Michigan Monday: Game 1 vs. Western Michigan

Saturday, September 4

Ann Arbor, Mich.

Noon

Michigan

Western Michigan

8/30/2021 12:35:00 PM | Football

Michigan (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)

Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021 • 12:02 p.m. EDT
Television: ESPN
Radio: Learfield Michigan Sports Network

Western Michigan Game Promotions

• Pregame: Special Operations Command Para-Commandos jump

• Four A-10C Warthogs Flyover

• Halftime Performance: Welcome Home

• Championship Recognition: Men's Basketball, Men's Swimming and Diving

• Full Promotions Schedule

Monday, Aug. 30

Complete Game Notes (PDF)

Coach Harbaugh Weekly Press Conference | Watch

Inside Michigan Football Radio Show (7 p.m.) | Listen

• The 2021 season marks the 142nd in Michigan Football history.
• Michigan has a 115-23-3 record in season openers.
• The Wolverines hold a 7-0 advantage in the all-time series with the Western Michigan, with every game being played at Michigan Stadium.
• Ronnie Bell, Andrew Vastardis, Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Ross were voted captains by their teammates for the 2021 season.
• Hassan Haskins needs three rushing yards for 1,000 in his career.

Wolverines and Broncos

• Michigan and Western Michigan will meet on the gridiron for the eighth time on Saturday, Sept. 4, at Michigan Stadium.

• The Wolverines hold a 7-0 advantage in the series, with every game being played at the Big House.

Series vs. Western Michigan: Michigan leads 7-0
Series Streak: Michigan won 7
Last Meeting vs. Western Michigan: 2018 (Michigan, 49-3)
Last Michigan Win: 2018

142nd Season of Michigan Football

• The 2021 season marks the 142nd in Michigan Football history.

• The Wolverines have an NCAA-leading 964 victories, have claimed 42 Big Ten Championships and have won 11 national titles since the inception of the program in 1879.

• Michigan has a 115-23-3 record in season openers.

• The 2021 schedule commences with four games to be played at Michigan Stadium, the second time under head coach Jim Harbaugh that U-M has had as many home games to begin the season. It marks just the fifth time that has happened since 1987 (2016, 2011, 2009, 2007).

Television Coverage

ESPN will broadcast the game to a national audience. Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (color) and Kris Budden (sideline) will call the game.

Game Notes Nuggets

• Playing an in-state opponent will be meaningful for many Michigan student-athletes -- on the 2021 U-M roster, more players hail from the state of Michigan (36) than any other. West-side Wolverines include Christian Bartholomew (Galesburg), Luke Buckman (Holland), Christian Boivin (Traverse City), Ryan Hayes (Traverse City), Mazi Smith (Grand Rapids) and Noah Stewart (Muskegon).

• U-M owns a 12-3 record in nonconference games under head coach Jim Harbaugh and a 17-5 record in the month of September.

• U-M brings to the 2021 season a new defensive coordinator in coach Mike Macdonald. U-M's defense has been ranked in the top four nationally of total defense four times in the past six seasons.

• The Wolverines return nine players on defense with at least six career starts, led by Brad Hawkins and Aidan Hutchinson (16 each). Overall, 11 players have at least one career start, including six who started all six games last fall.

• On offense, U-M returns nine players with at least six starts led by wide receiver Ronnie Bell (16 starts); no other player has more than eight. Only three started all six games in 2020 (Bell, Chuck Filiaga, Andrew Stueber).

• U-M returns its kicking duo, with Jake Moody handling field goals and Brad Robbins punting. Robbins was honorable mention All-Big Ten last fall.

• Running back Hassan Haskins enters the season just three yards shy of 1,000 for his career. Haskins closed the 2020 season with consecutive 100-yard games against Michigan State and Penn State.

• The team named four captains: two on offense (Ronnie Bell, Andrew Vastardis) and two on defense (Aidan Hutchinson, Josh Ross) with alternates Brad Hawkins, Hassan Haskins and Andrew Stueber.

• Three Wolverines found themselves included on preseason award watch lists: Bell (Biletnikoff Award), Hutchinson (Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy) and Robbins (Ray Guy Award).