Game recap: Michigan slogs through Fresno State, finishes strong in season-opening win

ANN ARBOR – The No. 9 Michigan Wolverines moved to 1-0 on the new season with a 30-10 grind-it-out win over the visiting Fresno State Bulldogs.

After an offseason QB derby, it was senior Davis Warren who got the start for Michigan at quarterback. However, the night was a struggle for the team on offense across the board, leaning on multiple field goals from kicker Dominic Zvada for much of the scoring output through the first three quarters. But when it mattered, the Wolverines put a drive together to seal the game.

The defense, however, appears to be as advertised. The Wolverines swarmed the Bulldogs all night, minus a few busted plays and miscues. The task now is evening things out next weekend when the No. 4 Texas Longhorns come to town (12 p.m. ET, FOX).

Here is the recap from Saturday night’s game in Ann Arbor.

First quarter

Michigan kicked off to Fresno State, starting the 2024 campaign on the defensive side of the ball. After two plays, junior Zeke Berry came down with his first-career interception on third-and-6 to give Michigan the ball at the Bulldogs’ 31-yard line. The Wolverines took advantage of the short field with a five-play, 31-yard drive that ended in a three-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Alex Orji to running back Donovan Edwards at the 11:03 mark. Zvada’s extra point was good, giving U-M a 7-0 lead one drive into the game.

Fresno State ran six plays on the following drive for 18 yards before punting away to the Wolverines, who took over at their 27-yard line with 8:19 remaining. U-M picked up a first down on the drive, but stalled out after five total plays and punted the ball down to the Fresno State 20-yard line with 5:07 on the clock. The Michigan defense responded with a three-and-out on the next drive, forcing a punt with the next drive starting on the Fresno State 43-yard line. One play later, Warren threw an interception in the end zone on a deep ball intended for sophomore wideout Fredrick Moore, returned to the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line.

Five plays and 12 yards later, the U-M defense got off the field and forced another Fresno punt, giving the ball back to the offense with 1:10 to go in the quarter at its own 13-yard line. The first quarter would come to an end with the Wolverines facing a third-and-1.

Michigan 7, Fresno State 0

Second quarter

Michigan was stuffed on third-and-1, forcing another punt from senior Tommy Doman. The Bulldogs would punt four plays later with the ball bouncing through the end zone, setting up a first-and-10 from the 20-yard line with 12:42 to play. The Wolverines went backward on offense, running a trio of plays for minus-10 yards and punting back to Fresno State, which took over on its own 39-yard line with 10:58 to go in the half. The Bulldogs went 38 yards in eight plays and got on the board with a 41-yard field goal, narrowing the Michigan lead to 7-3 with 7:35 on the clock.

The Wolverines put together their longest drive of the night thus far at 47 yards on 11 plays, but stalled out on the FSU 27-yard line. Zvada made his first field goal attempt of the season from 45 yards out, extending the lead to 10-3 with 31 seconds to go before halftime. Fresno State would run one play for nine yards before the clock ran out, sending both teams to the locker room.

Michigan 10, Fresno State 3

Third quarter

Michigan started the half on offense, putting together a scoring drive right out of the locker room. The group marched 38 yards in 10 plays before Zvada’s second field goal of the night – a 53-yarder – extended the lead to 13-3 with 9:21 to go in the third quarter.

The teams traded punts over the next three possessions, the last of which came from Fresno State down to the Michigan 37-yard line with 1:10 left in the third quarter. The clock ran out on the third with the Wolverines driving at their 48-yard line.

Michigan 13, Fresno State 3

Fourth quarter

The Wolverines put more points on the board with another Zvada field goal, this time from 55 yards out, with 12:42 to go in the contest after a nine-play, 26-yard drive. The score pushed Michigan’s lead to 16-3 over the Bulldogs. Fresno State had an answer for it, though, putting together a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive with 10:06 to play to narrow Michigan’s lead to 16-10. The drive was capped off by a Mikey Keene touchdown pass to Raylen Sharpe from 17 yards out.

The Wolverines responded with a 75-yard drive of their own, thanks to a steady diet of graduate running back Kalel Mullings and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Warren to junior tight end Colston Loveland. After Zvada’s extra point, U-M led 23-10 with 5:43 to go.

Fresno mounted a drive that was filled with poor calls and Michigan miscues, driving down to the 10-yard line before Keene threw a pick-six to junior cornerback Will Johnson with 3:57 remaining. After the extra point, the Wolverines pushed their lead to 30-10.

The Bulldogs’ final offensive drive went nowhere, punting down to the Michigan 18-yard line with 19 seconds left. U-M kneeled and ran the clock out, securing a win.

Michigan 30, Fresno State 10

Michigan vs. Fresno State final box score