Michigan Football (5-3, 3-1) will play at Minnesota (5-3, 1-3) this week. Kick off is scheduled for 12:01pm (EST) and the game will be televised on the Big Ten Network. For a complete game preview click here: Michigan at Minnesota. For the Extra Points, read on.
Michigan and Minnesota will play for the Little Brown Jug
The Little Brown Jug is the oldest trophy game in College Football.
Michigan has converted 52 of 110 third downs (47.2%), good for first in the Big Ten and 18th in the nation. The school record is 49.6% in 1986.
Jeremy Gallon (RS Jr) leads Michigan in receptions (18), receiving yards (318). He also has carried the ball 9 time and gained 46 yards.
Brendan Gibbons is 13-15 on field goal attempts this year and has knocked 10 straight attempts through the uprights.
Gibbons ranks 7th in school history with 27 field goals. With two more field goals he will move into a tie for 6th with Bob Bergeron (29). He is 4 away from Ali Haji-Sheikh (31).
Michigan’s defense has not allowed a first quarter touchdown since Week 1 vs. Alabama and has not allowed a first quarter score since Week 2 vs. Air Force.
Michigan’s top 3 tacklers are the 3 starting linebackers; Jake Ryan (56), Desmond Morgan (53), and Kenny Demens (48).
“We expect them to lead in tackling,” Greg Mattison said on Tuesday. “They’ve improved, worked very hard. All of our defense has a long way to go and a short time to do it, at every position. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
ESPNs Accuscore projects Michigan to win 34-19. Teamrankings.com has Michigan winning 31-17 and numberFire has the Wolverines winning a close one 27-23.
Will Hagerup leads the Big Ten in punting (45.9).
Dennis Norfleet has 589 yards on kick returns this so far this season. That is already the 4th highest single season total in school history.
Michigan hasn’t scored a touchdown since October 13th (Thomas Rawls 63 yard TD run vs Illinois).
Jake Ryan leads Michigan with 9 TFLs. Desmond Morgan and Craig Roh are tied for second (4.5).
Denard Robinson is 306 yards away from becoming the NCAA’s all-time career rushing leader by a quarterback.
Robinson needs 54 yards rushing to reach 1,000 yards on the season for the third time in his career. He will join Jamie Morris, Mike Hart and Tyrone Wheatley as the only players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in 3 different seasons.
Over the last six games, Michigan is allowing 12.0 points per contest, while allowing only five touchdowns.
Here is where Jordan Kovacs currently ranks among Michigan’s all-time tackle leaders:
10. Steve Morrison (1990-94) 360
11. Greg Morton (1974-76) 336
12. Andy Moeller (1983-86) 326
13. Mike Taylor (1969-71) 316
14. Curtis Greer (1976-79) 313
15. Jordan Kovacs (2009-present) 309
Ron Simpkins is Michigan’s all-time leader in tackles with 516. He also checks in at #1 on this list: Michigan Football’s All-Time 10 Best Linebackers
With 2 receptions, Roy Roundtree will pass Mario Manningham and move into 9th place on Michigan’s career receptions list.
Michigan leads the all-time series against Minnesota with a 71-24-3 record.
Dating back to the 1978 season, Michigan has lost to the Gophers twice (1986, 2005). Who will ever forget that 1986 game?
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