~Michigan Football Uniform Timeline~

Scroll down for a timeline of Michigan football team uniform changes. Notes are restricted to helmet, jersey, and pants changes but include variations of colors, designs, patches, decals, logos, etc.  

For the Michigan Helmet Stickers Catalog, click here. For historical uniform changes follow the links by era:

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


January 8, 2024 | Houston, TX | College Football Playoff National Championship vs. Washington

Note: As the higher seed, Michigan is designated as the home team.

JERSEY/PANTS: Team will wear blue jersey, blue pants with blue sleeves/socks for the game. CFP logo inside ‘2024’ will be placed on the left chest above the Nike Jumpman logo:

HELMET: The team is awarded a stylized decal with the Rose Bowl logo for all-time program win #1003 (vs. Alabama in the Rose Bowl, CFP Semi-Final 1/1/2024).

January 1, 2024 | Pasadena, CA | The Rose Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Alabama

Note: As the higher seed, Michigan is designated as the home team.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears (home) blue jersey, maize pants with white socks/sleeves. Details:

  • The Rose Bowl bowl/sponsor patch is placed on the right chest below the B1G logo.
  • Shoulders feature silk-screened designs with lettering above and below a Block M including a Rose Bowl logo. Right: ‘Big Ten Champs’ in script above, ‘Back to Back to Back’ below. Left: ‘Rose Bowl’ in script above, ‘2024’ below.
  • Jersey (left chest) and pants (left hip) feature the Nike diamond (silver) Jumpman logo, used exclusively for CFP playoff games. [Original below photo via Maize & Blue Nation]

HELMET: The team wears a large CFP logo sticker on the back middle of the helmet:

HELMET: The team is awarded a stylized decal in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy (including the B1G logo) for all-time program win #1002 (vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game 12/2/22).

HELMET: A new sticker reading ‘MVP’ awarded to players voted team Most Valuable Player at the annual Michigan Awards ceremony (also retroactively) worn by Blake Corum (2022 MVP) and J.J. McCarthy (2023):

December 2, 2023 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Iowa

Note: As the East Division champion Michigan is designated as the away team.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears white jersey, white pants and white socks/sleeves.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal that reads ‘THE GAME’ 1001 for all-time program win #1001 (vs. Ohio State 11/25/2023):

November 25, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Ohio State

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears blue jersey, blue pants and blue socks/sleeves.

HELMET: The team wears a new nosebumper above the facemask, blue with maize letters reading ‘MICH1GAN’ with large ‘1G‘ letters celebrating program win 1000.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #1000 (vs. Maryland 11/18/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors:

November 18, 2023 | College Park, MD | vs. Maryland

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears road white jerseys, and white pants (with blue socks/sleeves).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #999 (vs. Penn State 11/11/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 11, 2023 | State College, PA | vs. Penn State

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears road white jerseys, and maize pants (with maize socks/sleeves):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #998 (vs. Purdue 11/4/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 4, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Purdue

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears blue jerseys, and blue pants (with white socks/sleeves)

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #997 (vs. Michigan State 10/21/2023), with a silhouette Paul Bunyan Trophy logo.

HELMET: The team is issued a decal that reads ‘RAMPAGE 2023’ in honor of the team winning 8 straight games, a feat Jim Harbaugh describes as a “Rampage.”

HELMET: Given the team also won 8 straight games during one stretch in 2022, members of the 2022 team are also awarded a decal that reads ‘RAMPAGE 2022’ before this game:

October 21, 2023 | East Lansing, MI | vs. Michigan State

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears the road white jerseys, with blue pants (with blue socks):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #996 (vs. Indiana 10/14/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 14, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Indiana

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears blue jerseys with blue pants (with maize socks).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #995 (vs. Minnesota 10/7/2023), with a silhouette Little Brown Jug trophy logo. Includes variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 7, 2023 | Minneapolis, MN | vs. Minneapolis

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan wears the (Harbaugh era) traditional white jerseys/white pants (with white socks).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #994 (vs. Nebraska 9/30/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors.

September 30, 2023 | Lincoln, NE | vs. Nebraska

JERSEY/PANTS: For the first road game of 2023, Michigan wears the white road jersey with maize pants (with white socks):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #993 (vs. Rutgers 9/23/2023), including variations for game/unit MVP honors.

September 23, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Rutgers

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the traditional home blue/maize jersey & pants combination (with maize socks).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #992 (vs. Bowling Green 9/16/2023). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors:

HELMET: A new sticker appears that reads ‘GUARDIANS OF VICTORY’ on at least one player’s helmet, specific criteria to earn this award are unknown:

September 16, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Bowling Green

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the blue jersey & blue pants combination (with blue socks), the first at home since Nebraska 2022.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #991 (vs. UNLV 9/9/2023). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors:

September 9, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. UNLV

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the traditional home blue/maize jersey & pants combination (with white socks).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #990 (vs. East Carolina 9/2/2023). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors:

September 2, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. East Carolina

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the traditional home blue/maize jersey & pants combination (via maizenbluenation)

HELMET: Certain members of the team are awarded a sticker with the letters ‘EUTM’, for those demonstrating an Enthusiasm Unknown To Mankind:

April 1, 2023 | Ann Arbor, MI | Spring Football Game

HELMET: The Spring game reveals two helmet stickers that were issued following the season.

Participants in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl (the CFP semi-final) are awarded a decal that reads “Fiesta Bowl” above the bowl logo:

In addition, members of the 2022 offensive line are awarded a decal in recognition of Michigan’s line winning the 2022 Joe Moore Award. The sticker depicts the Joe Moore Award logo:

2022 Summary (see week-by-week details below)

December 31, 2022 | Glendale, AZ | Fiesta Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Texas Christian University

JERSEY: Michigan is designated as the home team, and will wear a blue jersey. Jersey features a bowl sponsor patch on the left chest. The Nike Jumpman changes to the “Diamond” silver/black outline logo on the left chest of the jersey.

PANTS: Michigan wears maize pants, which also feature the Nike Jumpman “Diamond” logo on the left hip.

HELMET: The team is awarded a stylized decal in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy (including B1G logo) for all-time program win #989 (vs. Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game 12/3/22).

In addition, the team wears a sticker honoring the passing of program friend Dametrius “Meechie” Walker, affixed to the back middle stripe of the helmet:

The team also wears the CFP logo affixed to the back middle stripe of the helmet:

December 3, 2022 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Purdue

Note: Michigan, as the East Division champion, is designated as the home team.
JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the blue/blue jersey & pants combination.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #988 (vs. Ohio State 11/26/2022) with a “THE GAME” specialized logo.

November 26, 2022 | Columbus, OH | vs. Ohio State

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the Harbaugh-era white/white jersey & pants combination (via mgoblue.com):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #987 (vs. Illinois 11/19/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 19, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Illinois

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the traditional blue/maize jersey & pants combination.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #986 (vs. Nebraska 11/12/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 12, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Nebraska

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the blue/blue jersey & pants combination.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #985 (vs. Rutgers 11/5/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 5, 2022 | Piscataway, NJ | vs. Rutgers

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the white/white jersey & pants combination for the first time in 2022.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal featuring a depiction of the Paul Bunyan Trophy, for all-time program win #984 (vs. Michigan State 10/29/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 29, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Michigan State

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the blue/blue jersey & pants combination.

Via Zoey Holstrom
Via Zoey Holstrom

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #983 (vs. Penn State 10/15/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 15, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Penn State

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears the blue/blue jersey & pants combination at home for the first time since the 2021 Ohio State game.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #982 (vs. Indiana 10/8/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 8, 2022 | Bloomington, IN | vs. Indiana

JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverts to the traditional road white jersey/maize pants combination. Via mgoblue.com:

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #981 (vs. Iowa 10/1/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

October 1, 2022 | Iowa City, IA | vs. Iowa

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears its traditional white away-game jersey, with blue pants.

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #980 (vs. Connecticut 9/24/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

September 24, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Maryland

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #979 (vs. Connecticut 9/17/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

Side note: The majority of the team wears maize socks/leggings for this game (via mgoblue.com):

September 17, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Connecticut

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #978 (vs. Colorado State 9/10/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

September 10, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Hawaii

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #977 (vs. Colorado State 9/3/2022). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

September 3, 2022 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Colorado State

JERSEY/PANTS: The team wears traditional home blue jerseys/maize pants combination.

HELMET: The team continued a tradition that began in 2021 of issuing helmet stickers of varying significance. New variations identified:

  • A sticker with the College Football Playoff logo (signifying Michigan’s 2021 appearance)
  • A new EQUALITY sticker replacing the 2021 (circular) version of the decal
  • A sticker honoring the 50th anniversary of the passage of Title IX legislation.

2021 Summary (see week-by-week details below):

December 31, 2021 | Miami, FL | Orange Bowl, College Football Playoff Semi-Final vs. Georgia

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan is designated as the home team, and wears blue jersey/blue pants. Jersey features a bowl sponsor patch on the right chest. The Nike Jumpman changes to the “Diamond” silver/black outline logo on the left chest of the jersey and the left hip of the pants.

The team again wears 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 is moved to the left chest.

HELMET: Team is awarded a stylized decal in the shape of the silver football atop the Big Ten Championship Trophy (including B1G logo) for all-time program win #976 (vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game 12/4/21). Click here for a full breakdown of each helmet sticker variation awarded in 2021.

HELMET: A new helmet sticker that depicts a Michigan letterman’s sweater is awarded to 2021 All-Americans.

HELMET: A new helmet sticker that depicts the Lou Groza Award appears on the helmet of 2021 Lou Groza Award winner, Michigan kicker Jake Moody:

HELMET: The team wears a College Football Playoff logo sticker affixed to the middle stripe on the back of the helmet. (The team also continues to wear the TM42 sticker on the lower back of the helmet.)

December 4, 2021 | Indianapolis, IN | Big Ten Championship Game vs. Iowa

JERSEY/PANTS: Michigan, as the Big Ten East Division representative in 2021, is designated as the road team and wears the road/white jersey and blue pants:

HELMET: Three (3) new decals appear on the helmet for this game:

(1) Michigan wears a helmet sticker in recognition of the Oxford, MI incident. The TM42 design is the same as the previously announced jersey patch (see Dec 2, 2021 update below) except without a dark border. This sticker is affixed to the center back stripe of the helmet.

(2) The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #975 (vs. Ohio State 11/27/21). The sticker reads ”THE GAME” and does not include the snarling wolverine.

(3) Aidan Hutchinson is awarded a sticker that reads “RECORD” in bold caps, presumably for Hutchinson setting the Michigan single-season sack record against Ohio State.

December 2, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | announced via Twitter

JERSEY: Michigan announces it will wear a special logo patch in the Big Ten Championship game 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” pay tribute to student-athlete Tate Myre, who died confronting the shooter. Four hearts honor each victim of the incident. The patch is manufactured by the Michigan equipment management team using extra maize game pants. It is placed on the front-right of the jersey:

Image

November 27, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Ohio State

PANTS: The team wears blue pants (with traditional blue home jerseys) for the second time in 2021 (the first at the September 11, 2021 game vs. Washington).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #974 (vs. Maryland 11/20/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 20, 2021 | College Park, MD | vs. Maryland

PANTS: The team wears blue pants (with traditional road white jerseys) for the second time in 2021 (the first at the October 2, 2021 game at Wisconsin).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #973 (vs. Penn State 11/13/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors.

November 13, 2021 | State College, PA | vs. Penn State

GENERAL NOTE: Michigan’s request to wear an all-maize uniform (jersey and pants) is denied by Penn State officials. The team again wears maize pants (with traditional road white jerseys) for the second time in 2021 (the first at the October 30, 2021 game at Michigan State). In presumed defiance of the denial, the team also wears maize socks and arm sleeves:

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #972 (vs. Indiana 11/6/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

October 30, 2021 | East Lansing, MI | vs. Michigan State

PANTS: Michigan wears maize pants on the road (with traditional white jersey) for the first time since October 21, 2017 (at Penn State).

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #971 (vs. Northwestern 10/23/21). The design features a depiction of George Jewett, following the pattern of a unique design for the other trophy-game stickers (Little Brown Jug, Paul Bunyan Trophy).

October 23, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Northwestern

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #970 (vs. Nebraska 10/9/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

October 9, 2021 | Lincoln, NE | vs. Nebraska

JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverts back to the traditional Harbaugh away uniform combination (white jersey/white pants):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #969 (vs. Wisconsin 10/2/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

October 2, 2021 | Madison, WI | vs. Wisconsin

PANTS: The team wears blue pants (with traditional white road jersey) for the first time in history for a road or neutral site game (via Madison.com):

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #968 (vs. Rutgers 9/25/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

September 25, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Rutgers

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #967 (vs. Northern Illinois 9/18/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

September 18, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Northern Illinois

HELMET: The team is awarded a decal for all-time program win #966 (vs. Washington 9/11/21). There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well.

JERSEY/PANTS: The team reverts back to the traditional home (blue jersey/maize paints):

September 11, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Washington

PANTS: The team wears blue pants at home (vs. the traditional maize). This is the debut of blue pants under a Nike contract, and the first appearance of the all-blue uniform since October 11, 2014 (Adidas) vs. Penn State.

HELMET: The team wears a red, white, and blue sticker for the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Placement is affixed to the middle stripe on the back of the helmet, The decal is 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:

HELMET: The team was awarded a decal for all-time program win #965 (vs. Western Michigan 9/4/21), highlighted in red above.

There are variations for game/unit MVP honors as well, highlighted in red below [photo via MBN]:

September 4, 2021 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Western Michigan

HELMET: The first set of personalized accomplishment stickers appear on team helmets. On August 10, 2021, associate athletic director Dave Ablauf confirmed to the Detroit News that players were presented with a series of helmet stickers with varying designs and meaning, 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.

This is a departure from the 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 is available:

(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 is the most common variation of the stickers featured on helmets.
(2) A sticker with the Big Ten Logo on a book, presumed to signify Academic all-conference honors for a particular player.
(3) A sticker depicting a Michigan varsity letterman’s jacket, presumed to signify a player earning their varsity letter for a season.
(4) A sticker with the depiction of a bowl game logo, signifying a player’s participation in that bowl game (win or lose). There are variations for the different bowl games Michigan has appeared in over the past several seasons.
(5) A sticker featuring the three-digit telephone area code from the player’s hometown.
(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.
(7) A sticker featuring a sword & shovel intersecting a Michigan football helmet. This is presumed to represent a team-related season MVP honor (not game-specific). 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. 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.
(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 is presumed to present a team-related game individual or unit honor. Specific rules for qualification are unknown.
(12) A sticker that reads “All B1G” presumed to signify all-conference honors for an individual player.
(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.]
(15) A sticker that reads “THE GAME” and with incremental program victory #975, for the 11/27/2021 win over Ohio State.
(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.
(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.
(18) A sticker featuring a depiction of the Lou Groza Award on the helmet of kicker Jake Moody.
(19) A sticker that reads “B1G MVP” awarded to 2021 Big Ten Conference’s most valuable player Aidan Hutchinson.

Note 1: The EQUALITY sticker (appeared during the 2020 season, scroll down below) remains on the helmet for the 2021 season.
Note 2: Given all decals feature a wolverine facing left, the team abandoned the rightward-facing wolverine decal (used for the right side of the helmet in recent seasons).

November 7, 2020 | Bloomington, IN | vs. Indiana

HELMET: #BIGVOTE decal, worn in the season opener at Minnesota, is removed from the helmet

October 31, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | vs. Michigan State

HELMET: In addition to the #B1GVOTE decal (announced 10/29/2020), a series of mini maize-colored block Ms appear on the helmets of a minority of players, presented vertically between the stripes on the back of the helmet. The significance of the decal is unknown.

October 29, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | via the U-M Athletic Department

HELMET: Via the official U-M Twitter account, the team will wear a #B1G Vote red, white and blue decal on the helmet for the October 31, 2020 game against Michigan State.

October 24, 2020 | Minneapolis, MN | vs. Minnesota

JERSEY: CFB 150 patch is removed from jersey.

Joe Milton against Minnesota 2020.

HELMET: “EQUALITY” decal appears on the helmet (see October 22, 2020 entry below)
JERSEY: For the first time in history, a Michigan player (WR Giles Jackson) wears the numeral 0 (zero) on the field.

Giles Jackson wears the number 0 for the first time in Michigan history.

October 22, 2020 | Ann Arbor, MI | Press Release/via Twitter

HELMET: The athletic department announces the team will wear a special decal on helmets during the 2020 season.

January 1, 2020 | Orlando, FL | Citrus Bowl vs. Alabama

JERSEY: Team wears road (white) jerseys with white pants. Jersey features bowl sponsor patch on left chest (via mgoblue.com):

HELMET: Team wears a large bowl sponsor patch on the back-center of helmet, atop the middle stripe (via mgoblue.com):


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.

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