Michigan
Minnesota
Michigan Monday: Game 1 vs. Minnesota
10/19/2020 5:27:00 PM | Football
#17/#18 Michigan (0-0) at #21 Minnesota (0-0)
TCF Bank Stadium (50,805) • Minneapolis, Minn.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 • 6:44 p.m. CDT (7:44 p.m. EDT)
Television: ABC
Radio: Michigan/IMG Sports Network
Monday, Oct. 19
Complete Game Notes (PDF)
Coach Harbaugh Weekly Press Conference | Watch
Inside Michigan Football Radio Show (7 p.m.) | Listen
• U-M begins its 141st season of gridiron action in 2020.
• This will be the 97th meeting for the Little Brown Jug. Michigan has a 71-23-2 record for the trophy.
• Michigan holds a 75-25-3 advantage in the all-time series with Minnesota.
• This will be the first time in school history that Michigan plays only conference opponents.
• The Wolverines return nine starters, with on four on offense and five on defense. They also have four returning specialists.
• Senior DE Kwity Paye was selected one of 10 players to watch in the Big Ten preseason media poll.
Wolverines and Golden Gophers
• This will be the 104th meeting between Michigan and Minnesota.
• The Wolverines hold a 75-25-3 advantage in the all-time series and have won 24 of the last 26 games played between the two schools.
• U-M has a 33-12-1 mark against Minnesota in games played in Minneapolis, including a 2-0 record in games at TCF Bank Stadium.
• This will be a trophy game for the Wolverines, who hope to retain ownership of the Little Brown Jug over the Gophers. U-M is 71-23-2 in 96 previous Little Brown Jug games. The Jug is the oldest trophy in college football.
Series vs. Minnesota: Michigan leads 75-25-3
Series Streak: Michigan won 2
Last Meeting vs. Minnesota: 2017 (Michigan, 33-10)
Last Michigan Win: 2017
Television Coverage
ABC will broadcast the game to a national audience. Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color) and Maria Taylor (sideline) will call the game.
In the Polls
• The Michigan football team opens the 2020 season ranked in the top 20 of the national polls. U-M is listed No. 18 in the Associated Press rankings and No. 17 in the Amway Coaches Poll.
• Michigan finished the 2019 season listed No. 18 (AP) and No. 19 (coaches) in the final polls and 14th in the College Football Playoff rankings.
• The Wolverines have been ranked in the national polls for 29 straight games dating back to the start of the 2018 season.
• U-M has been ranked for all but eight contests during Jim Harbaugh's tenure (58 of 66 games). The Wolverines were not ranked the first four games in 2015 and four games during the 2017 season.
• Over the last five seasons, Michigan has faced more teams that have finished in the top 15 of the national polls (16) than any other program. The next closest are Penn State and Ohio State with 12 each.
• Michigan faced six top 15 ranked opponents during the 2019 season and had a 2-4 record against those teams.
Game Notes Nuggets
• This week kicks off the 141st season of Michigan Football, beginning with Saturday night's (Oct. 24) game at Minnesota. Michigan holds a 75-25-3 advantage in the all-time series.
• This will be a trophy game for the Wolverines, who hope to retain ownership of "The Little Brown Jug" over the Gophers. U-M is 71-23-2 in 96 previous "Little Brown Jug" games. The Jug is the oldest trophy in college football.
• Michigan is opening its season with a night game for the second year in a row (Middle Tennessee, 2019). The Wolverines will also appear on College Gameday for the eighth time under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
• U-M is 4-1 in Big Ten openers under Harbaugh and 3-1 all-time when beginning conference play against the Gophers.
• Minnesota is the first of four opponents on U-M's 2020 schedule that were ranked in the preseason poll (No. 19). Others include No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 7 Penn State and No. 2 Ohio State.
• Michigan returns five starters on offense from the 2019 squad, including wide receiver Ronnie Bell, running backs Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins (who split starts), offensive lineman Jalen Mayfield and tight end Nick Eubanks.
• The Wolverines are one of 17 FBS programs to enter the 2020 season with no quarterbacks on the roster who have starting experience.
• Quarterback Joe Milton (eight games played) is the only quarterback with any game experience. He is expected to make his first career start at Minnesota.
• Five starters also return on defense, headlined by second-team All-Big Ten defensive lineman Kwity Paye and third-teamers Carlo Kemp and Aidan Hutchinson. Linebacker Cameron McGrone and defensive back Brad Hawkins make up the final two returning starters.
• U-M's three returning defensive linemen combined for 152 tackles, 27.0 tackles for loss and 13.0 sacks last season, the most cumulative returning production of any position group.
• Michigan has been ranked in the top four of total defense four times in the past five seasons under defensive coordinator Don Brown.
Michigan State Game Time, TV Announced
Michigan's game vs. Michigan State on Saturday, Oct. 31, has been announced as a noon EDT start. Fox will televise the game from Michigan Stadium.
