Michigan Monday: Game 3 vs. Southern Methodist

Southern Methodist (0-2, 0-0 AAC) at #19/#22 Michigan (1-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018 • 3:30 p.m. EDT
Television: BTN
Radio: Michigan/IMG Sports Network

• Buy Tickets | Ticket Information

Monday, Sept. 10

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

• Coach Harbaugh Weekly Press Conference | Watch

• Inside Michigan Football Radio Show (7 p.m. at Pizza House) | Listen

• This will be the second meeting between U-M and SMU; only previous match-up came in 1963.
• Shea Patterson is completing 68 percent of his passes (32-47) for 352 yards and three touchdowns.
• Higdon leads the ground game with 228 yards on 34 carries and has scored a rushing TD in each game; averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
• Donovan Peoples-Jones has a team-high 10 catches for 69 yards and one TD.
• Devin Bush leads the defense with 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

SMU Game Promotions

• Military Appreciation Game
• Flyover: Two US Air Force F-35A Lightning II Fighter Aircrafts
• Halftime Performance: U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon
• Michigan Marching Band Halftime Show: B1G Voting Challenge
• 2017 Michigan Hall of Honor Recognition
• Championship Recognition: Field Hockey and Softball
• Full Promotions Schedule

Wolverines and Mustangs

Michigan and SMU will meet on the football field for the second time on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines hold a 1-0 advantage in the series, with the game being played at the Big House in 1963, a 27-16 victory by the Wolverines on Sept. 28 at Michigan Stadium.

Series vs. SMU: Michigan leads 1-0
Series Streak: Michigan won 1
Last Meeting vs. SMU: 1963 (W, 27-16)
Last Michigan Win: 1963 (W, 27-16)

Michigan vs. American Athletic Conference

• Michigan has compiled a 24-5-1 record against teams that currently compete in the American Athletic Conference.
• U-M has faced seven different schools from the AAC on the gridiron: Cincinnati (1-0), Connecticut (2-0), Houston (3-0), Memphis (1-0), Navy (12-5-1), SMU (1-0) and Tulane (3-0).
• The Wolverines are 3-0 against AAC schools since the inception of the conference, defeating Connecticut in 2012, UCF in 2016 and Cincinnati last season. All three games were played at Michigan Stadium.
• U-M has yet to face USF, ECU, Temple and Tulsa in a non-conference match-up.

In the Polls

• The Michigan football team heads into the SMU game ranked in both national polls following its 49-3 victory over Western Michigan.
• The Wolverines are listed No. 19 in the Associated Press rankings and remained No. 22 in the Amway Coaches poll.
• Michigan began the season ranked 14th in both national polls.
• This is the 48th time since 1950 that U-M has been listed in the AP's top 25 in the preseason.

Game Notes Nuggets

• Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones is leading U-M in targets (11) and receptions (10) in the passing game. Peoples-Jones caught his first career receiving touchdown last week against Western Michigan.

• Running back Karan Higdon's 140-yard first quarter last weekend was historic: he became the first Wolverine to reach that rushing total in a single quarter since Denard Robinson had 152 yards on the ground in the first quarter against Notre Dame on Sept. 11, 2010.

• Higdon finished the day with 13 carries for 156 yards and one touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus College, he broke five tackles and had 99 yards after contact.

Karan Higdon had himself a day today in limited action against Western Michigan pic.twitter.com/NnJCwAgQbX
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 9, 2018

• U-M's tight end group boasts two impressive receiving streaks: Sean McKeon has at least one catch in 12 straight games, while Zach Gentry has one catch or more in six consecutive games.

• Michigan's special teams are off to another fast start: the team's kick return unit ranks fifth in the country (among teams with more than one return), averaging 37.75 yards per return, with one touchdown. Conversely, teams average just 16.0 yards per return when taking the ball out against the Wolverines.

• U-M has had the nation's top pass defense for two years running, and it looks to continue that trend in 2018. Through two weeks, the Wolverines are allowing just 127.5 yards per game through the air and 4.55 yards per attempt.

• U-M has had 78 players see the field through two games. Of those 78 players, 18 (23 percent) are walk-on players or players who began their careers as walk-ons.