The 2024 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the Big Ten Conference during the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In the Wolverines' first year under head coach Sherrone Moore, they compiled an 8–5 record (5–4 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 286 to 259, and finished in a tie for seventh place in the Big Ten standings.
After starting the season 4–1, with a sole loss to No. 3 Texas, Michigan fell to 5–5, despite a rivalry win against Michigan State. Michigan won its final two regular season games, including a 13–10 upset victory against rival No. 2 Ohio State at Ohio Stadium, despite entering the game as 20.5 point underdogs. It marked the fourth consecutive win against the Buckeyes, the longest streak for the Wolverines since 1988 to 1991, and the largest upset in the series history.
The Wolverines concluded their season with a 19–13 upset victory over No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Michigan became the only program in college football history to beat Alabama twice in the same calendar year, and the first Michigan team since 1978 to win back-to-back games as double digit underdogs.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Davis Warren with 1,199 passing yards, running back Kalel Mullings with 948 rushing yards, tight end Colston Loveland with 56 receptions for 582 yards, placekicker Dominic Zvada with 89 points scored (21 field goals, 26 extra points), defensive end Josaiah Stewart with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for a loss, and linebacker Ernest Hausmann with 89 total tackles. Defensive tackle Mason Graham was a unanimous first-team selection on the 2024 All-America college football team. Zvada was selected as a first-team All-American and was also honored as the Big Ten Kicker of the Year.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Fresno State
Michigan opened the season before a crowd of 110,665 at Michigan Stadium, against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter via a three-yard touchdown pass from Alex Orji to Donovan Edwards. The teams exchanged field goals in the second quarter, first a 41-yard field goal by Dylan Lynch for Fresno State, then a 45-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada for Michigan. Michigan led, 10–3, at halftime. Michigan scored the only points of the third quarter via a 53-yard field goal by Zvada. Michigan extended their lead in the fourth quarter via a 55-yard field goal by Zvada. The teams then exchanged touchdowns, first a 16-yard touchdown pass from Mikey Keene to Raylen Sharpe for Fresno State, then an 18-yard touchdown pass from Davis Warren to Colston Loveland for Michigan. Michigan scored the final points of the game via an 86-yard interception return by Will Johnson.
This was the first ever meeting between the two teams. Senior quarterback Davis Warren made his first start of his career, and completed 15 of 25 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Dominic Zvada's 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter was the sixth-longest in program history. Defensively, Michigan held Fresno State to nine rushing yards, including -16 rushing yards in the second-half.
Statistics FRES MICH First downs 18 18 Plays–yards 58–244 61–269 Rushes–yards 22–9 34–148 Passing yards 235 121 Passing: –– 22–36–2 16–27–1 Time of possession 26:00 34:00 Team Category Player Statistics Fresno State Passing Mikey Keene 22/36, 235 yards, 2 INT Rushing Malik Sherrod 14 carries, 24 yards Receiving Jalen Moss 6 receptions, 97 yards Michigan Passing Davis Warren 15/25, 118 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Kalel Mullings 15 carries, 92 yards Receiving Colston Loveland 8 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 3 Texas
In week 2, Michigan hosted the Texas Longhorns, before a crowd of 111,170. Texas opened the scoring in the first quarter via a 21-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Gunnar Helm. Michigan finally got on the board in the second quarter via a 37-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada. Texas scored 17 points in the quarter via a seven-yard touchdown run by Jerrick Gibson, a 26-yard field goal by Bert Auburn, and a five-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Matthew Golden. Texas led, 24–3, at halftime. In the third quarter, Michigan scored a 52-yard field goal by Zvada. Texas responded with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Ewers to Jaydon Blue. Michigan scored the only points of the fourth quarter via a 31-yard touchdown pass from Davis Warren to Semaj Morgan.
The loss ended Michigan's streak of 29 consecutive regular season wins. The 28 wins tied a Big Ten Conference record. Quarterback Davis Warren completed 22 passes for a career-high 204 yards. Tight end Colston Loveland recorded eight receptions for 70 yards.
Statistics TEX MICH First downs 19 13 Plays–yards 68–389 56–284 Rushes–yards 32–143 23–80 Passing yards 246 204 Passing: –– 24–36–0 22–33–2 Time of possession 31:20 28:40 Team Category Player Statistics Texas Passing Quinn Ewers 24-36, 246 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ryan Wingo 1 carries, 55 yards Receiving Gunnar Helm 7 receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD Michigan Passing Davis Warren 22-33, 204 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT Rushing Donovan Edwards 8 carries, 41 yards Receiving Colston Loveland 8 receptions, 70 yards
vs Arkansas State
On September 14, Michigan defeated Arkansas State, 28–18, before a crowd of 110,250 at Michigan Stadium.
Arkansas State opened the game with a 13-play, 51-yard drive to Michigan's 24-yard line, but Clune Van Andel's field goal attempt missed the mark. Michigan then drove 76 yards on 11 plays, ending with a 30-yard touchdown run by Kalel Mullings. Late in the first quarter, Davis Warren threw an interception that Charles Willekes returned 30 yards to the Michigan 15-yard line. On the third play of the second quarter, Arkansas State capitalized on the turnover, as Van Andel kicked a 27-yard field goal. Michigan responded with a 75-yard, 13-play, seven-and-a-half minute drive that featured seven runs by Donovan Edwards, including a seven-yard touchdown run. On Michigan's next possession, Michigan drove 55 yards on four plays, including a 30-yard run by Mullings to the Arkansas State five-yard line, followed by a five-yard touchdown run by Mullings. Warren was intercepted for a second time with 1:15 remaining in the half. In the final minute of the half, Arkansas State drove 58 yards to Michigan's 21-yard line, but Van Andel missed a 38-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half. Michigan led, 21–3, at halftime.
On Michigan's second possession of the second half, Davis Warren threw his third interception. Davis was replaced at quarterback by Alex Orji. Late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, Mullings and Orji led Michigan on an 80-yard drive capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass from Orji to Hogan Hansen. Midway through the fourth quarter, Arkansas State drove 64 yards, scoring on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Timmy McClain to Reginald Harden Jr. After holding Michigan to a three-and-out, Arkansas State mounted another long drive, covering 75 yards and ending with a 22-yard touchdown pass from McClain to Harden with eight seconds remaining in the game.
Davis Warren threw 14 passes, all of which were caught -- 11 by Michigan receivers and three by Arkansas State defenders. Following the game, Michigan announced that Alex Orji would take over from Warren as Michigan's starting quarterback.
Michigan tallied 301 rushing yards in the game, led by Kalel Mullings (153 yards, 15 carries, two touchdowns) and Donovan Edwards (82 yards, 17 carries, one touchdown). Tight end Marlin Klein made his first career start, recording three receptions for 43 yards.
Michigan's defense held Arkansas State to 58 rushing yards, including -6 rushing yards in the first half. However, Arkansas State quarterbacks completed 26 of 44 passes for 222 yards and two touchdowns.
Statistics ARST MICH First downs 17 20 Plays–yards 69–280 62–435 Rushes–yards 25–58 44–301 Passing yards 222 134 Passing: –– 26–44–1 13–18–3 Time of possession 25:36 34:24 Team Category Player Statistics Arkansas State Passing Jaylen Raynor 19-33, 140 yards, 1 INT Rushing Devin Spencer 7 carries, 28 yards Receiving Reginald Harden Jr. 3 receptions, 52 yards, 2 TD Michigan Passing Davis Warren 11-14, 122 yards, 3 INT Rushing Kalel Mullings 15 carries, 153 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marlin Klein 3 receptions, 43 yards
vs No. 11 USC
On September 21, Michigan defeated USC, 27–24, before a crowd of 110,702 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. It was USC's first conference game as a member of the Big Ten.
The teams exchanged punts on the first four drives. On Michigan's third drive, Kalel Mullings ran 53 yards for a touchdown with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter. The team's then exchanged punts on the next three drives. On Michigan's fifth drive of the game, the Wolverines drove 80 yards in six plays, ending with a 41-yard touchdown run by Donovan Edwards. USC then drove 64 yards, including passes from Miller Moss to Zachariah Branch of 24 and 42 yards, the latter moving the ball to Michigan's 10-yard line. Michigan's defense held, and USC's Michael Lantz kicked a 29-yard field goal. Michigan led, 14–3, at halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, USC drove 75 yards on 12 plays, ending with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Moss to Duce Robinson. Michigan was held to a three-and-out on its first drive of the second half. On USC's second drive of the second half, Will Johnson intercepted a Moss pass and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown. Dominic Zvada's extra point kick was blocked, and Michigan led, 20–10. On USC's next possession, Woody Marks ran for a 65-yard gain to the Michigan two-yard line. Moss was sacked and fumbled at the nine-yard line; Kenneth Grant recovered the fumble and returned it to the USC 18-yard line where USC's Woody Marks ripped the ball from Grant's arms for a fumble recovery. USC scored on a 16-yard pass from Moss to Jay Fair, and Michigan's lead was narrowed to 20–17 at the end of the third quarter.
With 8:35 remaining in the game, Donovan Edwards fumbled as USC linebacker Eric Gentry punched the ball from Edwards' hands and recovered the ball at Michigan's 18-yard line. USC then took the lead on a 24-yard touchdown pass from Moss to Ja'Kobi Lane. After an exchange of punts, Michigan took over at its own 11-yard line with 3:25 remaining. Mullings ran for 63 yards to the 17-yard line with 2:21 remaining and ultimately scored the winning touchdown on a one-yard run with 37 seconds remaining.
Quarterback Alex Orji made his first career start, completing seven of 12 passes for 32 yards, "the lowest output by a Michigan quarterback since 1987." Kalel Mullings rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Donovan Edwards also tallied 74 rushing yards as Michigan backs combined for 290 rushing ayrds.
Michigan's defense held USC to -16 rushing yards in the first half. Michigan had four sacks, including two by Josaiah Stewart. Will Johnson became the first player in program history with more than two career interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Statistics USC MICH First downs 17 12 Plays–yards 73–379 58–322 Rushes–yards 21–96 46–290 Passing yards 283 32 Passing: –– 28–52–1 7–12–0 Time of possession 30:42 29:18 Team Category Player Statistics USC Passing Miller Moss 28/51, 283 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Woody Marks 13 carries, 100 yards Receiving Zachariah Branch 6 receptions, 98 yards Michigan Passing Alex Orji 7/12, 32 yards Rushing Kalel Mullings 17 carries, 159 yards, 2 TD Receiving Marlin Klein 1 reception, 10 yards
vs Minnesota