Michigan Monday: Game 4 vs. USC
#18 Michigan (2-1) vs. #11 USC (2-0)
Michigan Stadium / Ann Arbor, Mich.
Saturday, Sept. 21 | 3:30 PM
Television: CBS | Radio: Learfield Michigan Sports Network
What You Need to Know
• This is the third regular-season meeting between the Wolverines and Trojans; U-M won both previous games (1957 & 1958).
• This is U-M's second nationally ranked match up of the season; has a 136-113-8 (54.5%) all-time record.
• Michigan has claimed victory in 42 of its last 46 games.
• Running back Kalel Mullings leads the team with 36 carries for 270 yards (7.5 avg.) and two TDs.
• Linebackers Jaishawn Barham and Ernest Hausmann are tied for the team lead with 14 tackles.
• Tight end Colston Loveland is pacing the Wolverines with 19 catches for 187 yards (9.8 avg.) and one TD.
______________________________
10 Wolverines Hail from California
• Michigan's roster features 1O players from the state of California: DB Nico Andrighetto (Mountain View), QB Anthony Arnau (Santa Monica), DB Zeke Berry (Pittsburg), Edge Cameron Brandt (Carson), QB Jayden Denegal (Apple Valley), DT Mason Graham (Anaheim), TE Zack Marshall
(Carlsbad), OL Jeff Persi (Mission Viejo), QB Jack Tuttle (San Marcos) and QB Davis Warren (Los Angeles).
• Three of these players are starters and three additional Wolverines are the primary backup at their respective positions.
______________________________
Game Promotions
• Stripe Out (Learn More)
• Hero of the Game - John Schafer
• On-Field DJ - DJ Arrayy
• Band Halftime Show - Sing to the Moon
Full 2024 Promotions Schedule
______________________________
Wolverines and Trojans
• U-M sports a 4-6 record against USC.
• The Trojans have won the last three games contested between the two programs, all on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl.
• The last seven meetings and eight of the 1 O previous games have all been played in the Rose Bowl, with USC holding a 6-2 advantage in those contests.
• The last meeting between the schools came in the 2007 Rose Bowl, a 32-18 victory for USC.
• Michigan has compiled a 2-0 record against USC in the regular season, winning a 16-6 affair at Southern California (1957) and a 20-19 game at Michigan Stadium (1958).
______________________________
Big Ten Openers
• The Wolverines will play their 119th conference opener against USC on Saturday (Sept. 21).
• USC will become the 15th different current or former opponent that the Wolverines have faced in the Big Ten opener.
• This is the first conference game for new Big Ten member USC.
• Michigan has claimed victories in 16 of its last 18 Big Ten openers.
• The Wolverines have compiled a 90-26-2 record in conference openers and have claimed victories in 52 of their last 56 Big Ten openers.
• U-M had a 23-game winning streak in conference openers snapped at Wisconsin in 2005.
• The only setbacks in the past 56 Big Ten openers came on the road against the Badgers (21-14 in 1981, 23-20 in 2005 and 35-14 in 2019) and at home against Minnesota (30-14 in 2014).
• U-M compiled an 8-1 record in conference openers under coach Jim Harbaugh.
______________________________
Game Notes Nuggets
• As the Wolverines prepare to enter Big Ten play, the team will look to add to a streak of 25 consecutive Big Ten wins dating to 2021. That figure represents a program record, the previous Michigan record set by Gary Moeller's 1990-92 teams (19).
• The Big Ten Conference does not recognize the 2021, 2022, or 2023 title games as conference matchups, so U-M is at 22 straight Big Ten wins by the league's record book.
• The Michigan roster includes 10 players from the state of California, the second-highest total from any state after Michigan: Nico Andrighetto (defensive back), Anthony Arnou (Santa Montica), Zeke Berry (Pittsburg), Cameron Brandt (Carson), Jayden Denegal (Apple Valley), Mason Graham (Anaheim), Zack Marshall (Carlsbad), Jeffrey Persi (Mission Viejo), Jack Tuttle (San Marcos), Davis Warren (Los Angeles).
• Twelve (12) Wolverines have made their collegiate debuts so far this season: Chibi Anwunah (edge), Manuel Beigel (defensive line), Hogan Hansen (tight end), Jason Hewlett (linebacker), Breeon Ishmail (edge), Ike Iwunnah (defensive line), Dominic Nichols (edge), Bryson Kuzdzal (running back), Evan Link (offensive line), Jordan Marshall (running back), Andrew Sprague (offensive line), and Cole Sullivan (linebacker).
• Another six players made their first career starts as Wolverines after earning starting assignments at their previous institutions: C.J. Charleston (wide receiver), Josh Priebe (offensive line), Josaiah Stewart (edge), Ernest Hausmann (linebacker), Jaishawn Barham (linebacker), and Dominic Zvada (kicker).
• Nine players have made their first career starts this fall: wide receiver Kendrick Bell, center Dominick Giudice, right tackle Evan Link, tight end Marlin Klein, wide receiver Peyton O'Leary, quarterback Davis Warren on offense; defensive back Zeke Berry, defensive back Jyaire Hill, and edge Derrick Moore on defense.
• After starting 7-of-23 (30.4 percent) in the first two games on third down, the Michigan offense was 9-of-12 (75 percent) on third downs last weekend, including 5-of-5 across three scoring drives in the first half.
• The run game rolled up over 300 rushing yards (301) last weekend, the first game of the year over 150 rushing yards. The team eclipsed 150 yards rushing on 10 occasions last year.
• Running back Kalel Mullings had a career day last weekend, reaching 153 yards rushing on 15 carries with two touchdowns. Among backs with at least 20 carries thus far, Mullings ranks seventh in yards after contact per attempt (6.0). He has zero yards lost on 36 carries this year.
• Mullings' previous career-long rush was 23 yards entering last weekend's game. He had runs of 30 yards (touchdown), 30 yards, and 38 yards to set a new career-long.
• Running back Donovan Edwards enjoyed his most productive game of the season with 82 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Edwards has lost only four yards on 36 carries this year.
• Tight end Colston Loveland has been the leader or co-leader in receptions for U-M in all three games. His eight receptions in each of U-M's first two games set and matched a new career-high. His 88 yards in the season opener was also a career-best, and he passed 1,000 career yards against Texas (1,041 yards).
• Loveland's 80 career receptions rank sixth all-time for tight ends (next: Sim Nelson, 84) and his 1,071 career receiving yards are now fifth all-time among tight ends at U-M (next: Lowell Perry, 1,261).
• The U-M passing offense has spread passes around to 11 different targets so far, with three players at five catches or more: Colston Loveland, Semaj Morgan, and Tyler Morris.
• The Michigan defense has surrendered an average of 9.3 points per game in the second half this year.
• Three members of the secondary have recorded interceptions: Makari Paige, Will Johnson, and Zeke Berry; Johnson's was returned 86 yards for a touchdown against Fresno State.
• Opponents have struggled to run the ball effectively against the Wolverines. Fresno State finished with nine rushing yards, Texas with 143, and Arkansas State was held to 58 yards on the ground. Altogether, teams have scored just one rushing touchdown against U-M this year.
• Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades U-M's run game (10th, 86.3), tackling (25th, 76.9), run defense (14th, 89.6), and special teams (22nd, 80.4) among the top units in the country.
• U-M Kicker Dominic Zvada and SMU's Collin Rogers are the only FBS kickers with three-plus successful conversions at 50-plus yards in the first three weeks of the year.
• This marks the third year in a row that a Wolverine kicker converted three 50-plus yard field goals in a season (Moody 2022, Turner '23, Zvada '24).2, Turner '23, Zvada '24).
______________________________
