Looking at how our 2024 opponents finished the season (including Texas and OSU, who are still playing) we can really see a clear picture of how difficult their slate was.
We played 5 other programs that finished the season with a winning record: Michigan went 4-1 vs those teams.
Out of our 13-game schedule, Michigan played only 4 teams with losing records.
The combined records of our opponents was 101-66 (.60 winning %). That's a much tougher schedule than many of our peer programs. I haven't done the research, but how many teams played four playoff teams without making the playoffs?
- Win over Fresno State- The definition of mediocre. Similar to their peer programs, with the exception of UNLV. Close but no cigar vs Power 5 opponents. Finished the season 6-7 after a bowl loss to NIU. The direct Michigan 2025 connection, of course was QB Mikey Keene- Looking at Fresno's numbers in conjunction with Keene's show's that Keene may have been the bright spot in that O- 2892 yards, 18 TDs and 11 INTs on 71% completions (a solid 46th nationally in passing yards per game). Fresno rushed for only 1276 yards, and 21 TDs on 3.3 YPC, for 124th in the nation (terrible), and 64th in the nation on D (so-so). Maybe Keene was the only reason Fresno was not completely terrible... 🤔
- Loss to Texas- Yes, they have some holes and aren't the Juggernaut that having an entire offseason of prep made them look like vs Michigan. michigan fans got a reality check when Ewers and Sarkisian with months of game prep, carved up a still gelling Michigan D. BUT Texas is unquestionably a top 4 team nationally, so not a terrible loss. Still playing, currently 13-2.
- Win over Arkansas State- Solid team for a Sunbelt team. Went 8-5 with losses to Michigan and Iowa State. Not much else to say but...3 INTs by Davis Warren started the QB carousel.
- Win over USC- A team once thought to be in a complete free fall actually ended the season with a 7-6 record and wins over both LSU and Texas A&M. Not a bad win, but one of two almost shaded as a loss by many negative fans hating the inability to pass. 32 yards passing, and Miller Moss' near comeback seemed to be at the top of many Michigan fans' minds...An understated moment in the USC game was Will Johnson limping off the field and never looking the same in the couple of games before he completely shut it down.
- Win over Minnesota- Michigan fans who were mad about the USC win, basically went apesh!t over a close home W over Minnesota. The assumption was, at the time, that most assumed Minnesota was a bad team (2-3 at the time we played them), but they finished with an 8-5 record, and a winning record in the B1G. Orji, with 86 yards passing, a TD and an INT, was not the answer, despite his 2-0 record as a starter.
- Loss @ Washington- This one is the one that I felt we should've had. It was also Will Johnson's last game in a Michigan uniform, one that started with Will getting burnt by WR Jonah Coleman and ended with Johnson grabbing Coleman on a double move where he was beaten badly and had to interfere to catch up. Between that mess, Tuttle teased us with a completion or two but threw one INT and fumbled one for two TO's showing that not one of the 3 QB's we played would be the answer. Bad loss to a 6-7 team. Josiah Stewart sat this game out, BTW.
- Loss @ Illinois- Yeah, we all dislike Bret, but losing at Illinois is, IMO much more palatable now that the season is over. More Tuttle muddle, including a key INT and fumble for the second game in a row. To add insult to injury, Tuttle retired from playing football the next week. All of that complaining out of the way, Illinois actually finished with a 10-3 record overall, 6-3 in the conference. So we lost on the road to a pretty good team, even though we played crappy football.
- Win over MSU- Always nice to crush a rival. Davis Warren returns for a home win over a baaad MSU team with the self-proscribed "best QB in the B1G" (yes, he said that) at their helm. MSU finished with a 5-7 record.
- Loss to Oregon- A huge step up for Warren from MSU, and he has a couple of streaks of good passing to keep the game close until the late 4th quarter. Though DW had a very solid 165 yards and 2 TDs, he went cold down the stretch completing only three of his last 9 attempts (13-23 overall). At this point of the season, Oregon looked a bit different- They had beaten OSU already...Still a loss to a top 5 opponent that finished the season with a 13-1 record is nothing to be ashamed about...
- Loss @ IU- The only surprise of the game, IMO is that it was close. This game was a harbinger for IU's performance vs ND. Davis Warren started his first B1G road game. He was okay- 16-32 162 yards on not TDs (or INTs), but for those who misremember, Michigan put the ball in Warren's hands down the stretch: 6 straight pass attempts, with 3 completions that left us a yard short after a Peyton O'Leary catch. Regardless this was still a loss to an elite (11-2) team.
- Win vs Northwestern- A flashback game to Bo Schembechler's era: Solid QB play (Warren with 195, 1 TD, 1 INT), great Running Game (201 yards, 5.7 YPC, 5 TDS, and stifling defense (10 yards rushing...TEN). Is the team gelling, or did we just make Northwestern look like Northwestern? In retrospect, probably a little of both, as Northwestern was not good- 4-7 this season though Purdue and Maryland kept them from the floor.
- Win @ OSU- Not going to beat a dead horse. An obviously elite team, with a head case issue vs us...and I 💛it! OSU is still playing with a 12-2 record. This W, along with the Underwood commitment gave Michigan huge momentum going into the offseason.
- Win in the Reliaquest Bowl vs Alabama: Michigan's defensive momentum was too much- Even despite having to play a bevy of backups- As far as finishing a year and season strong, this 13-10 win put other top programs on notice regarding Michigan's return to the national elite in the near future. In an interesting juxtaposition Alabama fans are in a funk after a 9-4 finish, while Michigan fans are sky high at 8-5. Like the old saying goes: It's not how you start, it's how you finish.
We played 5 other programs that finished the season with a winning record: Michigan went 4-1 vs those teams.
Out of our 13-game schedule, Michigan played only 4 teams with losing records.
The combined records of our opponents was 101-66 (.60 winning %). That's a much tougher schedule than many of our peer programs. I haven't done the research, but how many teams played four playoff teams without making the playoffs?
