This Week in Michigan Football: U-M vs. Northwestern
10/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
• Complete Game Notes 
| Game Central
SERIES HISTORY
• The Wolverines have claimed victories in 16 of their last 20 homecoming games and 40 of their last 47 contests dating back to 1968. Overall, Michigan boasts an impressive 88-28-2 mark at homecoming, which includes a 1-1-2 record in alumni exhibitions held during the 1897, 1898, 1899 and 1906 seasons.
• This will be the 74th meeting in the all-time series with Northwestern.
• The Wolverines lead the all-time series, 56-15-2, and have won 31 of the last 35 games played between the two schools dating back to 1966.
• Michigan has won nine of the last 10 games in the series; the only setback came in a 21-14 affair played at Michigan Stadium in 2008.
• The last three games have been decided by less than a score, including a pair of overtime games, with Michigan coming out victorious in each instance.
• This will be the 39th game between the two schools at Michigan Stadium.
• Michigan holds a 30-6-2 advantage in games played at the Big House and is 34-6-2 all-time in games against Northwestern in Ann Arbor.
• U-M has won 18 of the last 20 games played at Michigan Stadium (1966 to present).
• This will be the 10th time in the history of the series that both teams enter the game ranked in the national polls.
• The all-time series is knotted at 4-4-1 when both teams are listed in the polls.
• Michigan won the last meeting when both squads were ranked, a 33-17 affair in Evanston during the 2005 season (U-M #25, NU #21).
• U-M won games in 1940, 1941, 1971 and 2005, while Northwestern claimed victories during the 1958, 1995, 1996 and 2000 seasons; the lone tie came in 1946.
• This will be the 115th homecoming game (excluding alumni exhibitions) and the 119th all-time homecoming game played by the Wolverines in Ann Arbor.
• Michigan has an 87-27 record in homecoming games.
• U-M has won four straight homecoming games and 16 of its last 20 homecoming games.
• The Wolverines have claimed victories in 40 of its last 47 games dating back to 1968, the year prior to Bo Schembechler's arrival at U-M.
• Schembechler compiled a 21-0 homecoming record during his Michigan coaching career.
• Northwestern will serve as U-M's homecoming opponent for the seventh time in school history.
• The Wildcats are the eighth-most frequent homecoming opponent for the Wolverines; Minnesota (33 games), Illinois (15) and Indiana (13) top the list.
• U-M holds a 6-0 advantage over NU when the Wildcats serve as homecoming opponent.
OFFENSE
• The offense has been balanced through five games, with the ground game gaining 201.4 yards per contest and the air attack averaging 191.4 yards per game.
• Michigan has gained 1,007 rushing yards on the season, rushing 207 times for 1,007 yards and 12 touchdowns.
• Six different Wolverines have scored rushing touchdowns this season, led by tailback De'Veon Smith (4), quarterback Jake Rudock (2) and wide receiver Jehu Chesson (2).
• In the passing game, Michigan needs 44 yards to reach 1,000 on the year, completing 89-of-152 (58.6 pct.) for 956 yards and five touchdowns.
• U-M has won the time of possession battle in each of the five contests this season and has nine-minute-plus advantage on the opposition (34:20 to 25:40).
• Michigan's offensive line has allowed five sacks in five games. The front did not yield a sack at Utah or against UNLV and allowed one sack vs. Oregon State and two against BYU and Maryland.
• The offense has converted 16-of-17 red-zone chances this season. U-M has scored 12 touchdowns and two field goals. The Wolverines scored four rushing touchdowns and converted one field goal against Oregon State after tallying two passing touchdowns and one field goal at Utah. Michigan scored one rushing and one passing TD against UNLV. U-M went 3-for-4 against BYU, scoring three touchdowns.
• The Wolverines are converting 42 percent of their third-down chances (32-of-76) and have moved the chains on 3-of-9 fourth-down opportunities.
DEFENSE
• Michigan is ranked in the top five nationally in six defensive categories.
• The defense has pitched a shutout in back-to-back games for the first time since the 2000 season.
• Michigan is the first team since 2011 to hold two major conference/independent opponents to less than 110 yards in a game.
• The U-M defense is allowing just 71 yards per contest rushing and 112.6 yards passing.
• The Wolverines have yielded 38 points on the season (9.5 avg.).
• Michigan has been stout on third down, allowing just 14 conversions in 72 attempts through three games (19%).
• The defense has 11 sacks and 40 tackles-for-loss through five games of action.
• Michigan has 17 different players with 10 or more stops this season.
• Michigan has held the opposition scoreless in 14 of the last 15 quarters.
• The defense has yielded just seven points over the last 15 quarters.
• U-M forced eight three-and-outs by BYU in 12 drives and 12 in 16 drives for Maryland.
• The Wolverines have forced seven turnovers on the season (six interceptions and one fumble) and picked up a season-high three picks at Maryland.
• Jeremy Clark leads the team with three interceptions (Utah, UNLV and Maryland).
• The defense has batted down 19 passes in five games, led by cornerback Jourdan Lewis' seven PBUs; U-M batted down a season-high six passes at Maryland.
• Michigan has allowed the opposition six red-zone chances, with three coming in the Utah game, one against Oregon State and two by UNLV; two of the six red-zone opportunities came on the opening possession of the Utah and OSU games.
• The defense held the opposition to less than 100 rushing yards the past four games.
• The opposition has been limited to less than 50 yards rushing the past two games (50 yards by BYU and 29 by Maryland).
• The defense has held the opposition to less than 100 yards passing three times this season: 79 yards vs. Oregon State, 55 yards vs. BYU and 76 yards at Maryland.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• U-M has converted 6-of-8 field goals and all 15 PATs.
• Michigan has not registered a touchback in 21 punts this season.
• The Wolverines are averaging 40.7 yards per punt with seven being fair caught and 11 inside the opposition's 20-yard line.
• The kickoff unit has 12 touchbacks in 28 kickoffs; the opposition is averaging just 17.8 yards per return (13 returns for 232 yards).
