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The second installment of this week’s series looking back at Michigan football season openers takes us back to 2012. There was a renewed optimism in the United States of America, and Ann Arbor was no exception. Head coach Brady Hoke had reestablished Michigan as a national college football power the previous season, leading the Wolverines to an 11-2 record, including wins over archrival Ohio State and Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. Wolverine fans and alumni could certainly be forgiven for puffing out their chests a little bit. 

Unlike most seasons, the Wolverines traveled to Dallas for their season opener in 2012, where they faced the defending national champions, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Most Michigan fans and alumni prefer to start the season with a home game, but playing on the road or at a neutral site can build a mental toughness that just can’t be matched by a nice, cushy home game, particularly when the opponent is the national champion. 

Unfortunately, any benefits Michigan derived from this game were not felt until much later in the season. Simply put, Michigan was overmatched, falling to the Crimson Tide, 41-14. There were a few bright spots: Michigan got a first down on the opening drive, and when the drive stalled, Will Hagerup boomed a monstrous punt deep into Alabama territory. Will Campbell, a former five-star recruit, recorded a 16-yard sack in the third quarter, one of the biggest plays of his career in Ann Arbor. 

But in the end, Alabama just had too many weapons, and Michigan wasn’t able to deal with them. Alabama scored touchdowns on two consecutive drives in the first quarter and cruised to an easy victory. 

The benefits from playing a tough opponent? Michigan faced a tough game against Michigan State in the middle of the season, and by this time, the Wolverines had rounded into form. In a tough, gritty matchup, the Wolverines kept clawing away at the Spartans, and they earned a hard-fought victory when Brendan Gibbons knocked the winning field goal through the uprights in the closing moments. All in all, the 2012 season had its ups and downs, and Michigan finished with an 8-5 record. While the record might not reflect it, the Wolverines came a long way from that opening loss to the Crimson Tide, but they still had a long way to go.