Your Michigan Road & Non-Michigan Game List
Since we're in the middle of the dog days of (almost) summer I thought I'd ask the mgobloggers to list the Michigan road football games they've attended as well as any non-Michigan P5 games as well.
I moved away from Michigan in 2000 and that was the catalyst for me to start quenching my thirst for college football games outside of Ann Arbor. My goal is to hit all the big P5 stadiums at some point. I have knocked off quite a few, but have a long way to go.
I plan to go to Michigan @ Nebraska this fall to check off that box. You'll also notice that I've been to several LSU home games. My best friend moved there in 2009 so I have gone to several big games there, including last year's big upset of Alabama.
Michigan Road/Neutral Games:
1997 – Indiana W
1998 Rose Bowl W
1999 – Wisconsin W
2000 – UCLA L goalposts came down
2000 – Purdue L goalposts came down
2000 – Northwestern L goalposts came down
2000 team finished 9-3. Losses by a combined 7 points. My friends urged me to stop traveling for Michigan games. I didn’t take their advice.
2001 Washington L
2004 ND L
2004 Purdue W
2007 Rose Bowl L
2009 Iowa L
2012 Sugar Bowl W
2012 Alabama (Dallas) L
2012 ND L
2012 Purdue W
2013 Northwestern W
2014 ND L
2015 Utah L
2018 ND L
2022 Orange Bowl L
P5 Stadiums:
Michigan
Notre Dame
Georgia
Arkansas
North Carolina
Florida v. Georgia (Jacksonville)
Oklahoma State
Indiana
MSU
Wisconsin
Iowa
Purdue
Northwestern
Cal
Stanford
Washington
Utah
USC
UCLA
Tennessee
LSU ~ 15 times
Texas A&M
Texas
Arizona State
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
I plan to head down to Rutger for the Michigan game.
I did that the year of 78-0 and despite so-so weather, it was a perfectly fine day-trip that was easy to do as part of a long weekend in NYC and obviously being there for a legendary drubbing was a blast.
I'm from NYC but live in Vermont, so it's a great excuse to visit for a few days.
Impressive list. I'm going to hit SDSU at end of August and clap clap for our old friend Brady Hoke. Dragonfly Stadium or some shit?
Yeah I'll probably check that one off as it's 5 miles from me.
2005 @ Northwestern W
2006 @ Minnesota W
2007 @ Illinois W
2008 @ Purdue L
2010 @ Indiana W
2011 @ Iowa L
2012 vs. Alabama L
2013 @ PSU L
2014 @ Rutgers L
2015 @ Minnesota W
2016 @ MSU W
2017 @ Maryland W
2019 @ Wisconsin L
2021 @ Nebraska W
2021 @ MSU L
2021 vs. Iowa W
2021 vs. Georgia L
2022 @ Ohio State W
2022 vs. TCU L
Win / Loss trade offs the last 8 games. Can I encourage you to go to the PSU game this season to ensure victory?! Make that your only 2023 trip
I have been to all current 14 Big Ten stadiums to see Michigan play. Outside of that I have seen some non-Michigan related MAC games and MSU games. I went to the MSU Wisconsin hail mary game.
2021 W @ Wisconsin
2021 L @ MSU
2021 W @ PSU
2022 W @ Iowa
2022 W @ Indiana
2022 W @ Ohio State
2022 W Big Ten Championship
2023 I'll be going to: Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State, Penn State, and Maryland
EDIT: Also went to the 2009 MAC Championship
I live in SW Indiana, usually make 1 home game a year
Away Games
Indiana (multiple times)
Purdue (multiple times)
Illinois
Neutral site
vs Alabama in Jerry World(wife's cousin lives in McKinney
vs Mississippi State Gator Bowl (wife has a cousin in Jacksonville)
Non-Michigan games
Baylor @ TCU 2017
Nebraska @ Indiana 2016
North Dakota State @ Indiana State 2022
Bucket List
Any game @ Wisconsin
Any game @ Penn State
Any game @ Nebraska
Any game @ Alabama
Any game @ Ole Miss
Rose Bowl
Michigan @ Texas
Michigan @ Oklahoma
I still haven't gone to a Michigan road game. The 2020 UW game was going to be the first. Hopefully ticket prices won't be too obscene for 2024 at USC because a weekend trip from Seattle to the rest of the Big Ten is kind of a PITA.
I'm also trying to make it to all the best stadium environments in the next decade or so. Trying to get to the OSU at Notre Dame game this year, and Michigan at PSU. Here's my list for top tier places to see a game - am I missing anything?
Penn State, OSU, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Notre Dame, then maybe one level down Clemson, Florida, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, FSU. I've been to the first two, and the next two I'll go to when Michigan plays there in the next few years, but to see the others I'll have to just pick some interesting game there to go to sometime I guess
Great list. I'd add Washington. USC is kinda cool, they tailgate pretty hard and the eye candy is nice. A&M is interesting, if for nothing else than to watch the weird yell leader crap and the student section swaying back and forth to saw em off. Ole Miss for the tailgate/eye candy as well.
Great list. I'd add Washington. USC is kinda cool, they tailgate pretty hard and the eye candy is nice. A&M is interesting, if for nothing else than to watch the weird yell leader crap and the student section swaying back and forth to saw em off. Ole Miss for the tailgate/eye candy as well.
I've been attending road games on a regular basis since 1992. I'm too lazy to type the whole list, but will give some highlights:
I've seen us play in every other current Conference FB venue at least once (02 @OSU), and in many cases multiple times (every @MSU game since 1993).
Attended every game of the 1997 season: home, away, and 98 Rose Bowl.
Other notable road games include 96 Colorado, 98 Hawaii, 99 Syracuse, 01 Wash, 02 NDp, and 03 Oregon.
EDIT: Non-Michigan games: 04 Miss St @Alabama and 18 Army-Navy @Philly
Planning to see us @USC next year....
Not P5 but I'm a Ohio Bobcat season ticket holder. I love going to the games then coming home and watching a recorded Michigan game. I am debating an going to a Michigan game this season, haven't been since 2010, but if tickets are over $100 I'll probably pass
If I lived in a MAC town (Athens, Muncie, etc.) season tickets to MACtion would be a no-brainer.
looking at your list made me realize that i've been to a bunch, many of the same as yours. i wouldn't get many of the years right, but let's see how far i get:
sparty, ND, SDSU, IU, NW, USC, UCLA, U of A, ASU, Cal, stanford and UNC and a number of D-1A and D-II places
I add a sticker to my cooler (in order of appearance). Headed to Minnesota this fall.
Also, been to just about every Bowl Michigan has played at in the state of Florida, the Rose, and AT&T/Jerryworld for the clash with the menstruating pachyderms.
I was at the Rutgers 78-0 drubbing.
I go to the Maryland vs Michigan game in College Park every 2 years. This year we have a group of UM (the good one) fans going to tailgate. Its always so damn late in the season.. and so damn cold! But, my son and I go without fail.
I saw UM bball vs WVU years ago up in Brooklyn.
I had an offer my freshman year, 1997, to go to PSU with a group of peeps - I didn't know what that was all about, so I passed. We did kinda well that year down there!
No plans this year, but if anyone can get to a game at West Point, I highly recommend the trip. Plan to play the WP golf course if you play. Absolutely beautiful campus - not to mention the history
Been to MSU and Indiana for non-Michigan games. Attended Sugar Bowl 2012 and (most of) the Alabama game in Texas. Also was at the 2021 Big Ten Championship.
Side note: in 2014 I attended three events in Michigan Stadium (Winter Classic, graduation, Man U vs Real Madrid) but no football games. I don't think I missed much in Hoke's last season.
I live on the east coast now so I usually go to whichever of Rutgers/Maryland is away in a given year. Given the number of M alumni in NY and DC and the, uhhh, disinterest of the home fans, those are road games in name only.
I seen Michigan on the road against every current B1G opponent and seen Michigan play USC and UCLA at the Rose Bowl. I've been to every current B1G venue but the fka TCF Stadium - I saw play the Gophers when they played in the Metrodome. I can't remember every time but I've seen us play at Indiana, Iowa, Staee, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State and Rutger only once and I've been to Illinois, Maryland Northwestern, Ohio, Purdue and Wisconsin multiple times. I've been to South Bend five times but may stop going because I haven't done anything to help the cause. I've also been to the Orange Bowl, 3 Outback Bowls, Citrus Bowl and Gator Bowl. I haven't been to too many college football games without Michigan in it - I've been to the 1986 Orange Bowl and last year's Toledo-OSU game.
Been to some basketball and hockey road games and playoff games and been to MSG for both. Seen softball and WBB at Staee. Men's Soccer at Oakland and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
1999 -- MSU L
2000 -- Orange Bowl/Alabama -- W
2000 -- Northwestern L (incredible game -- 54-51)
2001 -- MSU L (Spartan Bob).
I'm just combining bowls and regular season
2002 -- Notre Dame L
2003 -- Northwestern -- W
2004 -- Rose Bow/USC L
2006 -- Notre Dame W
2006 -- Ohio State L
2007 -- Rose Bowl/USC L
2008 -- Notre Dame L
2013 -- Outback Bowl/South Carolina L
2015 -- Minnesota W
2017 -- Maryland W
2019 -- Maryland W
2022 -- Orange Bowl/Georgia -- L
That game @Northwestern in 2000 was painful to watch on TV. It must have been excruciating in person.
My wife is a NW fan (her dad did undergrad there, she was born in Evanston). We were married less than a year, living in Chicago, and had all of her Cat fan family and my Michigan family (25+ people) at that game together. Miserable indeed. Plus, I worked across the street from Dyche/Ryan so was reminded every day of that loss.
My favorites… on the road… Columbus, Evanston, State College, South Bend, and Madison. I’ve also been to East Lansing, Bloomington, Iowa City, and West Lafayette.
Few things are more enjoyable than a win in South Bend or Columbus.
@ Minnesota (both Metrodome & The Bank) several times
@ Iowa several times
@ Wisconsin several times
@ tOSU for the tie.
@ UCLA for the loss in 2000. 110 F.
@ Oregon for the loss in 2003.
Michigan VS Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl for the win!
Rose bowl 2005
Both Jerry world games
Michigan at
Maryland 2015
MSU 2009
Nebraska both games
Indiana 2019
Big ten championship 2022
Army v Navy 2011
East Lansing 1985 W 31-0
1991 W 45-28
1999 L 31-34
2003 W 27-20
2005 W 34-31 (OT)
2009 L 20-26 (OT)
2018 W 21-7
Iowa City 1991 W 43-24
2005 W 23-20 (OT)
Columbus 1992 Tie 13-13
2002 L 9-14
Madison 1993 L 10-13 (Tradgedy in the stands after fans rush field)
2005 L 20-23
Champaign 1994 W 19-14
2002 W 45-28
West Lafayette 1996 L 6-9 (Will Carr fumble in the endzone)
2000 L 31-32 (Drew Brees)
2004 W 16-14
2012 W 44-13 (Denard)
Bloomington 1999 W 34-31 (Antwaan Randle El)
State College 2001 W 20-0
Evanston 1998 W 12-6 (Tom Brady- Rain, Rain, Rain)
2005 W 33-17
2007 W 28-16
2011 W 42-24
2013 W 27-19 (3 OT) (Drew Dileo slide in to hold game tying FG @ 0.00)
2018 W 20-17 (justice after phantom holding call)
Piscataway 2014 L 24-26 (The end of Brady Hoke)
Minneapolis 2015 W 29-26 (goal line stand at the buzzer)
BOWL GAMES - 2003 Outback in Tampa Michigan 38- Florida 30
2021 Orange Bowl CFP Michigan 11- Georgia 34
Non Michigan Games
1983 Bloomington, IN Purdue 31- Indiana 30 (Old Oaken Bucket)
1991 Columbus, OH OSU 33 - Washington St. 14 (Jason Hanson WSU kicker)
2004 East Lansing Ohio State 32 - MSU 19 (UM Bye Week)
2012 Rose Bowl Oregon 38- Wisconsin 31 (Russell Wilson)
Several nice memorable wins in there with a couple utterly miserable losses
2023 trip to Lincoln Nebraska is on the books.
solid.
I've been to:
Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern
Rose Bowl
I think that's probably it, and I haven't been to a road game in about 20 years. For that matter it's been 7 years since I've been to a home game.
Also went to LSU-Auburn in Baton Rouge a number of years ago. Night game, lots of tailgating, big fun. Highly recommended if you have the opportunity.
I went to a Cal game and it was surprisingly delightful. Gameday atmosphere was real and dominated the campus in a way I'd been led to not expect. Stadium was small and maybe 3/4 fill (I think they beat Utah, this was 2016), but is also beautiful. Gorgeous campus with a huge state park right behind the town. Truly just a delight.
Been to ND, Wiscy, Sparty, OSU, Evanston and Rutgers. ND, Wiscy, Sparty and OSU felt familiar. I liked at the time how we didn't have piped in music when they did, gave me a smug feeling of superiority. Rutgers, NW both felt like less. Went to an Auburn game once in the same era, mid-aughts. My only SEC game. It was everything you've heard. Things that were different that I was neutral about - the coeds dressed rather formal. Things that were different that I'd borrow: Vanderbilt's band traveled for just a random conference game. Apparently that's default in the SEC, should be in the Big Ten too.
Michigan Games NOT at the Big House
1998 Rose Bowl v Wazzu - W
1998 @ Northwestern - W
2000 @ Northwestern - L
2003 @ Northwestern - W
2004 @ Purdue - W
2005 @ Northwestern - W
2007 @ Northwestern - W
2011 @ Northwestern - W
2013 @ Northwestern - W
2014 @ Northwestern - W
2018 @ Northwestern - W
2021 B1G Title v Iowa - W
2022 B1G Title v Purdue - W
(my wife and I have been to every Michigan v Northwestern game since 1998)
Other CFB Games
1987 Indiana @ Michigan State - MSU W 27-3
2010 Utah @ Notre Dame - ND W 28-3
2021 Indiana @ Western Kentucky - IU W 33-31
I've see Michigan in all the B1G schools except: Iowa, msu, osu, Psu, Maryland, USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington
Nebraska is this year.
I also saw Michigan play Bama at Jerry World
Only other football stadiums have been to are, Toledo and Bowling Green
Michigan Road Games:
2019 Wisconsin L
2022 Rutgers W
P5:
2018 Ohio State at Michigan State - funny story, coworker who’s an OSU fan won suite tickets, and yes I wore Michigan gear
2019 Arizona at USC
2021 Stanford at Vanderbilt
2022 UL Monroe at Alabama
2022 Arkansas at BYU
tentatively planning to go to Minnesota and or Maryland this year, and thinking about checking out a Tennessee, Louisville, and Kentucky game (I live in Nashville burbs and those are all 3 hours driving distance)
I've gone to road games at all the pre-expansion B1G venues (including both the Dome and TCF Stadiums in Minneapolis, a total of 28 conference road games. Michigan has a 25-3 road record in conference games I've attended:
Alphabetically, here's how Michigan has fared in those games:
@ Illinois 1-0 (2019)
@ Iowa 0-1 (2016)
@ Indiana 4-0 (1992, 2015, '17, '19)
@ Staee 1-0 (Butch Woolfolk running wild, 38-20 win 1981)
@ Minny 2-0 (Dome in 1983, TCF in 2015)
@ N U 8-0 (1978, '82, '88, '98, 2003, '11, '13, '14)
@ an OSU 1-0 (1990. 1st of John Cooper's many brain farts, a 16-13 MEEEEECHIGAN Victory
@ Purdue 7-1 (wins in 1981, '86, '90, '2002, '04, '12, and '17, the lone loss an embarrassment in 2008 when RichRod ruined Scott Shaeffer's defense)
@ Wisconsin 1-1 (loss in 1981, win in 1983)
The only non-conference road venue I've attended for a Michigan game is at Notre Dame: Wins in 1986 and 2010, a loss in 2004, so
@ ND 2-1
My Bowl record: YUCK! (0-2 in Bowl Games)
-A Gator Bowl loss to N Carolina when a dirty hit disabled John Wangler
-A Peach Bowl loss to Florida
B1G Championship Games: Wins over Iowa and over Purdue at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Most of the non-Michigan football games I've attended include roughly 15-20 WMU games at Waldo Stadium, one WMU @CMU game at Kelley-Shorts Stadium in Mt Pleasant, a WMU MAC Championship game @ Ford Field, and the huge WMU upset of the Pitt Panthers in 2021 at Heinz Field. Otherwise, there's only been a 2022 Ferris State playoff game, and one GVSU home game almost 40 years ago.
I'm tentatively planning my first-ever B1G trips this season to Nebraska and/or Penn Staee. Also possible is (finally!) my 2nd Michigan @ Staee game. And maybe some WMU MACtion this coming November. Even possibly a first-ever visit to The Factory this fall when WMU invades Ypsilanti?
Other than the relatively short trips for me to Kalamazoo, hitting a non-Michigan road game has been difficult to do over the years. As a Michigan season ticket holder since 1977, there's only so many free Saturdays.
Attended road games at all original Big 10 schools except Iowa & Minnesota. Added Maryland in 2019 blowout. It was all M fans in the second half.
Three visits to South Bend. Best road game was regular season v UCLA in the Rose Bowl, where we trailed by 9 with under a minute to go. Scored, recovered the onside kick and kicked the game winning FG!
Best road trips are Madison and South Bend. Worst is obvious Columbus is such a cesspool. And dangerous. My two “favorite” memories: the city having to remove the top of the old fashioned parking meters on High Street prior to the game weekend because, win or lose, they would be smashed to smithereens. The other touching moment was walking past a very elderly lady with her back to us doing yard work on game day. When she turned around, she displayed a scarlet and gray sweatshirt that read, Fuck Michigan.
Sparty - many times, including once when a cooler was thrown at me way back when Rick Leach was QBing M to a win.
Iowa - the #1 v #2 game. The loss still hurts
Wisc - back when they were no good but still had a fun time
Minn - at the old Metrodome; a good M running back injured his knee on that awful turf
NW - lost that one on a last minute fg
Purdue - had a great time at Purdue. An usher let us into to the basketball arena to look around. Great tailgating. I thought the campus was better than people say.
Indiana - last year. Great warm day. Scary Mike Hart thing. Had a good steak in Bloomington at an old place that I can't remember the name of
ND - my ND fan neighbors took us to see Denard lead the way to a win.
Oh, on a trip our east I veered off I80 to see Beaver Stadium. Yes it looks like an erector set and yes, it is in the middle of nowhere
2018 @ MSU W
2019 @ Illinois W
2021 @ Maryland W
2021 B1GCG W
2022 @ Iowa W
2023 will be @ Minnesota