Michigan and Rutgers have not spent much time building a long rivalry, but the numbers have leaned heavily one way since the Scarlet Knights joined the Big Ten in 2014. The Wolverines own a 9-1 edge in the all-time series and have won nine straight after dropping the first meeting.
That early stumble is still Rutgers’ lone win in the matchup, and it has never managed back-to-back victories against Michigan. The Wolverines have also been spotless at home in the series, going 5-0 in Ann Arbor.
The last time these teams met, Michigan handled business in a 31-7 win in Ann Arbor in 2023. Rutgers actually opened the scoring with a 69-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Wimsatt to Christian Dremel, but that lead lasted briefly. Michigan answered with 31 straight points and never let the game get away from it.
JJ McCarthy went 15-of-21 for 214 yards and a touchdown, Blake Corum added 97 rushing yards and two scores, and Mike Sainristil delivered a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown. The win pushed Michigan to 4-0 on the way to an undefeated season and a national championship.
One of the more memorable games in the series came in 2020, when Rutgers dragged Michigan into three overtimes in Piscataway before the Wolverines escaped with a 48-42 victory. Cade McNamara entered off the bench and threw for 260 yards and four touchdowns as Michigan rallied from a 17-0 hole.
Saturday’s matchup comes with both sides looking different than they did in 2023. Michigan is coming off a frustrating 13-6 overtime loss to Indiana and is trying to get its offense moving, with the running game a major emphasis under head coach Kyle Whittingham. Rutgers, meanwhile, gets this one at home in Piscataway, where it will try to change the tone of a series that has mostly belonged to Michigan.
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But the larger issue is broader than one matchup. Michigan is still facing uncertainty at quarterback, looking for a more reliable rushing attack, and waiting to see how offensive coordinator adjustments and offensive line play hold up under pressure. After a string of close losses, the bigger test may not be Rutgers at all so much as whether this group can show the kind of resilience that keeps a season from slipping into frustration. [Read more 🡒]