ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football rebounded from the loss to Texas by beating Arkansas State, 28-18, a game where the score wasn’t nearly as close as the numbers may indicate. But there was a lot to take away from the game, both good and bad.
And while the coaches and players will watch the film in anticipation for USC, there’s a lot of interesting facts, stats, and tidbits that came from the win. That’s where MGoBlue.com has helped us out with some game notes that you might not have known about if you were at the game or watched it on TV.
Facts/tidbits:
• Today’s announced attendance of 110,250 marks the 318th consecutive crowd of 100,000-plus at Michigan Stadium.
• Today’s honorary captain was U-M alumnus and current Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. Duggan has two degrees from U-M (1980 [B.A.], ’83 [J.D.]) and has served as the Mayor of Detroit since 2014.
• Michigan devoted time to recognizing longtime Athletics Administrator Greg Harden who passed away this week after complications from surgery. For more than five decades, Greg devoted his life to coaching, mentoring, and inspiring thousands of student-athletes at U-M and beyond as a life coach, mental wellness and performance specialist, motivational speaker, and more. The University celebrates his life and honors his service to our community.
• Also honored before today’s game was one of the greatest actors in American history, James Earl Jones (U-M Class of 1955). Jones, who passed away last week, lent his legendary voice to the team’s pregame introduction video for the past 10 seasons and became synonymous with his alma mater’s Wolverines taking the field at Michigan Stadium.
• During homecoming, more than 300 former U-M student-athletes celebrating anniversaries of their Big Ten Championship seasons returned to take part in the Walk of Champions.
• Today’s win improves U-M’s all-time record to 95-27 in homecoming contests. The Wolverines have won 12 straight homecoming contests.
• Arkansas State and Michigan met for the first time on the gridiron this weekend. Arkansas State represents the 155th unique opponent in Michigan Football history, and the second this season (Fresno State).
• Junior tight end Marlin Klein made his first career start in today’s game.
• Five players made their first appearances as Wolverines in today’s game: Manuel Beigel (defensive line), Andrew Sprague (offensive lineman), Hogan Hansen (tight end), Dominic Nichols (edge), and Chibi Anwunah (edge).
• Graduate student defensive back Ricky Johnson made his U-M debut in today’s game.
• The Wolverine offense scored touchdowns on three of their five first-half drives; on those three scoring drives, U-M was five-for-five on third down.
• Michigan ball carriers combined for 44 carries for 301 rushing yards, topping 300 yards for the first time this season. It is U-M’s first game with over 300 team rushing yards since the CFP National Championship game against Washington last season.
• Graduate student running back Kalel Mullings had a career day, finishing with a career-best 153 yards on 15 carries. He became U-M’s first rusher over 150 yards since senior running back Donovan Edwards eclipsed that mark in consecutive weeks (at Ohio State, vs. Purdue) at the end of the 2022 season.
• U-M capped off an 11-play, 76-yard opening drive with a 30-yard rushing touchdown from Mullings. He added to his opening drive rushing touchdown with a five-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. It is the second multi-touchdown game of his career.
• Mullings’ 30-yard touchdown in the first quarter was the longest rush of his career. He matched that long run with a second-quarter rush of the same distance and then set a new career-long with a 38-yard rush in the final frame.
• Michigan’s second scoring drive came from a 13-play, 75-yard drive, including nine combined carries from running backs Edwards and Mullings. U-M totaled 50 yards rushing on those nine carries, rounded off by a seven-yard rushing touchdown from Edwards.
• Edwards ran for 82 yards on 17 carries, including the seven-yard second-quarter rushing touchdown. He added a reception for 11 yards.
• Junior quarterback Alex Orji entered the game in the second half and led a nine-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, including a nine-yard passing touchdown for the second of his career. Orji added 27 yards on the ground.
• Orji’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to true freshman Hansen was the first career target, reception, and touchdown for the first-year tight end.
• Junior tight end Colston Loveland tied for the team lead in receptions (three), marking the third game of three in which Loveland has led or tied for the team lead in catches. His three catches today totaled 30 yards.
• Sophomore wide receiver Fredrick Moore (three receptions, 38 yards) and tight end Klein (three receptions, 43) posted career-high days in both categories.
• Klein secured senior quarterback Davis Warren‘s longest pass of the day, a 33-yard reception up the seam, in the second quarter. It marked a new longest career catch for Klein (previously eight yards).
• Defensively, U-M held Arkansas State to 58 rushing yards, including -6 rushing yards in the first half. It is the second game of the season that Michigan has held their opponents to under 100 total rushing yards.
• In the first half, four of Arkansas State’s six offensive possessions ended in four plays or fewer, including three three-and-outs.
• Junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann recorded the first sack of his career to force a punt in the second quarter. Hausmann and junior linebacker Jaishawn Barham led the team with seven total tackles.
• Defensive back Paige recorded his first interception of the season in the third quarter. It was the second interception of his career (Ohio State, 2022). Paige is the third U-M defensive back with a pick so far this year (Zeke Berry, Will Johnson).
• Senior defensive lineman Ike Iwunnah recorded his first career tackle in the opponent’s backfield with a three-yard TFL in the first quarter.
• Graduate student defensive back Aamir Hall registered his first two pass breakups as a Wolverine.
• The following defensive players set new career highs in total tackles at Michigan in today’s game: Barham (seven), Hall (four), junior linebacker Jimmy Rolder (five), graduate student defensive back Wesley Walker (three), sophomore edge Breeon Ishmail (two) and Dominic Nichols (one).