• Michigan Stadium continues its impressive streak of hosting crowds exceeding 100,000, with a record-breaking attendance of 109,480 for today’s game.
• This game marks the first-ever meeting between the University of Michigan and East Carolina.
• The Wolverines extend their home winning streak to 16 games, dating back to the 2021 season. This is the longest streak under Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and the best performance since the 16-game streak from 2002-2005 and the 21-game streak from 1997-2000 under former Head Coach Lloyd Carr.
• Michigan’s historical record in season openers improves to 118-23-3, with a 7-2 record during the Harbaugh era.
• Defensive Coordinator Jesse Minter, serving as the acting head coach for today’s season opener, secures his first victory as a collegiate head coach.
• The honorary captains for today’s game are NASA Astronaut Josh Cassada and award-winning sports reporter Gene Wojciechowski.
• Eight Wolverines earned their first collegiate start in this game, including standout players Myles Hinton, Drake Nugent, Keon Sabb, Josh Wallace, Keshaun Harris, Ernest Hausmann, Josaiah Stewart, AJ Barner, James Turner, and LaDarius Henderson.
• Eighteen players make their University of Michigan debuts in this game, showcasing the Wolverines’ depth and talent. Among them are Cameron Brandt, Karmello English, Benjamin Hall, Jyaire Hill, Brandyn Hillman, Joey Klunder, Fredrick Moore, Semaj Morgan, Trey Pierce, DJ Waller Jr., Barner, Hausmann, Henderson, Hinton, Nugent, Stewart, Turner, and Wallace.
• Moore, with 2 receptions for 18 yards, and Hall, with 2 carries for 2 yards, achieve their first collegiate statistics.
• After an initial punt, the Wolverine offense dominates by scoring on five consecutive drives, with four touchdowns and a field goal.
• Senior running back Blake Corum stands out with 10 carries for 73 yards and a two-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. He had 18 rushing touchdowns last year, placing him third nationally.
• Junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy delivers an exceptional performance at home, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. McCarthy’s completion rate of 86.7% (26-for-30) ranks as the second-highest in Michigan history, just behind Elvis Grbac’s 90.9% (20-for-22) against Notre Dame on September 14, 1991.
• With McCarthy leading the way, the Wolverines consistently excel in the red zone, scoring in 61 out of 68 trips and producing 51 touchdowns. When McCarthy both starts and finishes a drive, the team has secured an impressive 59 touchdowns and 26 field goals on 145 drives. In today’s game, Michigan is flawless in the red zone, going 3-for-3 in the first half and 1-for-2 in the second.
• The Wolverines dominate the first half, securing a 23-point lead with three touchdowns and a 50-yard field goal from graduate kicker James Turner while shutting out the Pirates. This is Turner’s first field goal in the maize and blue uniform.
• Graduate student defensive back Mike Sainristil’s interception in the first quarter sets up a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Roman Wilson, marking Michigan’s first score of the season.
• Sainristil’s interception is significant, as it is the team’s first of the season and his second career interception. His previous interception was an eight-yard return against TCU in the College Football Playoff on December 31, 2022.
• Wilson demonstrates his prowess with three receiving touchdowns in this game, marking his second multi-touchdown game. The last Wolverine to achieve this feat was Nico Collins in 2019. Wilson now has a total of 11 receiving touchdowns.
• Sophomore tight end Colston Loveland matches his career-best performance with four receptions for a career-high 57 yards.
• Defensively, the Wolverines dominate, keeping the Pirates scoreless for 59 minutes and 55 seconds, until ECU kicks a 33-yard field goal as time expires. Michigan’s last shutout was against UConn on September 17, 2021.
• Junior linebacker Junior Colson, who led the team with 101 total tackles in 2022, contributes five tackles, including two tackles for loss, in today’s game.
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