ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan football team has revealed the uniforms it will wear Saturday for its top-10 showdown against Penn State.
On Friday afternoon, the Wolverines released a video on social media with the revelation. They’ll wear an all-blue look — blue pants and blue jerseys — with white gloves to contrast the planned “Maize Out” for the fans.
The combination echoes their last top-10 game at Michigan Stadium. Last November, Michigan wore the blues when they beat Ohio State, 42-27, to clinch the Big Ten East title. The Wolverines also went blue on blue for the previous Maize Out, which was last September against Washington. That win – a 31-10 thrashing – helped set the tone for what turned out to be a very successful season.
Saturday’s game against Penn State will keep the Wolverines in the conversation for another Big Ten title and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
“Big, big, big game,” Jim Harbaugh told Penn State this week. “What if someone watched football [last Sunday] on TV, the pro games, it seems like every commercial break there was an ad for the Michigan-Penn State game. So if someone didn’t realize it was a big game, there were constant reminders.”
Team uniforms are usually decided weekly by the board of directors, with input from the coaches.
Along with the somewhat rare look, Michigan football pulls out all the stops to turn one of the biggest home games of the year into a spectacle.
Here are some of the events planned for Saturday:
KICK OFF THE GRAND MIDI
FOX’s traveling football show basically became groupies of the Michigan football team this fall. Rob Stone, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Brady Quinn and Urban Meyer will return to Ann Arbor for Big Noon Kickoff.
Although the details of this weekend have not been officially announced, we are told that they will be back at Pioneer High School. The show starts at 10 a.m., although the fan zone – with free food and other freebies – opens much earlier on Saturday morning.
PRE-MATCH REVIEW
The flyover scheduled for Saturday’s game: Air Force F-16s from the 112th Fighter Squadron of the 180th Fighter Wing.
A LEGEND FOR AN HONORARY CAPTAIN
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps will be honorary captain this Saturday against Penn State, Jim Harbaugh announced Monday.
Phelps, a former UM student who also volunteered as a coach for the swim program, spoke to the football team during fall camp. He won 28 medals across five Olympics, making the American swimmer the most decorated athlete in Summer Games history.
TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Michigan will once again host the 1997 Michigan football team to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their national championship.
The Wolverines went 12-0 that season, including wins at Penn State and Wisconsin in early November to set up a top-five clash with Ohio State to close out the regular season. Charles Woodson’s electric punt return helped Michigan win, 20-14.
At the Rose Bowl, Brian Griese threw for three touchdowns (and Woodson intercepted a pass in the end zone) en route to a 21-16 victory and the national title.
RECOGNIZING LLOYD CARR
Michigan will recognize Lloyd Carr on the 15th anniversary of winning the Dodd Trophy, which is awarded to “the Division I head coach whose team excels on the field, in class and in the community.”
Michigan will also name the Big House tunnel after Carr.
“Lloyd Carr has set high standards as a coach and mentor,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “He was a great leader and an example to his players and staff. Lloyd was a teacher as much as a football coach, always looking to make a positive impact on the lives of his players. This is a well-deserved recognition for all that Lloyd has accomplished and contributed to this university.We are so pleased to honor his impact and legacy at the University of Michigan in this way.
A SPECIAL HALF-TIME SHOW
The halftime show will feature nine-time Grammy Award winner Wynton Marsalis, who also won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He is in Ann Arbor for a short residency at the University.
TRIBUTE TO CHARLES WOODSON
Michigan will recognize Charles Woodson on the 25th anniversary of its Heisman Trophy season.
In 1997, Woodson joined Desmond Howard and Tom Harmon in becoming UM’s third Heisman Trophy winner. He was and remains the only modern player to win the Heisman as a primarily defensive player.
CELEBRATING AIDAN HUTCHINSON
The Wolverines will recognize EDGE Aidan Hutchinson for winning the Lott IMPACT Trophy in 2021. The award is given to the defensive player who has the greatest IMPACT on his team (integrity, maturity, performance, studies, community and tenacity).