It's official: Michigan football team to open season at night against Alabama

By Kyle Meinke Michigan Football Reporter for MLive.com

Posted on Tue, May 22, 2012 : 2:34 p.m.

It had been suspected. Now it's reality.

The Michigan football team's blockbuster opener against Alabama at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, will be a night game.

The school announced Tuesday that the matchup -- which features the Sugar Bowl champion Wolverines and national champion Crimson Tide -- will kick off at 8 p.m. Sept. 1 on ABC.

Michigan now has three official night games for 2012, matching its total from all of last season.

The Wolverines also announced their regular season finale against Ohio State will begin at noon. That game will be played in Columbus, Ohio.

Among their six released game times, five are at 3:30 p.m. or later. That matches their total from all last season.

A look at Michigan's full schedule, with announced kickoff times:

Sept. 1 Alabama (Dallas) 8 p.m.
Sept. 8 Air Force
Sept. 15 UMass
Sept. 22 at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 at Purdue, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13 Illinois, 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 Michigan State
Oct. 27 at Nebraska, 8 p.m.
Nov. 3 at Minnesota
Nov. 10 Northwestern
Nov. 17 Iowa
Nov. 24 at Ohio State 12 p.m.