Man, 2024 was a wild ride for the Maize and Blue. Honestly, looking back at the u of Michigan football schedule 2024, it felt like a fever dream at times. We went from the high of a national championship to a year that basically redefined what "rebuilding" looks like in Ann Arbor. You’ve got a new coach, a quarterback carousel that never quite stopped spinning, and a Big Ten that suddenly included teams from the Pacific Northwest. It was a lot.
The season ended up at 8-5. That might sound "fine" to a casual observer, but for a fanbase that just watched their team go 15-0, it was a bit of a gut punch. Yet, somehow, they still beat Ohio State. In Columbus. As 20.5-point underdogs.
That’s the thing about this specific schedule; it was arguably the toughest in the country. You had Texas coming to town early, Oregon looking like a buzzsaw, and a late-season trip to Indiana that turned out to be way harder than anyone expected.
The Gauntlet: Breaking Down the U of Michigan Football Schedule 2024
The year kicked off with a night game against Fresno State on August 31. It was Sherrone Moore's official debut as the "permanent" head coach. Michigan won 30-10, but it wasn't the blowout people wanted. We saw hints of the offensive struggles that would haunt the team all autumn. Then came the Longhorns.
September: The Reality Check
September 7th was supposed to be a statement. Instead, No. 3 Texas walked into the Big House and handled business, winning 31-12. It was the first home loss for Michigan in what felt like forever.
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- Aug 31: Fresno State (W, 30-10) — The defense looked elite; the offense looked... okay.
- Sept 7: Texas (L, 12-31) — A wake-up call that the post-Harbaugh era wouldn't be easy.
- Sept 14: Arkansas State (W, 28-18) — A sloppy win that raised more questions about the QB situation.
- Sept 21: USC (W, 27-24) — This was the game of the month. Kalel Mullings basically willed the team to victory with a late touchdown.
- Sept 28: Minnesota (W, 27-24) — Michigan nearly blew a huge lead, but they kept the Little Brown Jug.
The USC game was the highlight of the early season. It was the "Stripe Out" game, and the atmosphere was electric. Michigan only had about 32 passing yards the entire game. Think about that. In 2024, a major program won a top-15 matchup while throwing for fewer yards than most high school teams. It was "Smash" football in its purest, most desperate form.
Mid-Season Slump and the Rivalry Wins
October was kind of a disaster. It started with a trip to Seattle on October 5th for a national championship rematch against Washington. Except, both teams were totally different. Washington took it 27-17. Then came a bye week, followed by a dismal 21-7 loss to Illinois.
People were panicking. The u of Michigan football schedule 2024 looked like it was falling apart. But then, Michigan State came to town on October 26th.
Say what you want about this team, but they protected the trophies. They beat the Spartans 24-17 to keep the Paul Bunyan Trophy. It wasn't pretty, but rivalry wins rarely are.
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November: The Oregon Buzzsaw and the Bloomington Surprise
November started with No. 1 Oregon. The Ducks were simply on another level, winning 38-17 in Ann Arbor. Then came Indiana. Most years, Michigan fans circle the IU game as a "W." Not in 2024. Curt Cignetti had the Hoosiers rolling, and they squeezed out a 20-15 win over the Wolverines.
The Game: Making History in Columbus
If you told a Michigan fan in mid-November that they’d finish the regular season by beating Ohio State, they’d have asked what you were drinking. The Buckeyes were ranked No. 2. They were at home. They were massive favorites.
But on November 30th, the defense went into "God Mode."
Aamir Hall and Makari Paige grabbed massive interceptions. Dominic Zvada—who was basically the MVP of the entire season—nailed a 54-yarder and the game-winner. Michigan won 13-10. It was the fourth straight win over the Buckeyes. For a season that felt like a "down" year, ending the regular season like that made everything else feel secondary.
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Postseason and the ReliaQuest Bowl
The season officially wrapped up in Tampa on December 31st at the ReliaQuest Bowl. Facing Alabama is never easy, even a "rebuilding" Bama. Jordan Marshall, the freshman, really stepped up here. He ran for 100 yards on 23 carries, earning MVP honors. Michigan walked away with a 19-13 win.
Finishing 8-5 with wins over MSU, Ohio State, and Alabama? You take that.
What We Learned from the 2024 Slate
The 2024 season was a lesson in grit over stats. Davis Warren, Alex Orji, and Jack Tuttle all saw time at QB, but none really seized the role. The real stars were the guys who stayed: Colston Loveland, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant.
Dominic Zvada was a revelation. He went 26-of-27 on field goals. Honestly, without him, this 8-5 record is probably 5-7. He was the most reliable weapon Sherrone Moore had.
Key Takeaways for the Future:
- The Defense is the Floor: Even when the offense was non-existent, the defensive line kept Michigan in every single game.
- Special Teams Matter: In a year of tight margins, Zvada was the difference between a bowl game and staying home.
- Rivalry Dominance Continues: Sherrone Moore proved he can win the games that matter most to the alumni.
If you're looking to dive deeper into the stats or want to prep for the 2025 season, you should definitely check out the official MGoBlue archives. They have the full box scores for every game mentioned.
Moving forward, the focus is all on the 2026 recruiting class and how the new coaching staff under Kyle Whittingham (who took over after the season) will use the lessons from this chaotic year. You can start by looking at the current roster depth chart to see which defensive stars are returning to keep that "Blue" wall intact.