage | Boxscore
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 4
Orange Bowl
West Virginia 70, Clemson 33
Story | Boxscore
FRIDAY, JAN. 6
Cotton Bowl
Arkansas 29, Kansas State 16
Story | Boxscore
SATURDAY, JAN. 7
BBVA Compass Bowl
SMU 28, Pittsburgh 6
Story | Boxscore
SUNDAY, JAN. 8
GoDaddy.com Bowl
Arkansas State (10-2) vs. Northern Illinois (10-3)
Story | Boxscore
Get the Ann Arbor RSS Feed
AnnArbor.com