All-time record: 1,012-358-36
All-time record in Big Ten Conference play: 550-219-18
Largest margin of victory ever: Michigan beat West Virginia 130-0 in 1904
Top 5 Michigan football games ever (in no order)
1. Michigan vs Alabama 2024 (Rose Bowl)
2. Michigan vs Penn State 2005
3. Michigan vs Ohio State 2022
4. Michigan vs Ohio State 2023
5. Michigan vs Notre Dame 2006
Favorite game breakdown: Michigan vs Alabama 2024 Rose Bowl
Michigan football vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl was one of my favorite sporting events I have ever watched. Two blue blood programs facing off in the most iconic venue in the sport, with everything on the line, had the recipe for an all-time classic game.
The only thing better than the pageantry surrounding the game was the actual game itself played on the field. This game was the first game of the final four-team playoff. Michigan football came into the game as the No. 1 overall seed, and Alabama came in as the No. 4 seed. Alabama won the SEC championship but was a bit lucky after Jordan Travis of Florida State went down with an injury, preventing Florida State from being picked by the committee to get into the playoff, despite being undefeated.
The stage was set... Wolverines vs the Crimson Tide for a spot in the National Championship. The game started disastrously for Michigan when a punt return was fumbled, and Alabama took the next play to the house for a touchdown. It was 7-0 Alabama, less than six minutes into the game. Michigan answered on the very next drive with an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a touchdown pass from JJ McCarthy to Blake Corum. The rest of the half was mostly a defensive stalemate with both defenses playing well. The Michigan defense was in Jalen Milroe's face the entire game, including four sacks in the first half. JJ hit Tyler Morris for a 38-yard touchdown pass with four minutes left to put Michigan on top 13-7.
A missed extra point would cost Michigan a point. Poor special teams play from the Wolverines was a common theme throughout this game. Alabama put another field goal on the board before halftime and the score was 13-10 going into the locker room. The second half of this game was some of the most heart-pounding, intense football I have ever watched in my life.
The Michigan offense could not get anything going the entire half and was held scoreless for the first 26 minutes. The Michigan defense kept them in the game. They continued to bend, not break and make big play after big play. The defense finished the game with six sacks. Michigan would eventually get the ball with 4:41 left on the clock, down seven points with one more chance and everything on the line.
Michigan football faced a fourth and two on its first possession, and JJ hit Blake in the flat with plenty of open space, and the Michigan drive stayed alive.
After a long run from McCarthy, Michigan had 1st and 10 from the 34-yard line. JJ hit Roman Wilson on a deep crossing route, and he took it down to the five-yard line. Two plays later, the same duo connected for a touchdown pass, and the game was tied!
The game went to overtime, and Michigan needed only two plays to score. Two straight Blake Corum runs, including one that included an unbelievable jump cut and three broken tackles on the way to the end zone. Michigan took the lead 27-20, and the defense was taking the field with a chance to send them to the national championship if they could stop the Alabama offense. Alabama got a first down on its second play and set up a first and goal from the nine-yard line. The Michigan defense stuffed a run on the first play. Mason Graham shot through the line, tackling the running back in the backfield for a five-yard loss on the second play. A completed pass moved the Alabama offense to the three-yard line on third down. The stage was set for a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line with the game on the line. In the words of Chris Fowler, it went like this... "LOW SNAP, MILROE STOPPED! MICHIGAN MAKES THE STAND AND COMES UP WITH A MILESTONE PLAYOFF VICTORY." Michigan did it. Harbaugh outcoached Saban, and Michigan football outplayed Alabama. The Wolverines were on their way to the national championship!
Future of the program
The Michigan football program is in a really great spot right now. The Wolverines are recruiting at an elite level, they are in the middle of a dominating stretch against Ohio State and Michigan State, they have been the best Big Ten program over the last five years, and they have been a top two program in college football over the last five years.
There is a solidarity in the program right now as well. Max Bredeson, a senior captain, requested to room with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood during camp this year. It is things like this that are so important to the camaraderie of a team. All these guys seem to have the exact same mindset that all that matters is to win. Culture, talent acquisition, and rivalry superiority are three qualities that have Michigan football moving in the right direction. We finally made it through the off-season, and Michigan football is back next week! It's a great time to be a Wolverine!