Michigan Monday: Game 2 vs. Western Michigan

Western Michigan (0-1, 0-0 MAC) at Michigan (0-1, 0-0 Big Ten)

Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 • 12:05 p.m. EDT
Television: FS1
Radio: Michigan/IMG Sports Network

Monday, Sept. 3

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

• Coach Harbaugh Weekly Press Conference | Watch

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

• Karan Higdon, Tyree Kinnel, Ben Bredeson and Devin Bush were voted captains for the 2018 team.
• This will be the seventh meeting between U-M and WMU.
• The Wolverines and Broncos will meet for the first time since 2011.
• Shea Patterson made his Michigan debut, completing 20-of-30 passes for 227 yards.
• Ambry Thomas shared the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award after returning a kickoff 99 yards for a TD at Notre Dame. It was the first for U-M since 2015.

Thomas Shares Big Ten Weekly Award

Sophomore defensive back and kick return man Ambry Thomas earned his first career weekly distinction from the Big Ten, sharing Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors with Purdue freshman Rondale Moore. Thomas was awarded the distinction after scoring his first career touchdown on a 99-yard kickoff return against Notre Dame (Sept. 1).

Wolverines and Broncos

Michigan and Western Michigan will meet on the gridiron for the seventh time on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines hold a 6-0 advantage in the series, with every game being played at the Big House.

Series vs. WMU: Michigan leads 6-0
Series Streak: Michigan won 6
Last Meeting vs. WMU: 2011 (W, 34-10)
Last Michigan Win: 2011 (W, 34-10)

Michigan vs. Western Michigan at the Big House

U-M has posted six victories against Western Michigan over the years, with the very first meeting taking place in 1917, a 17-13 victory at Ferry Field. The first game at Michigan Stadium took place in 1943, a 57-6 win by the Wolverines, and the in-state programs didn't meet again until the 2000s. The renewal of acquaintances was scheduled to take place in 2001, but the tragic events of Sept. 11 cancelled the game, which was reschedule for a week later in Ann Arbor. Michigan defeated Western Michigan, 38-21, on Sept. 22, 2001, and went on to post victories against the Broncos in 2002, 2009 and 2011 in Ann Arbor. The 34-10 win in 2011 was called with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter due to lightning and heavy rain.

Michigan Against the MAC

• This is the first time that Jim Harbaugh will face a Mid-American Conference team as Michigan's head coach.
• Michigan has compiled a 32-1 record against teams in the Mid-American Conference.
• The Wolverines have outscored MAC opponents by a 1,165-327 margin in those 33 games.
• All 33 of the games against MAC schools have been played at Michigan Stadium.
• This will be the first time that Michigan has faced a MAC school since the 2013 season, when the Wolverines hosted Central Michigan and Akron.

U-M's 2018 Schedule Among Nation's Toughest

• Michigan's 12 opponents combined to win 96 games in 2017: 96-57 (62.7%).
• Half of Michigan's regular season opponents in 2018 won 10 or more games last season: Notre Dame (10-3), Northwestern (10-3), Michigan State (10-3), Penn State (11-2), Ohio State (12-2) and Wisconsin (13-1).
• Seven of the team's opponents played in bowl games during the 2017 season: Notre Dame (Citrus Bowl), SMU (Frisco Bowl), Michigan State (Holiday Bowl), Northwestern (Music City Bowl), Ohio State (Cotton Bowl), Penn State (Fiesta Bowl), Wisconsin (Orange Bowl).
• Eight of the 12 opponents finished with a .500 or better record.
• The Wolverines' crossover opponents in the Big Ten West Division are Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin.
• Four of the seven teams in the Big Ten East Division played in bowl games last year.

Michigan at Home Under Harbaugh

• The Wolverines have compiled a 17-4 home record in three seasons under Jim Harbaugh.
• U-M had its 10-game home winning streak snapped against Michigan State (14-10) in 2017.
• Michigan has an 9-4 mark in Big Ten games at the Big House under Harbaugh's leadership.
• The only setbacks in Big Ten games came during the 2015 and 2017 seasons, losing to Michigan State and Ohio State during both years.
• The Wolverines are a perfect 8-0 in non-conference games under Harbaugh at the Big House, outscoring the opposition by a 318-86 margin in those games.

100,000-Plus Crowds at Michigan Stadium

The Michigan football program has played 279 consecutive home games in front of crowds in excess of 100,000. The last time Michigan did not have 100,000 in attendance in Michigan Stadium was on Oct. 25, 1975 vs. Indiana. A crowd of 93,857 was on hand for the 55-7 Michigan victory. Since then, Michigan has set numerous NCAA attendance marks, and the Wolverines have led the nation for 38 of the past 40 seasons in attendance.

Promotions

• Flyover: Two A-10 Warthogs
• Michigan Marching Band Halftime Show: West Side Story
• Championship Recognition: Men's Basketball, Women's Cross Country and Women's Tennis [ Promotions Schedule ]