Does Michigan play better at night? A history of night games at the Big House

College football: Michigan vs. Washington – September 11, 2021

The Michigan matching band performs before a college football game between Michigan and Washington at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, on Saturday, September 11, 2021. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Michigan will play Michigan State under the lights at Michigan Stadium this Saturday, which generates reactions from fans that span the spectrum.

Whether you love night games, despise them, or are somewhere in between, you have something in common with other Michigan fans: You want to see the Wolverines win.

Do night games help achieve that goal?

This Saturday will be Michigan’s 12th night game at the Big House. Michigan is 9-2 at home all time in primetime, an .818 win percentage.

Eleven games is a small sample size, but it’s worth comparing to Michigan’s performance in afternoon home games against similar competition over the same time span.*

Michigan’s win percentage in those games -- .744 -- is slightly worse.

So maybe the darkness does give the Wolverines an extra jolt of electricity. It may have in some of their previous night games, all of which are listed below.

*The time span is 2011-2021. Since Michigan’s previous night games have come against Big Ten teams (six), Notre Dame (three), and one each against Washington and Middle Tennessee State, the comparable afternoon home games selected were those against Power Five schools, Notre Dame, and BYU, a total of 43 games. Michigan went 32-11 in those games.

Sep. 10, 2011 vs. Notre Dame

There had been games played under lights at Michigan Stadium before, 3:30 starts in late fall that finished after the sun went down. But the 2011 game against Notre Dame was the first that started in primetime. There was plenty of hype, and the game more than delivered.

With Michigan trailing 24-7 entering the fourth quarter, Denard Robinson took over. Even after Michigan fell behind again with 30 seconds left, Robinson rallied the Wolverines. His 16-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with two seconds left lives in Michigan football lore.

Robinson completed just 11 passes that night, but somehow tallied 338 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-31 win.

Sep. 7, 2013 vs. Notre Dame

Michigan went up 10-0, then fended off the Fighting Irish the rest of the night. Devin Gardner’s four-yard touchdown pass to Drew Dileo sealed a 41-30 victory. Gardner finished with 294 yards and four touchdowns, and added 82 yards on the ground. Jeremy Gallon had 186 receiving yards and three scores. Michigan’s Blake Countess intercepted Tommy Rees twice.

Hey, these home night games against Notre Dame seem to be working.

Oct. 11, 2014 vs. Penn State

With the game tied at 13 entering the fourth, Michigan got a field goal and a safety to win 18-13. It was a defensive battle throughout, as neither Gardner nor Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg found much of a rhythm. Michigan finished the season 5-7 and fired Brady Hoke as a result.

Oct. 7, 2017 vs. Michigan State

After taking a couple of years off from home night games, maybe Michigan forget how to do it right. Playing in a torrential downpour, Michigan (4-0 and ranked seventh in the country) threw the ball 35 times. John O’Korn, subbing for an injured Wilton Speight, completed just 16 of those throws in addition to throwing three picks.

The interceptions were among Michigan’s five turnovers that night. Michigan State had none, and despite not scoring after the midway point of the second quarter, the Spartans prevailed 14-10.

Nov. 4, 2017 vs. Minnesota

Jim Harbaugh turned to redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Peters for his first career start, and Peters didn’t have to do much, completing 8-of-13 passes for 56 yards. Michigan didn’t commit any turnovers though, and dominated defensively and on the ground for a 33-10 win.

Karan Higdon ran for 200 yards and Chris Evans had 191 on just 29 combined carries. Khaleke Hudson had eight tackles for loss. It was a cold, wet night, and the start was delayed about an hour due to lightning.

Oct. 13, 2018 vs. Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor may have been the most well-known runner entering this game -- and he did crack 100 yards -- but it was Michigan’s rushing attack that dominated the game. Higdon, Shea Patterson, and plenty others gashed Wisconsin for 320 rushing yards in a 38-13 Michigan victory. LaVert Hill had a pick-six in the fourth quarter.

Aug. 31, 2019 vs. Middle Tennessee State

Michigan began he 2019 season at night, its first ever home opener under the lights. It was also the first meeting with Middle Tennessee State. The Wolverines won 40-21, with Tarik Black, Nico Collins, and Sean McKeon catching touchdowns from Shea Patterson.

Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins

Michigan wide receiver Nico Collins catches a touchdown pass against Notre Dame on Oct. 26, 2019, in Ann Arbor, Mich.AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Oct. 26, 2019 vs. Notre Dame

It was known going in that this would be the last meeting between the schools for the foreseeable future. Oddsmakers pegged the game as a toss-up, but it was anything but competitive. On a cold night with a heavy downpour for much of the game, the Wolverines dominated No. 8 Notre Dame.

Sticking to a mostly ground attack, Michigan jumped out to a 17-0 lead at halftime and kept scoring, winning 45-14. Daxton Hill, freshman at the time, had two fumble recoveries for a Michigan defense that was lights out.

Nov. 14, 2020 vs. Wisconsin

When Michigan players talk about the extra juice of a night game, they’re referring to the crowd. With that in mind, this one should get an asterisk, as there were no fans in the stands due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though when the final score is 49-11, would fans have mattered?

Sep. 11, 2021 vs. Washington

On the 20th anniversary of the country’s infamous terrorist attacks, Michigan honored the victims with a pregame flyover and halftime show. On the field, the Wolverines used a run-heavy offense (56 carries, 343 yards, four touchdowns) and stout defense to win 31-10. The game lost some of its hype when Washington lost its season opener to FCS program Montana, but it was still a statement win for a Michigan team that had struggled so mightily the year before.

Nov. 6, 2021 vs. Indiana

A late-season night game against a lackluster opponent? This could have been a noon kick, but so be it. Michigan handled business, holding Indiana to just 195 total yards in a 29-7 victory. Hassan Haskins ran for 168 yards and Michigan scored the final 19 points of the game. Michigan would win road games at Penn State and Maryland the next two weeks before returning to the Big House to beat Ohio State and clinch a spot in the Big Ten championship.

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