Know Your Opponent: Michigan

The crater-like Michigan Stadium is the second largest
stadium in the world. Only May Day Stadium in Pyongyang
surpasses the massive structure in capacity. Wikimedia Commons

The Gators take on the winningest program of all-time when they face the Wolverines from the University of Michigan on New Year's Day. In 1817, two decades before the Territory of Michigan became a state, Judge Augustus Woodward established what he called the "Catholepistemiad, or University, of Michigania" in the fledgling frontier capital of Detroit. The territorial government reduced the cumbersome, latinesque name to the "University of Michigan" in 1821. Although called a university in name, in its earliest decade, the University of Michigan only existed as a primary school and a classical academy. By 1827, both schools had ceased operation, and the "university" became nothing more than a legal entity. As Michigan prepared for statehood in 1835, a constitutional convention embraced the Prussian model of education, in which the state assumed administrative responsibilities over all levels of schooling. In 1837, a new University of Michigan was created in Ann Arbor, a small village that had recently lost the bid to Lansing to become the new state capital. Seven men attended the first classes in 1841, and eleven participated in the first graduation of 1845. The medical school admitted the university's first black student in 1853, while the first woman was enrolled in 1870. Nearly 44,000 students are part of today's student body, including over 28,000 undergraduates. Academically, the University of Michigan is considered to be in the highest tier of public universities. Maize (a shade of yellow) and blue were adopted as the school's official colors in 1912, although they had been used by students since just after the Civil War.

The Michigan Wolverines are among the most successful programs in college football. The Wolverines played their first game in 1879 against Racine in Chicago; this happened to be the first American football game (although it more resembled rugby at that time) played west of the Appalachian Mountains. Michigan defeated Racine that day, the first of what now amounts to 924 victories in program history. No other school has more (Notre Dame ranks second, with 892 wins-to-date). The state of Michigan has long carried an association with the wolverine, so the nickname "Wolverines" for Michigan students and alumni long predates their first football game. In 1896, Michigan became one of seven schools to charter the Western Conference, which would later become known as the Big Ten Conference. The Wolverines left the conference after the 1906 season, but rejoined it in 1917 and haven't left again since. Michigan leads all Big Ten schools with 42 conference titles (Ohio State is second with 35 while Minnesota is third with 18). The Wolverines won their first conference title in 1898 and their most recent in 2004. Michigan holds a winning record head-to-head against all other Big Ten members, past and present, other than recent expansion teams Rutgers and Nebraska. In fact, except for Cornell, Michigan holds a winning record against every team they've played more than 10 games against. Michigan claims to have captured 11 national championships, although just three are recognized by modern consensus sources and two by the AP. The Wolverines play their home games at the largest stadium in the United States and the second largest on Earth, Michigan Stadium. Affectionately nicknamed "The Big House", Michigan Stadium can seat in excess of 109,000 spectators at one event. Before it's capacity was reduced in 2015, the largest crowd to attend a game numbered 115,109; they witnessed the Wolverines defeat Notre Dame 41-30 on September 7, 2013.

Hired in 1901, Fielding Yost established Michigan's permanent tradition of excellence. Between 1901 and 1905, Yost's Wolverines would go 55-1-1 against all opponents, outscoring them by a total of 2,821 points to 42 (or by an average score of 49-1). On New Year's Day, 1902, Yost led his Wolverines to a victory over Stanford in the first-ever bowl game, the 1902 Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Yost coached the Wolverines until 1923, before taking a one-year hiatus and returning for a final two seasons. During his tenure, the Wolverines compiled a 165-29-10 record, won ten Big Ten titles, and laid claim to six national titles. Eight of Yost's squads completed their seasons undefeated (five were also untied). Had Michigan not left the Big Ten for a span of a decade, Yost certainly would have led them to more conference titles. Yost played center Germany Schultz behind the line, and is thus credited with inventing the linebacker position. Yost stepped down from head coaching to become Michigan's full-time athletic director after 1926. He would remain AD until 1940.

Under Yost, the Wolverines were credited with earning the 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, and 1923 national championships. Coach Harry Kipke led the Wolverines the national titles in 1932 and 1933. The Wolverines won title a title in 1947 under Fritz Crisler and another in 1948 with coach Bennie Oosterbaan. Their last national title came in 1997 with Lloyd Carr. Only the 1948 and 1997 titles are recognized by the AP. Among all these tremendous teams, the 1947 squad may have been the finest. The '47 Wolverines went unchallenged throughout much of the year, obliterating their competition by a combined score of 345-53. The Wolverines shut out five opponents – Michigan State (55-0), Pitt (69-0), Indiana (35-0), Ohio State (21-0), and Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl (49-0). The demolition of USC remains tied with the 1902 game (also won by Michigan) as the most lopsided Rose Bowl in history.

Charles Woodson had a remarkable knack for interceptions.
The shut-down corner, who also played offense and special
teams, was key to the 1997 Wolverines' undefeated season.
Damian Strohmeyer/SI

Three Michigan Wolverines have been awarded the Heisman Trophy. In 1940, halfback Tom Harmon rushed for 844 yards (106 per game) and led the nation in points scored before winning the statue. The electric returner and wide receiver Desmond Howard remains one of the trophy's most iconic winners. Howard won the Heisman in 1991 and to-date is the last receiver to have won the award. Charles Woodson, who played both returner and cornerback, stands today as one of the sport's greatest athletes. Woodson, who picked up the Heisman in 1997, is the only primarily defensive player to have won the award since 1950. Woodson is also the last player not a halfback or quarterback to have won the Heisman.

Michigan and Ohio State share one of the greatest and most famous rivalries in athletics. Since they first met in 1897, the Wolverines and the Buckeyes have contested their border war on 112 occasions and every year since 1918. Much of a coach's legacy at either school is determined by their record against the hated school from across the state line. It's common practice for fans of both schools to vandalize the others' campus during football season and throughout the year. Both schools have horded much of the football success and glory produced in the Midwest. Combined, the two programs account for 77 Big Ten titles in a conference that has existed for 120 years. Michigan leads the series with 58 victories to Ohio State's 47 (six games have ended as draws). However, in recent times, the rivalry has leaned in the Buckeyes' favor, with Michigan winning just twice since 2001. For some Wolverine fans, the rivalry between Michigan and Michigan State is of equal (or even greater) importance. The in-state rivals first played in 1898 and have met annually since 1907 (barring a two-year hiatus during the Second World War). The Wolverines and the Spartans have played 109 games, with Michigan's 68 wins leading Michigan State's 35 (five games have tied). Michigan utterly dominated the rivalry until 1950, when the Spartans surpassed the Wolverines for a period of two decades.

The Gators and the Wolverines have a short history, having only played twice during the 2000s. Michigan, under coach Lloyd Carr, won on both occasions. Michigan outplayed Florida in the 2003 Outback Bowl, winning 38-30. The Wolverines outscored Tim Tebow's Gators 41-35 in the 2008 Citrus Bowl and Coach Carr's final game (this was also the only bowl game Urban Meyer lost as head coach of the Gators).

Supposedly, John Philip Sousa remarked that "The Victors" was the "greatest college fight song ever written". If it is not the greatest, it ranks among them, with its simple and memorable chorus. President Gerald Ford, who played center for the Wolverines in the early 1930s, often requested "The Victors" be played in lieu of "Hail to the Chief" at presidential appearances. The fight song was played at Ford's state funeral in 2007.