The Michigan Wolverines football team boasts a rich and storied history, and their uniforms are an iconic part of that legacy. This comprehensive timeline details the evolution of the Michigan Wolverines Uniform, focusing on changes to the helmet, jersey, and pants. We track variations in colors, designs, patches, decals, logos, and more, providing a game-by-game breakdown of the team’s on-field appearance.
For an in-depth look at helmet adornments, be sure to explore our Michigan Helmet Stickers Catalog. To delve into uniform changes by historical era, follow the links below:
2020-Current > scroll down | 2015-2019 > Click here | 2010-2014 > Click here | 2000-2009 > Click here | 1990-1999 > Click here | 1980-1989 > Click here | 1970-1979 > Click here | 1940-1969 > Click here | 1867-1939 > Click here
2024 Season Uniform Details
November 30, 2024 | Columbus, OH | vs. Ohio State
For their highly anticipated matchup against Ohio State in Columbus, the Michigan Wolverines sported a classic away game look.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team donned a Michigan white jersey paired with white pants, completing the ensemble with white socks, sleeves, and shoes for a clean, unified appearance.
Michigan Wolverines in white uniforms against Ohio State 2024
HELMET: Celebrating a significant milestone, the team’s helmet featured a special decal commemorating their 1010th program win, achieved against Northwestern on November 16, 2024. This decal also incorporated a silhouette of the George Jewett Trophy logo, adding a touch of rivalry history. Variations of the decal were awarded for game and unit MVP honors, recognizing outstanding individual performances.
November 16, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Northwestern
Back at home in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines returned to their traditional home colors against Northwestern.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore their iconic home blue jersey and maize pants. Blue socks and sleeves maintained the color consistency from top to bottom.
Michigan Wolverines player Donovan Edwards in home blue and maize uniform against Northwestern 2024
November 9, 2024 | Bloomington, IN | vs. Indiana
On the road against Indiana, the Wolverines opted for a familiar away combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore traditional road white jerseys with blue pants. Blue socks and sleeves coordinated with the pants, and white gloves provided a contrasting detail.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and blue pants against Indiana 2024
November 2, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Oregon
Returning to the Big House, Michigan maintained their home uniform tradition against Oregon.
JERSEY/PANTS: The Wolverines sported their traditional home blue jerseys and maize pants. Blue socks and sleeves were again part of the standard home uniform.
Michigan Wolverines in home blue jerseys and maize pants against Oregon 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game celebrated the program’s 1009th all-time win, secured against Michigan State on October 26, 2024. The decal featured a silhouette of the Paul Bunyan Trophy, another nod to Michigan’s rivalry history. MVP variations of the decal were also distributed.
October 26, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Michigan State
For the in-state rivalry game against Michigan State, the Wolverines stuck with their home game formula.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore their traditional blue home jerseys with maize pants. White socks and sleeves offered a slight variation from the all-blue sock/sleeve look sometimes seen at home.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and maize pants against Michigan State 2024
October 19, 2024 | Champaign, IL | at Illinois
Traveling to Illinois, the Wolverines opted for a classic road game uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore white road jerseys with blue pants. White socks and sleeves complemented the white jersey.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and blue pants at Illinois 2024
October 5, 2024 | Seattle, WA | at Washington
For a non-conference road game against Washington in Seattle, Michigan chose a slightly different away uniform configuration.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore white road jerseys, but paired them with maize pants. White socks and sleeves continued the white accents from the jersey.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and maize pants at Washington 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game marked the program’s 1008th victory, achieved against Minnesota on September 28, 2024. The decal incorporated a silhouette of the Little Brown Jug trophy, representing the rivalry with Minnesota. As with other milestone wins, MVP variations of the decal were awarded.
September 28, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Minnesota
Back in Ann Arbor against Minnesota, the Wolverines showcased their traditional home uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore the classic home combination: blue jerseys and maize pants. Maize socks and sleeves added a unique touch, emphasizing the maize color in the lower part of the uniform.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Minnesota 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 1007th all-time win, earned against USC on September 21, 2024. MVP variations were included for outstanding player recognition.
September 21, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Southern California (USC)
In a home game against USC, Michigan opted for a less common uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants. Maize socks and sleeves provided a pop of the secondary color against the dominant blue.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against USC 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal acknowledged the program’s 1006th win, achieved against Arkansas State on September 14, 2024. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
HELMET: For this game and moving forward, the team added a ‘B1G’ Big Ten Conference logo sticker to the back base of the helmet, signifying their conference affiliation.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Big Ten logo sticker 2024
September 14, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Arkansas State
At home against Arkansas State, the Wolverines went with a traditional look with a special tribute.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home combination of blue jerseys and maize pants. Blue socks maintained a consistent color scheme from the waist down.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Arkansas State 2024
HELMET: The helmet featured a special sticker in the shape of a heart with a stylized letter ‘G’. This was to honor the passing of Greg Harden, a long-time student-athlete personal development counselor at Michigan, recognizing his significant contribution to the program.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Greg Harden memorial sticker 2024
September 7, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Texas
For a high-profile home game against Texas, the Wolverines chose a monochromatic uniform look.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants. Blue socks and sleeves completed the all-blue uniform.
Michigan Wolverines in all blue uniforms against Texas 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 1005th win, achieved against Fresno State on August 31, 2024. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
August 31, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Fresno State
Opening the 2024 season at home against Fresno State, Michigan started with a classic home uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home combination of blue jerseys and maize pants. Blue socks continued the color from the pants down.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Fresno State 2024
HELMET: For this game, certain positions and players wore a new high-tech green NCAA ‘C2P’ (Coach to Player) sticker on their helmets. This sticker indicated helmets equipped with communication devices, allowing designated players to communicate directly with coaching staff during the game.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Coach to Player communication sticker 2024
April 20, 2024 | Ann Arbor, MI | Spring Football Game
During the annual Spring Football Game, the team showcased a special helmet decal reflecting their recent national championship victory.
HELMET: The helmet was adorned with a stylized decal featuring the College Football Playoff logo. This decal commemorated the program’s 1004th all-time win, which was the CFP National Championship victory against Washington on January 8, 2024.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with College Football Playoff National Championship decal 2024
2024 College Football Playoff National Championship & Rose Bowl Uniform Details
January 8, 2024 | Houston, TX | College Football Playoff National Championship vs. Washington
In the National Championship game, as the higher seed, Michigan was designated as the home team and selected a powerful uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore blue jerseys and blue pants with blue sleeves and socks for a unified blue look. A special CFP logo inside the ‘2024’ was placed on the left chest above the Nike Jumpman logo, signifying the championship game.
Michigan Wolverines in blue uniforms at the College Football Playoff National Championship 2024
HELMET: The helmet decal for this monumental game celebrated the program’s 1003rd win, achieved in the Rose Bowl CFP Semi-Final against Alabama on January 1, 2024. This decal featured a stylized Rose Bowl logo, commemorating their semi-final victory.
January 1, 2024 | Pasadena, CA | The Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Alabama
For the Rose Bowl, a College Football Playoff Semi-Final game, Michigan was again designated as the home team due to seeding and presented a special uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore their home blue jerseys with maize pants and white socks and sleeves. Several unique details marked this uniform for the playoff game:
- A Rose Bowl bowl/sponsor patch was placed on the right chest, below the B1G logo, acknowledging the prestigious bowl game.
- The shoulders featured silk-screened designs: Right Shoulder: ‘Big Ten Champs’ in script above, ‘Back to Back to Back’ below, celebrating their conference dominance. Left Shoulder: ‘Rose Bowl’ in script above, ‘2024’ below, marking the specific game.
- Both the jersey (left chest) and pants (left hip) featured the Nike diamond (silver) Jumpman logo, a special logo used exclusively for CFP playoff games, highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Michigan Wolverines Rose Bowl uniform details 2024
HELMET: A large CFP logo sticker was placed on the back middle of the helmet, clearly indicating their participation in the College Football Playoff.
HELMET: Another helmet decal commemorated the program’s 1002nd win, secured in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa on December 2, 2023. This decal was stylized in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy and included the B1G logo.
HELMET: A new ‘MVP’ sticker was introduced, awarded to players voted team Most Valuable Player at the annual Michigan Awards ceremony. This sticker was also retroactively worn by Blake Corum (2022 MVP) and J.J. McCarthy (2023), acknowledging past achievements.
2023 Season Uniform Details
December 2, 2023 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Iowa
For the Big Ten Championship game, Michigan was designated as the away team and wore a contrasting uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore white jerseys and white pants, completing the all-white look with white socks and sleeves.
Michigan Wolverines in white uniforms at the Big Ten Championship Game 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game celebrated the program’s 1001st win, achieved against Ohio State on November 25, 2023. The decal read ‘THE GAME’ 1001, referencing the rivalry game victory and the milestone win.
November 25, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Ohio State
In the annual rivalry game against Ohio State, played in Ann Arbor, Michigan sported a classic home uniform with special helmet details.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants. Blue socks and sleeves continued the monochromatic blue theme.
Michigan Wolverines in blue uniforms against Ohio State 2023
HELMET: A new nose bumper was added above the facemask, featuring a blue background with maize letters reading ‘MICH1GAN’ and large ‘1G‘ letters, celebrating the program reaching 1000 wins.
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game commemorated the program’s 1000th win, achieved against Maryland on November 18, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with 1000th win decal 2023
November 18, 2023 | College Park, MD | vs. Maryland
On the road against Maryland, Michigan wore a standard away uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore white road jerseys and white pants. Blue socks and sleeves provided a touch of color contrast.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and white pants at Maryland 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game recognized the program’s 999th win, achieved against Penn State on November 11, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
November 11, 2023 | State College, PA | vs. Penn State
Traveling to Penn State, the Wolverines opted for a white jersey and maize pants combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore white road jerseys and maize pants. Maize socks and sleeves complemented the maize pants.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and maize pants at Penn State 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 998th win, secured against Purdue on November 4, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
November 4, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Purdue
Back at home against Purdue, Michigan went with a blue jersey and blue pants combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants. White socks and sleeves offered a contrasting accent.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Purdue 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game marked the program’s 997th win, achieved against Michigan State on October 21, 2023. The decal featured a silhouette of the Paul Bunyan Trophy, referencing the rivalry game.
HELMET: A ‘RAMPAGE 2023’ decal was issued to commemorate the team winning 8 straight games, a streak described by Coach Jim Harbaugh as a “Rampage,” recognizing team momentum and success.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Rampage 2023 decal 2023
HELMET: Given the team also achieved an 8-game winning streak in 2022, members of the 2022 team were retroactively awarded a ‘RAMPAGE 2022’ decal before this game, recognizing sustained team performance over multiple seasons.
October 21, 2023 | East Lansing, MI | vs. Michigan State
For the road game against in-state rival Michigan State, the Wolverines wore white jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore white road jerseys with blue pants. Blue socks continued the color from the pants down.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and blue pants at Michigan State 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 996th win, achieved against Indiana on October 14, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
October 14, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Indiana
At home against Indiana, Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys with blue pants. Maize socks provided a touch of the secondary color.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Indiana 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal marked the program’s 995th win, achieved against Minnesota on October 7, 2023. The decal featured a silhouette of the Little Brown Jug trophy, referencing the rivalry with Minnesota. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
October 7, 2023 | Minneapolis, MN | vs. Minneapolis
On the road against Minnesota, Michigan wore a white jersey and white pants combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore traditional white jerseys and white pants. White socks maintained the monochromatic white look.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and white pants at Minneapolis 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 994th win, achieved against Nebraska on September 30, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
September 30, 2023 | Lincoln, NE | vs. Nebraska
For their first road game of 2023, against Nebraska, Michigan wore white jerseys and maize pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore white road jerseys with maize pants. White socks complemented the white jersey.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and maize pants at Nebraska 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal recognized the program’s 993rd win, achieved against Rutgers on September 23, 2023. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Rutgers 2023
September 23, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Rutgers
Back in Ann Arbor against Rutgers, the Wolverines wore their classic home uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home blue jerseys and maize pants. Maize socks tied in with the maize pants.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Rutgers 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 992nd win, achieved against Bowling Green on September 16, 2023. MVP variations were included for player recognition.
HELMET: A new ‘GUARDIANS OF VICTORY’ sticker appeared on at least one player’s helmet. The specific criteria for earning this award were not publicly disclosed, suggesting an internal team recognition system.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Guardians of Victory sticker 2023
September 16, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Bowling Green
At home against Bowling Green, Michigan opted for a blue jersey and blue pants combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore blue jerseys and blue pants. Blue socks continued the blue theme from top to bottom. This marked the first time at home since the Nebraska game in 2022 that they wore this combination.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Bowling Green 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 991st win, achieved against UNLV on September 9, 2023. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
September 9, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. UNLV
At home against UNLV, Michigan wore their traditional home uniforms.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home blue jerseys and maize pants. White socks offered a slight contrast at the base of the uniform.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against UNLV 2023
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 990th win, achieved against East Carolina on September 2, 2023. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with 990th win decal 2023
September 2, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. East Carolina
Opening the 2023 season at home against East Carolina, Michigan started with their classic home uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home blue jerseys and maize pants.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against East Carolina 2023
HELMET: Certain team members were awarded a sticker with the letters ‘EUTM’, representing “Enthusiasm Unknown To Mankind,” a phrase often associated with Michigan Football, for demonstrating exceptional enthusiasm and dedication.
April 1, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | Spring Football Game
The 2023 Spring Football Game provided a glimpse at helmet stickers awarded for the previous season’s accomplishments.
HELMET: Participants in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl (the CFP semi-final) were awarded a decal that read “Fiesta Bowl” above the bowl logo, commemorating their participation in the prestigious bowl game.
HELMET: In addition, members of the 2022 offensive line were awarded a decal recognizing Michigan’s line winning the 2022 Joe Moore Award, highlighting their exceptional performance as a unit. The sticker depicted the Joe Moore Award logo.
2022 Season Summary
Michigan Wolverines 2022 uniform summary
December 31, 2022 | Glendale, AZ | Fiesta Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Texas Christian University
In the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, a College Football Playoff Semi-Final game, Michigan was designated as the home team and wore their blue jerseys.
JERSEY: Michigan wore blue jerseys. A bowl sponsor patch was featured on the left chest, as is common for bowl game uniforms. The Nike Jumpman logo changed to the “Diamond” silver/black outline logo on the left chest of the jersey, a special branding element for high-profile games.
Michigan Wolverines Fiesta Bowl Jersey 2022
PANTS: Michigan wore maize pants, which also featured the Nike Jumpman “Diamond” logo on the left hip, mirroring the jersey logo and maintaining brand consistency.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 989th win, achieved against Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 3, 2022. This decal was stylized in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy and included the B1G logo.
HELMET: In addition, the team wore a sticker honoring the passing of program friend Dametrius “Meechie” Walker. This memorial sticker was affixed to the back middle stripe of the helmet, showing respect and remembrance.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Dametrius "Meechie" Walker memorial sticker 2022
HELMET: The team also wore the CFP logo affixed to the back middle stripe of the helmet, signifying their participation in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with CFP logo 2022
December 3, 2022 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Purdue
For the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan was designated as the home team and wore blue jerseys.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the blue jersey and blue pants combination, a strong and unified look for a championship game.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants at the Big Ten Championship Game 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game celebrated the program’s 988th win, achieved against Ohio State on November 26, 2022. The decal featured a “THE GAME” specialized logo, emphasizing the significance of the rivalry victory.
November 26, 2022 | Columbus, OH | vs. Ohio State
For the 2022 edition of “The Game” against Ohio State in Columbus, Michigan wore a white and white road uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the white jersey and white pants combination, a classic road game look under Coach Harbaugh.
Michigan Wolverines in white uniforms against Ohio State 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal for this game celebrated the program’s 987th win, achieved against Illinois on November 19, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Illinois 2022
November 19, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Illinois
Back in Ann Arbor against Illinois, the Wolverines wore their traditional home uniform.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional blue jersey and maize pants combination, a familiar and iconic look at home.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Illinois 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 986th win, achieved against Nebraska on November 12, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
November 12, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Nebraska
At home against Nebraska, Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the blue jersey and blue pants combination, a powerful and unified look at home.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Nebraska 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 985th win, achieved against Rutgers on November 5, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
November 5, 2022 | Piscataway, NJ | vs. Rutgers
On the road against Rutgers, Michigan debuted a white and white uniform combination for the 2022 season.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the white jersey and white pants combination, marking the first time they used this look in 2022.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and white pants at Rutgers 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal featured a depiction of the Paul Bunyan Trophy, celebrating the program’s 984th win, achieved against Michigan State on October 29, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
October 29, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Michigan State
For the rivalry game against Michigan State, played in Ann Arbor, Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the blue jersey and blue pants combination.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Michigan State 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 983rd win, achieved against Penn State on October 15, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
October 15, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Penn State
At home against Penn State, Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants, the first time at home with this combination since the 2021 Ohio State game.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the blue jersey and blue pants combination. This was notable as the first time at home with this combination since the high-profile 2021 game against Ohio State.
Michigan Wolverines in blue jerseys and blue pants against Penn State 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 982nd win, achieved against Indiana on October 8, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
October 8, 2022 | Bloomington, IN | vs. Indiana
On the road against Indiana, Michigan reverted to a traditional road uniform of white jerseys and maize pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverted to the traditional road white jersey and maize pants combination.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and maize pants at Indiana 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 981st win, achieved against Iowa on October 1, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
October 1, 2022 | Iowa City, IA | vs. Iowa
Traveling to Iowa, Michigan wore a white jersey and blue pants combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore their traditional white away-game jersey with blue pants, a slightly less common road combination.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and blue pants at Iowa 2022
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 980th win, achieved against Connecticut on September 24, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
September 24, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Maryland
At home against Maryland, Michigan wore their standard helmet decals and home uniform.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 979th win, achieved against Connecticut on September 17, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Connecticut 2022
SIDE NOTE: The majority of the team wore maize socks and leggings for this game, adding a noticeable element of maize to the overall uniform.
Michigan Wolverines players wearing maize socks 2022
September 17, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Connecticut
At home against Connecticut, Michigan continued their practice of awarding helmet decals for wins.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 978th win, achieved against Colorado State on September 10, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with 978th win decal 2022
September 10, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Hawaii
At home against Hawaii, Michigan continued to award helmet decals for program wins.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 977th win, achieved against Colorado State on September 3, 2022. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
September 3, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Colorado State
Opening the 2022 season at home against Colorado State, Michigan debuted their standard home uniform and continued the helmet sticker tradition.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wore the traditional home blue jerseys and maize pants combination, a classic start to the season.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Colorado State 2022
HELMET: The team continued a tradition that began in 2021 of issuing helmet stickers of varying significance. New variations identified for the 2022 season included:
- A sticker with the College Football Playoff logo, signifying Michigan’s 2021 appearance and continued aspirations.
- A new EQUALITY sticker, replacing the 2021 (circular) version of the decal, demonstrating continued commitment to social justice.
- A sticker honoring the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX legislation, recognizing the landmark legislation for gender equity in sports and education.
2021 Season Summary
Michigan Wolverines 2021 uniform summary
December 31, 2021 | Miami, FL | Orange Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Georgia
In the 2021 Orange Bowl, a College Football Playoff Semi-Final game, Michigan was designated as the home team and wore blue jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wore blue jerseys and blue pants for the Orange Bowl. The jersey featured a bowl sponsor patch on the right chest, standard for bowl games. The Nike Jumpman logo changed to the “Diamond” silver/black outline logo on the left chest of the jersey and the left hip of the pants, a special branding element for playoff games.
Michigan Wolverines Orange Bowl Jersey 2021
The team again wore the TM42 patch to honor the victims of the Oxford HS (MI) shooting (introduced at the B1G Championship game on 12/4/21), but placement was moved to the left chest, making it more visible.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 976th win, achieved against Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game on December 4, 2021. This decal was stylized in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy and included the B1G logo. Click here for a full breakdown of each helmet sticker variation awarded in 2021.
HELMET: A new helmet sticker depicting a Michigan letterman’s sweater was awarded to 2021 All-Americans, recognizing individual player accolades.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with All-American letterman sweater sticker 2021
HELMET: A new helmet sticker depicting the Lou Groza Award appeared on the helmet of 2021 Lou Groza Award winner, Michigan kicker Jake Moody, celebrating individual player awards.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with Lou Groza Award sticker 2021
HELMET: The team wore a College Football Playoff logo sticker affixed to the middle stripe on the back of the helmet, signifying their participation in the playoffs. (The team also continued to wear the TM42 sticker on the lower back of the helmet).
December 4, 2021 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Iowa
For the 2021 Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan was designated as the road team and wore white jerseys and blue pants.
JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan, as the Big Ten East Division representative, was designated as the road team and wore the road white jersey and blue pants combination, a classic and recognizable road uniform.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and blue pants at the Big Ten Championship Game 2021
HELMET: Three new decals appeared on the helmet for this game, adding special recognitions for the championship game and recent events.
Michigan Wolverines helmet with special decals for Big Ten Championship 2021
(1) Michigan wore a helmet sticker in recognition of the Oxford, MI incident. The TM42 design was the same as the previously announced jersey patch (see Dec 2, 2021 update below) except without a dark border. This sticker was affixed to the center back stripe of the helmet, memorializing the tragedy.
(2) The team was awarded a decal for the program’s 975th win, achieved against Ohio State on November 27, 2021. The sticker read ”THE GAME” and did not include the snarling wolverine, a slightly different design from other win decals.
(3) Aidan Hutchinson was awarded a sticker that read “RECORD” in bold caps, presumably for Hutchinson setting the Michigan single-season sack record against Ohio State, recognizing individual player achievements.
December 2, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | announced via Twitter
Leading up to the Big Ten Championship game, Michigan announced a special jersey patch to honor the Oxford High School community.
JERSEY: Michigan announced it would wear a special logo patch in the Big Ten Championship game. The patch was in the shape of a block ‘O’ honoring the victims, survivors, and community members affected by the November 30, 2021 shooting at Oxford (MI) High School. “TM” and “42” paid tribute to student-athlete Tate Myre, who died confronting the shooter. Four hearts honored each victim of the incident. The patch was manufactured by the Michigan equipment management team using extra maize game pants and was placed on the front-right of the jersey, a visible symbol of support.
November 27, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Ohio State
For the highly anticipated game against Ohio State in 2021, Michigan opted for blue pants at home, a less common choice for this rivalry game.
PANTS: The team wore blue pants with their traditional blue home jerseys for the second time in 2021 (the first at the September 11, 2021 game vs. Washington), breaking from the usual maize pants for home games, especially against Ohio State.
Michigan Wolverines in blue pants against Ohio State 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 974th win, achieved against Maryland on November 20, 2021. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Maryland 2021
November 20, 2021 | College Park, MD | vs. Maryland
On the road against Maryland, Michigan wore blue pants with their white jerseys, another instance of using blue pants in a road game.
PANTS: The team wore blue pants with their traditional road white jerseys for the second time in 2021 (the first at the October 2, 2021 game at Wisconsin), continuing the trend of occasionally using blue pants in away games.
Michigan Wolverines in blue pants at Maryland 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 973rd win, achieved against Penn State on November 13, 2021. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Penn State 2021
November 13, 2021 | State College, PA | vs. Penn State
For the road game against Penn State, Michigan faced a uniform request denial but made a statement with their accessories.
GENERAL NOTE: Michigan’s request to wear an all-maize uniform (jersey and pants) was denied by Penn State officials, highlighting the sometimes-contentious nature of uniform choices in college football. The team again wore maize pants with their traditional road white jerseys for the second time in 2021 (the first at the October 30, 2021 game at Michigan State), despite the all-maize request denial. In presumed defiance of the denial, the team also wore maize socks and arm sleeves, maximizing the maize color within the allowed uniform elements.
Michigan Wolverines players wearing maize accessories at Penn State 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 972nd win, achieved against Indiana on November 6, 2021. MVP variations of this decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Indiana 2021
October 30, 2021 | East Lansing, MI | vs. Michigan State
For the road rivalry game against Michigan State, Michigan wore maize pants, a less common choice for road games at that time.
PANTS: Michigan wore maize pants on the road with their traditional white jersey for the first time since October 21, 2017 (at Penn State), marking a return to maize pants in a significant road game.
Michigan Wolverines in maize pants at Michigan State 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 971st win, achieved against Northwestern on October 23, 2021. The design featured a depiction of George Jewett, following the pattern of unique designs for other trophy-game stickers, connecting the win decal to rivalry history.
October 23, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Northwestern
At home against Northwestern, Michigan continued their win decal tradition.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 970th win, achieved against Nebraska on October 9, 2021. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Nebraska 2021
October 9, 2021 | Lincoln, NE | vs. Nebraska
On the road against Nebraska, Michigan reverted to a white and white uniform combination.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverted back to the traditional Harbaugh away uniform combination of white jersey and white pants, a consistent road game look under the coach.
Michigan Wolverines in white jerseys and white pants at Nebraska 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 969th win, achieved against Wisconsin on October 2, 2021. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Wisconsin 2021
October 2, 2021 | Madison, WI | vs. Wisconsin
For the road game against Wisconsin, Michigan wore blue pants with their white jerseys for the first time in program history for a road or neutral site game.
PANTS: The team wore blue pants with their traditional white road jersey for the first time in history for a road or neutral site game, a significant uniform departure.
Michigan Wolverines in blue pants at Wisconsin 2021
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 968th win, achieved against Rutgers on September 25, 2021. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Rutgers 2021
September 25, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Rutgers
At home against Rutgers, Michigan continued their helmet decal tradition.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 967th win, achieved against Northern Illinois on September 18, 2021. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Northern Illinois 2021
September 18, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Northern Illinois
At home against Northern Illinois, Michigan continued to award helmet decals for wins.
HELMET: The helmet decal celebrated the program’s 966th win, achieved against Washington on September 11, 2021. MVP variations of the decal were also awarded.
Michigan Wolverines helmet win decal against Washington 2021
JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverted back to the traditional home blue jersey and maize pants, returning to their classic home look.
Michigan Wolverines in blue and maize uniforms against Northern Illinois 2021
September 11, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Washington
At home against Washington, Michigan debuted blue pants for a home game under the Nike contract, a significant uniform change.
PANTS: The team wore blue pants at home, breaking from the traditional maize pants for home games. This was the debut of blue pants under the Nike contract and the first appearance of the all-blue uniform since October 11, 2014 (Adidas) vs. Penn State, marking a notable uniform shift.
Michigan Wolverines in blue pants at home against Washington 2021
HELMET: The team wore a red, white, and blue sticker for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Placement was affixed to the middle stripe on the back of the helmet. The decal was an inverted depiction of a USA flag with the Twin Towers emerging from a city skyline along the bottom, along with the date 9-12-01, a poignant tribute to the anniversary.
Michigan Wolverines helmet 9/11 memorial sticker 2021
HELMET: The team was awarded a decal for the program’s 965th win, achieved against Western Michigan on September 4, 2021.
There were variations for game and unit MVP honors as well.
Michigan Wolverines helmet MVP win decal 2021
September 4, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Western Michigan
Opening the 2021 season at home against Western Michigan, Michigan debuted personalized helmet stickers, a new approach to helmet customization.
HELMET: The first set of personalized accomplishment stickers appeared on team helmets. On August 10, 2021, associate athletic director Dave Ablauf confirmed that players were presented with a series of helmet stickers with varying designs and meanings, based on accomplishments on and off the field during their careers. “We modified the helmet decal and how they’re awarded to basically now tell the story of a player’s entire career,” Ablauf confirmed, signaling a new era in helmet sticker traditions.
This was a departure from recent versions of the helmet sticker on several fronts, which with but one recent exception featured a consistent design and were awarded progressively throughout the season.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2021 stickers, updated as more information became available:
Michigan Wolverines 2021 helmet sticker variations
(1) A decal featuring a leftward-facing snarling wolverine, along with the incremental Michigan football program all-time win total associated with the victory. This was the most common variation of the stickers featured on helmets, continuing the wolverine motif. (2) A sticker with the Big Ten Logo on a book, presumed to signify Academic all-conference honors for a particular player, recognizing academic achievement. (3) A sticker depicting a Michigan varsity letterman’s jacket, presumed to signify a player earning their varsity letter for a season, celebrating team membership and contribution. (4) A sticker with the depiction of a bowl game logo, signifying a player’s participation in that bowl game (win or lose). There were variations for the different bowl games Michigan has appeared in over the past several seasons, acknowledging bowl game participation. (5) A sticker featuring the three-digit telephone area code from the player’s hometown, adding a personal touch and hometown connection. (6) A sticker depicting Michigan’s rivalry trophy victories along with a depiction of the trophy itself [(6a) Little Brown Jug/Minnesota; (6b) Paul Bunyan Trophy/Michigan State and, (6c) The George Jewett Trophy/Northwestern (new in 2021)], along with the incremental all-time program win total associated with the win, celebrating rivalry victories and program milestones. (7) A sticker featuring a sword & shovel intersecting a Michigan football helmet. This was presumed to represent a team-related season MVP honor (not game-specific), recognizing broader team contributions. Specific rules for qualification are unknown. (8) A sticker with the letters ”TED” – This is an acronym for “There Every Day.” This appears to be an individual achievement for daily participation in a team-related activity, rewarding dedication and consistent effort. Specific rules for qualification are unknown. (9) A sticker with a block M with the word “ATTACK” – Specific rules for qualification are unknown. (10) A sticker with the letter ‘C’ for individual players elected as captains for a given season, identifying team leadership. (11) A sticker again featuring the sword and shovel intersecting a Michigan football helmet (see 7) but also the incremental all-time program win total associated with the victory. This was presumed to present a team-related game individual or unit honor, acknowledging game-specific contributions. Specific rules for qualification are unknown. (12) A sticker that reads “All B1G” presumed to signify all-conference honors for an individual player, recognizing conference-level accolades. (13) A depiction of a hard hat tied to a particular game (including the incremental all-time program win total associated with the victory) – Specific rules for qualification are unknown. (14) A sticker that reads “RECORD” in all caps, signifying the breaking of a Michigan program record [e.g., Aidan Hutchinson for the all-time U-M sack record.], celebrating record-breaking performances. (15) A sticker that reads “THE GAME” and with incremental program victory #975, for the 11/27/2021 win over Ohio State, specifically for the rivalry game victory. (16) A sticker depicting the silver football atop the Stagg Big Ten Championship Trophy, with incremental program victory #976 for the 12/4/2021 win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game, commemorating conference championship victories. (17) A sticker featuring a depiction of the classic Michigan letterman sweater, presumed to signify the achievement of All-American honors for a particular player, recognizing national-level accolades. (18) A sticker featuring a depiction of the Lou Groza Award on the helmet of kicker Jake Moody, specifically for individual award winners. (19) A sticker that reads “B1G MVP” awarded to 2021 Big Ten Conference’s most valuable player Aidan Hutchinson, honoring conference MVP awards.
Note 1: The EQUALITY sticker (appeared during the 2020 season, scroll down below) remained on the helmet for the 2021 season, continuing the social justice message. Note 2: Given all decals featured a wolverine facing left, the team abandoned the rightward-facing wolverine decal (used for the right side of the helmet in recent seasons), streamlining the wolverine design.
2020 Season Uniform Details
November 7, 2020 | Bloomington, IN | vs. Indiana
After the season opener, a helmet decal was removed.
HELMET: The #BIGVOTE decal, worn in the season opener at Minnesota, was removed from the helmet, indicating it was a one-game initiative.
October 31, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Michigan State
For the home game against Michigan State in 2020, a new helmet decal and mini block Ms appeared.
HELMET: In addition to the #B1GVOTE decal (announced 10/29/2020), a series of mini maize-colored block Ms appeared on the helmets of a minority of players, presented vertically between the stripes on the back of the helmet. The significance of the mini block M decal remains unknown, adding a layer of mystery to the uniform details.
October 29, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | via the U-M Athletic Department
Prior to the Michigan State game in 2020, the team announced a #B1G Vote helmet decal.
HELMET: Via the official U-M Twitter account, the team announced they would wear a #B1G Vote red, white and blue decal on the helmet for the October 31, 2020 game against Michigan State, promoting civic engagement.
Michigan Wolverines #B1GVOTE helmet decal 2020
October 24, 2020 | Minneapolis, MN | vs. Minnesota
For the 2020 season opener against Minnesota, a CFB 150 patch was removed, and an EQUALITY decal was added, along with a jersey number first.
JERSEY: The CFB 150 patch, which had been featured in the previous season, was removed from the jersey, marking a change from the previous year’s uniform.
Michigan Wolverines player Joe Milton against Minnesota 2020
HELMET: “EQUALITY” decal appeared on the helmet, signaling a commitment to social justice and equality for the 2020 season.
JERSEY: For the first time in history, a Michigan player (WR Giles Jackson) wore the numeral 0 (zero) on the field, a modern jersey number addition.
Michigan Wolverines player Giles Jackson wearing #0 jersey 2020
October 22, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | Press Release/via Twitter
Prior to the 2020 season, the athletic department announced the EQUALITY helmet decal.
HELMET: The athletic department announced the team would wear a special EQUALITY decal on helmets during the 2020 season, joining a broader movement for social justice in sports.
Michigan Wolverines EQUALITY helmet sticker 2020
2020 Citrus Bowl Uniform Details
January 1, 2020 | Orlando, FL | Citrus Bowl vs. Alabama
In the 2020 Citrus Bowl against Alabama, Michigan wore white jerseys and white pants with bowl game patches and decals.
JERSEY: Team wore road (white) jerseys with white pants for the Citrus Bowl. The jersey featured a bowl sponsor patch on the left chest, a standard element of bowl game uniforms.
Michigan Wolverines Citrus Bowl patch 2020
HELMET: Team wore a large bowl sponsor patch on the back-center of the helmet, atop the middle stripe, another common bowl game uniform addition.
For additional Michigan Uniform history, select a period below:
2015-2019 > Click here | 2010-2014 > Click here | 2000-2009 > Click here | 1990-1999 > Click here | 1980-1989 > Click here | 1970-1979 > Click here | 1940-1969 > Click here | 1867-1939 > Click here
Acknowledgments:
A huge thanks for input into the Uniform Timeline to Steve “Dr. Sap” Sapardanis, Craig Barker of The Hoover Street Rag, and Brandon Ho for the shots from his personal Michigan bowl jersey collection.
