Tag: Fresno State Bulldogs

Another QB target emerges for Michigan football in transfer portal

The plot thickens! #GoBlue

A familiar face is coming to Ann Arbor, but with the potential of wearing maize and blue instead of the road whites.

The last time quarterback Mikey Keene came to The Big House, it was in Fresno State’s 30-10 loss to Michigan football in the 2024 season opener. But according to 247Sports’ Sam Webb and Matt Zenitz, Keene will be coming back to campus as a potential transfer portal target for the maize and blue.

Keene recently entered the portal, and according to the 247Sports duo, he will take a visit this weekend to campus to explore the opportunity.

This isn’t completely out of nowhere. While Baylor quarterback Dequan Finn and Nevada signal caller Brendon Lewis are potential targets, Keene actually has familiarity with new Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. He was on the UCF roster as a backup in 2022 when Lindsey was overseeing that offense.

In 2024, Keene played in 12 games and completed 70.5% of his passes for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

UCLA finishes 84th in USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank

The Bruins make a jump in the final re-rank of the regular season.

The UCLA Bruins’ first season in the Big Ten has come to a close. Finishing their 2024 campaign on a high note with a win over Fresno State, the Bruins end the year with a 5-7 record.

Though the Bruins are not eligible for a bowl this season, UCLA did receive a bit of recognition on Paul Myerberg’s college football re-ranking. The USA TODAY Sports reporter bumped the Bruins nine spots in his re-ranking, with the Bruins landing at the 84th spot in the country at the end of the season.

The Bruins still find themselves in the back half of Myerberg’s ranking, but the 2024 season was still a success. After losing Chip Kelly to Ohio State, UCLA’s coaching experienced significant turnover as first-time head coach DeShaun Foster took the reins of the storied program.

In his first season, Foster, at the very least, instilled a culture that the Bruins can build upon. With work to be done on the recruiting front and in the transfer portal, expect to see the Bruins rise in ranking across the country next season.

UCLA football ends season with win over Fresno State

The Bruins end their season on a high note.

The UCLA Bruins finished the season the way they started. Taking down Fresno State 20-13, the Bruins closed out an eventful first season in the Big Ten with a win.

The Bruins secured Saturday’s victory with a 15-play, 78-yard drive. Late in the fourth quarter at the Rose Bowl, UCLA’s offense took command of the low-scoring affair to give the Bruins a two-score lead, 20-10. In the waking minutes of the game, the Bruins’ defense stiffened, and their special teams secured the win on the onside kick.

In what was likely quarterback Ethan Garbers’ final game in a Bruins uniform, the senior finished with 289 yards on 26-40 passing and the game-clinching drive.

Finishing 5-7 on the year, the Bruins weathered a difficult schedule under first-year head coach DeShaun Foster. Though the Bruins’ coaching staff often showed some inexperience, the marked culture shift in Westwood should follow them into 2025 and bear fruit down the line.

With a bevy of talented players joining the program next season, UCLA has set itself up for success in the future as they say goodbye to several key seniors. Though the sun sets for UCLA’s 2024 college football season, the future remains bright for the Bruins.

UCLA drops again in USA TODAY Sports college football re-rank

The Bruins drop yet again in the USA TODAY Sports ranking.

The UCLA Bruins are riding a two-game losing streak after falling to the USC Trojans at home last weekend. Now no longer eligible for a bowl in their first season in the Big Ten, the Bruins’ season is virtually over.

But the hits kept coming this week, as Paul Myerburg of USA TODAY Sports revealed his college football re-ranking. In Myerburg’s re-rank, the Bruins fell four spots from 89th to 93rd, just behind Wake Forrest, Houston, and Oregon State.

Now 4-7 on the season, the Bruins hope to win their final game against Fresno State at home. In head coach DeShaun Foster’s first season with the program, the Bruins are firmly where many predicted them to be in the Big Ten.

Though closer to the bottom than the top in the Big Ten standing, the Bruins did make strides in their first season in the conference. Their defense adapted to the run-first mentality of their Big Ten opponents, and their offense slowly but surely improved.

With things to build on in 2025, UCLA looks to hit the ground running with a talented recruiting class joining the program.

The best photos from the Michigan football season opener vs. Fresno State

First dub in the books! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — For the first time since winning the national championship on Jan. 8, Michigan football was in action, looking to regain the glory achieved last season. However, playing a good Fresno State team (that started 8-1 last year) while the Wolverines worked out some kinks meant that the maize and blue had a little extra work to do.

It took nearly the whole game before the maize and blue pulled away, but pull away they did. Now 1-0, the Wolverines will host Texas in Week 2.

WolverinesWire was on the sidelines for the first game of the 2024 season to capture the action. Here are some of our favorite pictures from the Week 1 win.

Things you might not have known about Michigan football’s Rose Bowl win

Some interesting facts and tidbits here! #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It wasn’t the prettiest win, but a win it was, as Michigan football took down upstart Fresno State, 30-10, in the 2024 season opener.

The offense wasn’t exactly up to par compared to the past few seasons, but the defense still looked incredible.

If you were at the game or watched it on TV, you may know a lot about what happened, but certainly not the whole story. That’s where the Michigan athletic department has us covered with more facts and stats and trivia that you might not have known!

Facts/tidbits:

  • Today’s announced attendance of 110,665 marks the 316th consecutive crowd of 100,000-plus at Michigan Stadium.
  • Today’s matchup marked the first-ever meeting between Michigan and Fresno State. U-M is now 1-0 in the all-time series.
  • Today’s honorary captains were Jack and Jackie Harbaugh, the parents of former head coach Jim Harbaugh, and several members of the 2023 National Championship team.
  • J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Sherrone Moore picked up his second win as head coach of the program. Moore was acting head coach in four games in 2023 (vs. Bowling Green, at Penn State, at Maryland, vs. Ohio State) and was credited with the victory against the Falcons.
  • U-M is now up to 29 straight regular season wins (dating to 2021), the most by any Big Ten team in conference history (previous: 28; 1901-03 Michigan, 2005-07 Ohio State).
  • U-M has won 23 straight contests at Michigan Stadium, the third-longest streak in U-M history and longest since 1969-73 under Bo Schembechler.
  • The Wolverines are 119-23-3 in season openers all-time, with an 8-2 mark over the last 10 seasons and a 1-0 mark under Moore.
  • Today’s victory was the 119th home opener win in U-M history. Michigan has a 101-15-2 record in home openers.
  • The Wolverines have won 11 consecutive night games including a 6-0 mark in 2023.
  • Eight players made their first career starts in today’s game: center Dominick Giudice, right tackle Evan Link, wide receiver Peyton O’Leary, quarterback Davis Warren on offense; defensive back Zeke Berry, linebacker Ernest Hausmann, defensive back Jyaire Hill, and edge Derrick Moore on defense.
  • Josh Priebe (offensive line), Josaiah Stewart (edge), Jaishawn Barham (linebacker), and Dominic Zvada (kicker) also made their first career starts as Wolverines after garnering starting experience at their previous programs.
  • Eight players made their first appearances as Wolverines in today’s game: C.J. Charleston (receiver), Priebe, Stewart, Barham, Hall, Jaden Mangham (defensive back), Walker, and Zvada.
  • Four players made their collegiate debuts in today’s game: Jason Hewlett (linebacker), Breeon Ishmail (edge), Ike Iwunnah (defensive line), and Cole Sullivan (linebacker).
  • Senior Quarterback Davis Warren made his first career start, registering a career high with 118 passing yards. Warren completed 15-of-25 attempts, including a fourth-quarter touchdown connection to junior tight end Colston Loveland, which was the first touchdown pass of his career.
  • Junior quarterback Alex Orji completed his first attempt of the day for a three-yard touchdown, the first of his career. Orji added a career-high 32 yards on the ground on five attempts.
  • Senior running back Donovan Edwards posted 11 carries for 27 yards along with a first-quarter reception touchdown. His four receiving touchdowns are the sixth most by a Wolverine running back. Stanley Edwards (five receiving touchdowns) ranks fifth on the list.
  • Edwards’ two receptions brought him to 70 in his career, ranking fourth all time (passed Clarence Williams, 1995-98).
  • Graduate student running back Kalel Mullings led the backfield, posting 15 carries for 92 rushing yards. It was his career high in both carries and rushing yards.
  • Loveland led the team in receiving with a career high in receptions (eight) and 87 receiving yards. He added an 18-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
  • Loveland upped his career receptions to 69 and moved to eighth all-time in program history, surpassing Devin Funchess (64, 2012-13). He also ranks eighth all-time with 971 career receiving yards.
  • Loveland finished with the third-most receptions by a tight end in a single game in program history. Jim Mandich (1969 v Purdue) and Erick All (2021 v Michigan State) set the record with 10 catches each.
  • Sophomore receiver Kendrick Bell recorded his first career catch on an 11-yard reception in the second quarter.
  • In the first half, the Wolverine offense recorded one touchdown and a 45-yard field goal from graduate kicker Zvada while holding the Bulldogs to three points on seven drives, including four punts and a turnover. It was Zvada’s first field goal in maize and blue.
  • Zvada recorded field goals of 53 and 55 yards, both among the longest field goals in U-M history, in his Wolverine debut. His 55-yarder in the fourth quarter is the sixth-longest in program history.
  • Junior defensive back Zeke Berry recorded U-M’s first interception of the season on the third play of the Bulldog’s first drive. It was Berry’s first career interception.
  • U-M capitalized on Berry’s first-quarter interception with a three-yard touchdown to Edwards for the Wolverines’ first score of the season.
  • Defensively, U-M held the Bulldogs to nine rushing yards, including -16 rushing yards in the second half. U-M did not allow a 100-yard rusher in all of the 2023 season.
  • The Fresno State offense was limited to 2-of-11 on third down.
  • Senior defensive lineman Rayshaun Benny recorded the second sack of his career in the third quarter, along with tying graduate student defensive back Makari Paige and Stewart for a team-leading five total tackles.
  • Stewart registered 3 TFL along with U-M’s two other sacks, which is the second multi-sack game of his career.
  • Junior defensive back Will Johnson registered his first interception this season, the eighth of his career, for an 86-yard touchdown return — and second pick-six of his career. Johnson’s first came against Minnesota (Oct. 7, 2023) which he returned for 36 yards.

Despite disjointed offense, Michigan football beats Fresno State in season opener

It wasn’t pretty, but it was still a convincing win in the end. #GoBlue

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It wasn’t pretty in the early going but Michigan football still managed to beat Fresno State in convincing fashion, 30-10.

The defending national champion still has the requisite defense to go deep into the season, but offensively, the Wolverines looked disjointed at times. Besides the first drive (which was on a short field after an early interception by nickel Zeke Berry), the last drive of the first half and the last drive of the game, the offense sputtered often, with offensive line play that didn’t clearly resemble the units that Michigan has fielded since 2021.

“The offense had its ups and downs, but we’re gonna get better,” Moore said after the game. “In all phases, special teams as well, we’re going to try to get better.”

It was the first start for former walk-on Davis Warren at quarterback, who won the battle over expected starter Alex Orji. Warren managed to go 15-for-25 for 118 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The pick came early in the game and it appeared as if it took him some time before he got back in rhythm — understandable given his lack of playing time on the big stage.

Still, Warren was relieved that the maize and blue got the win, and how the team fought throughout.

“I’m proud of the way the guys battled tonight,” Warren said. “And the guys trusted me and rallied around me. We’ve got a lot of work too, but I’m excited where it started.”

The run game also sputtered until Kalel Mullings came alive late in the game. The team, overall, had 148 yards, but Mullings led the way with 15 carries for 92 yards. Receiving-wise, tight end Colston Loveland led the way with eight catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, the defense was mostly dominant. Not only did Berry get his interception, but Will Johnson — who struggled a bit early on — had an 86-yard pick six after two seeming interceptions (one by safety Quinten Johnson and another by safety Makari Paige) were called back — the first being called incomplete and the second due to a roughing the passer penalty. Edge rusher Josaiah Stewart led the team with two sacks.

Michigan will need to get its ducks in a row quickly as No. 3 Texas comes to Ann Arbor next week.

Injury report: Michigan football vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

The official injury report for Michigan football vs. Fresno State has been released.

Michigan football is opening up the 2024 college football season relatively healthy.

Head coach Sherrone Moore said at his final fall camp press conference that the Wolverines didn’t endure any season-ending injuries and safety Rod Moore, who tore his ACL in spring ball, could eventually return later this season if everything goes to plan.

That’s all good and well, but what about who will and won’t be available for the season opener against Fresno State on Saturday night? With the Big Ten, for the second year running, requiring all teams to submit an injury report just hours before kickoff, here is what we know about which Wolverines will suit up and which ones won’t be available.

Michigan

Out

  • Rod Moore
  • Jack Tuttle
  • Joe Taylor

Questionable

  • None

It was revealed earlier this week that there were a few players working through some minor injuries, such as defensive tackle Mason Graham, while fellow DT Rayshaun Benny has been still working back from his broken leg suffered in the Rose Bowl.

Kickoff for the Saturday evening game is slated for 7:34 p.m. EDT at The Big House and the game will be nationally broadcast on NBC.

How to watch, listen or stream online: Michigan football vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

Don’t miss the game! #GoBlue

Michigan football is back in action for the first time since hoisting the national championship trophy, with Fresno State coming to town for the first time ever to face off against the Wolverines in the season opener.

But if you’re waking up and looking to tune into the game, you’re going to have to wait a while, because kickoff isn’t until this evening.

Here’s where and when you should tune in to see the game:

If you’re planning on catching the radio broadcast, it will be available at any of the following:

List of local radio affiliates available at MGoBlue.com.

City Station
Alpena (WZTK) 105.7 FM
Ann Arbor (WTKA) 1050 AM
Battle Creek (WBXX) 104.9 FM
Benton Harbor (WSJM) 94.9 FM
Benton Harbor (WSJM) 1400 AM
Benton Harbor (W240CZ) 95.7 FM
Cadillac (WKAD) 93.7 FM
Caro/Cass City (WIDL) 92.1 FM
Detroit (WWJ) 950 AM
Detroit (WXYT) 97.1 FM
Detroit (WOMC) 104.3 FM
Escanaba (WDBC) 680 AM
Flint (WTRX) 1330 AM
Grand Rapids (WOOD) 1300 AM
Grand Rapids (WOOD) 106.9 FM
Grayling (WQON) 100.3 FM
Jackson (WKHM) 970 AM
Jackson (W268CA) 101.5 FM
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (WZUU) 92.5 FM
Lansing (WQTX) 92.1 FM
Ludington (WKZC) 94.9 FM
Muskegon (WOOD) 106.9 FM
Newberry (WNBY) 1450 AM
Oscoda (WWTH) 100.7 FM
Petoskey (WMBN) 1340 AM
Petoskey (W284DG) 104.7 FM
Port Huron (WHLS) 1450 AM
Rogers City (WHAK) 99.9 FM
Saginaw (WSGW) 790 AM
Saginaw (WSGW) 100.5 FM
St. Clair (W288BT) 105.5 FM
Sturgis (WBET) 1230 AM
Sturgis (W259CR) 99.7 FM
Toledo, Ohio (WMIM) 98.3 FM
Traverse City (WJML) 1110 AM
Traverse City (WJNL) 1210 AM
Traverse City (W266CS) 101.1 FM

 

How to watch, listen: Michigan football vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

Don’t miss the game! #GoBlue

Michigan football is back in action for the first time since hoisting the national championship trophy, with Fresno State coming to town for the first time ever to face off against the Wolverines in the season opener.

But if you’re waking up and looking to tune into the game, you’re going to have to wait a while, because kickoff isn’t until this evening.

Here’s where and when you should tune in to see the game:

If you’re planning on catching the radio broadcast, it will be available at any of the following:

List of local radio affiliates available at MGoBlue.com.

City Station
Alpena (WZTK) 105.7 FM
Ann Arbor (WTKA) 1050 AM
Battle Creek (WBXX) 104.9 FM
Benton Harbor (WSJM) 94.9 FM
Benton Harbor (WSJM) 1400 AM
Benton Harbor (W240CZ) 95.7 FM
Cadillac (WKAD) 93.7 FM
Caro/Cass City (WIDL) 92.1 FM
Detroit (WWJ) 950 AM
Detroit (WXYT) 97.1 FM
Detroit (WOMC) 104.3 FM
Escanaba (WDBC) 680 AM
Flint (WTRX) 1330 AM
Grand Rapids (WOOD) 1300 AM
Grand Rapids (WOOD) 106.9 FM
Grayling (WQON) 100.3 FM
Jackson (WKHM) 970 AM
Jackson (W268CA) 101.5 FM
Kalamazoo/Battle Creek (WZUU) 92.5 FM
Lansing (WQTX) 92.1 FM
Ludington (WKZC) 94.9 FM
Muskegon (WOOD) 106.9 FM
Newberry (WNBY) 1450 AM
Oscoda (WWTH) 100.7 FM
Petoskey (WMBN) 1340 AM
Petoskey (W284DG) 104.7 FM
Port Huron (WHLS) 1450 AM
Rogers City (WHAK) 99.9 FM
Saginaw (WSGW) 790 AM
Saginaw (WSGW) 100.5 FM
St. Clair (W288BT) 105.5 FM
Sturgis (WBET) 1230 AM
Sturgis (W259CR) 99.7 FM
Toledo, Ohio (WMIM) 98.3 FM
Traverse City (WJML) 1110 AM
Traverse City (WJNL) 1210 AM
Traverse City (W266CS) 101.1 FM