Michigan's 2012 football schedule is one step closer to being complete. Athletic director Dave Brandon announced this afternoon on Twitter that the Wolverines will host Air Force on Sept. 8, 2012. The agreement between Michigan and Air Force is for one game and brings Michigan's 2012 schedule to 11 games:
Sept. 1 - vs. Alabama (at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX)
Sept. 8 - vs. Air Force
Sept. 22 - at Notre Dame
Oct. 6 - at Purdue
Oct. 13 - vs. Illinois
Oct. 20 - vs. Michigan State
Oct. 27 - at Nebraska
Nov. 3 - at Minnesota
Nov. 10 - vs. Northwestern
Nov. 17 - vs. Iowa
Nov. 24 - at Ohio State
The 2012 slate of games is shaping up to be quite a test for Michigan. In 2011, Michigan has eight home games, including Notre Dame, Nebraska and Ohio State all coming to Ann Arbor. In 2012, on the other hand, Michigan has to play all three of those teams on the road and play a neutral-site game against Alabama down in Texas.
Adding Air Force, a solid non-BCS team, to the mix also makes the non-conference schedule much tougher than most years. Next season Michigan plays Notre Dame like usual, as well as San Diego State, Eastern Michigan and Western Michigan. In '12, however, the Wolverines will have to play Notre Dame, Alabama, Air Force and another team that is TBD. I would assume that fourth non-conference game will be against a MAC team or an FCS school, as Michigan will be deserving of having a cupcake game amongst a stretch that includes the Crimson Tide, Falcons and Fighting Irish.