ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Jim Harbaugh said Ben Mason made an impassioned pregame speech before Michigan football’s victory over Minnesota, then went out and backed it up. Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Ben was penalized -- and probably rightfully so -- but it was a tremendous block, tremendous, tremendous block on a tremendous player.”Mason was named one of seven team captains for Michigan during the preseason, and before the opener, he had a few words for his teammates. “Ben Mason kind of called up the team pregame ... and what he said was, ‘Joe (Milton), this is your night. Just a tremendous game by Ben Mason."

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When Michigan football takes the field Saturday against Minnesota, it will do so against seven players who received scholarship offers from Jim Harbaugh. Meanwhile, three of Minnesota’s best players received Michigan offers. That’s how recruiting works in this era of college football, and it means Michigan likely prioritized each of these players differently. 47 in OhioAccording to 247 Sports, Minnesota and Michigan were the only Power Five schools to extend scholarship offers to Fleming. He also received scholarship offers from Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern, Purdue and Illinois.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan and Minnesota both had top-20 football teams last year, but now Jim Harbaugh and P.J. READ: Here’s where 39 Michigan football transfers are playing this seasonAttrition is the theme of every offseason in today’s college football. Both teams are undergoing makeovers this offseason, but it’s pretty clear Michigan is replacing more talent than Minnesota. It’s worth noting that Michigan is inherently going to lose more talent than Minnesota in any given year because of the obvious advantages in recruiting. Michigan is used to replacing NFL talent year-in and year-out, while Minnesota’s 2019 was a bit of a surprise.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Minnesota football team will have a “number of players” unavailable against Michigan in the season opener due to COVID-19, according to Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said Monday he knows current number of players unavailable due to COVID-19 for Saturday’s game vs. Michigan,” Pioneer Press writer Andy Greder tweeted at 11:35 a.m. Monday. News: #Gophers football coach PJ Fleck said Monday he knows current number of players unavailable due to #COVID19 for Saturday's game vs. Michigan, but he's clear he won't be sharing it. 18 Michigan vs. No. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said his team doesn’t currently have any players unavailable due to COVID-19.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – After a long, strange offseason that felt like it would never end, Michigan football is just 10 days away. With 10 days left until the start of the season, here are 10 reasons for Michigan fans to be excited about their team. Joe Milton eraNobody knows if Milton will be successful as Michigan’s starting quarterback, but he sure has all the tools. Road trips to Indiana are never easy, especially in between the Michigan State and Wisconsin games. Fans have waited a long time for Michigan football to return, and as soon as it does, it’ll be pedal to the metal.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 2020 Michigan football season will kick off with a top 25 matchup under the lights. 24 Minnesota will begin at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Minnesota is one of four ranked teams on Michigan’s eight-game regular season schedule. One week after the opener against Minnesota, Jim Harbaugh’s team will host in-state rival Michigan State on Halloween. More Michigan football storiesPredictions:Lists:Player profiles: