As the Wolverines prepare to enter Big Ten play, the team will look to add to a streak of 25 consecutive Big Ten wins dating to 2021. That figure represents a program record, the previous Michigan record set by Gary Moeller’s 1990-92 teams (19).
Michigan (ranked 18th) hosts 11th ranked USC at the Big House at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday (CBS). Here are some facts and figures heading into the Big Ten opener for both schools and the first ever for the visiting Trojans.
Game Day Information:
7 am – Parking Lots Open (times vary for specific lots)
12:30 pm – Pregame Radio Coverage Begins on WWJ Radio
1:30 pm – Michigan Stadium Gates Open
2:24 pm – Michigan Football Team Warmups
3:31 pm – National Anthem
3:32:25 pm – Michigan Intro Video
3:35 pm – Michigan Takes the Field
3:36:30 pm – USC Takes the Field
3:37 pm – Coin Toss
3:40 pm – Kickoff on CBS
- The Big Ten Conference does not recognize the 2021, 2022, or 2023 title games as conference matchups, so U-M is at 22 straight Big Ten wins by the league’s record book.
- The Michigan roster includes 10 players from the state of California, the second-highest total from any state after Michigan:Nico Andrighetto(defensive back), Anthony Arnou (Santa Monica), Zeke Berry (Pittsburg), Cameron Brandt (Carson), Jayden Denegal (Apple Valley), Mason Graham (Anaheim), Zack Marshall (Carlsbad), Jeffrey Persi (Mission Viejo), Jack Tuttle (San Marcos), Davis Warren (Los Angeles).
- Twelve (12) Wolverines have made their collegiate debuts so far this season:Chibi Anwunah(edge), Manuel Beigel (defensive line), Hogan Hansen (tight end), Jason Hewlett (linebacker), Breeon Ishmail (edge), Ike Iwunnah (defensive line), Dominic Nichols (edge), Bryson Kuzdzal (running back), Evan Link (offensive line), Jordan Marshall (running back), Andrew Sprague (offensive line), and Cole Sullivan (linebacker).
- Another six players made their first career starts as Wolverines after earning starting assignments at their previous institutions:C.J. Charleston(wide receiver), Josh Priebe (offensive line), Josaiah Stewart (edge), Ernest Hausmann (linebacker), Jaishawn Barham (linebacker), and Dominic Zvada (kicker).
- Nine players have made their first career starts this fall: wide receiverKendrick Bell, centerDominick Giudice, right tackle Evan Link, tight end Marlin Klein, wide receiver Peyton O’Leary, quarterback Davis Warren on offense; defensive back Zeke Berry, defensive back Jyaire Hill, and edge Derrick Moore on defense.
- After starting 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) in the first two games on third down, the Michigan offense was 9-of-12 (75 percent) on third downs last weekend, including 5-of-5 across three scoring drives in the first half.
SEE WLAA-D PHOTOGALLERY FROM LAST WEEK
- The run game rolled up over 300 rushing yards (301) last weekend, the first game of the year over 150 rushing yards. The team eclipsed 150 yards rushing on 10 occasions last year.
- Running backKalel Mullingshad a career day last weekend, reaching 153 yards rushing on 15 carries with two touchdowns. Among backs with at least 20 carries thus far, Mullings ranks seventh in yards after contact per attempt (6.0). He has zero yards lost on 36 carries this year.
- Mullings’ previous career-long rush was 23 yards entering last weekend’s game. He had runs of 30 yards (touchdown), 30 yards, and 38 yards to set a new career-long.
- Running backDonovan Edwardsenjoyed his most productive game of the season with 82 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Edwards has lost only four yards on 36 carries this year.
- Tight endColston Lovelandhas been the leader or co-leader in receptions for U-M in all three games. His eight receptions in each of U-M’s first two games set and matched a new career-high. His 88 yards in the season opener was also a career-best, and he passed 1,000 career yards against Texas (1,041 yards).
- Loveland’s 80 career receptions rank sixth all-time for tight ends (next: Sim Nelson, 84) and his 1,071 career receiving yards are now fifth all-time among tight ends at U-M (next: Lowell Perry, 1,261).
- The U-M passing offense has spread passes around to 11 different targets so far, with three players at five catches or more:Colston Loveland,Semaj Morgan, and Tyler Morris.
- The Michigan defense has surrendered an average of 9.3 points per game in the second half this year.
SEE WLAA-D PHOTOGALLERY FROM LAST WEEK
- Three members of the secondary have recorded interceptions:Makari Paige,Will Johnson, and Zeke Berry; Johnson’s was returned 86 yards for a touchdown against Fresno State.
- Opponents have struggled to run the ball effectively against the Wolverines. Fresno State finished with nine rushing yards, Texas with 143, and Arkansas State was held to 58 yards on the ground. Altogether, teams have scored just one rushing touchdown against U-M this year.
- Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades U-M’s run game (10th, 86.3), tackling (25th, 76.9), run defense (14th, 89.6), and special teams (22nd, 80.4) among the top units in the country.
- U-M KickerDominic Zvadaand SMU’s Collin Rogers are the only FBS kickers with three-plus successful conversions at 50-plus yards in the first three weeks of the year.
- This marks the third year in a row that a Wolverine kicker converted three 50-plus yard field goals in a season (Moody 2022, Turner ’23, Zvada ’24).
Photos by Terry Jacoby / WLAA-D
U-M Football: Why the Wolverines made the change at QB (See WLAA-D photogallery)
