In its first season under head coach Frank Barbour, the team compiled a 7–5 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 298 to 170.

George Jewett, credited with playing his "usual brilliant running game," scored Michigan's first touchdown and kicked the goal.

was Ralph Waldo Emerson Hayes (right end), Willard W. Griffin (right tackle), Charles Thomas (right guard), Frank F. Harding (center rush), Virgil Tupper (left guard), Frank Henry Decke (left tackle), Woodruff [Paul Woodworth?]

The Detroit Free Press wrote afterward that the Michigan team "seems pretty well equipped this year" and added: "From the looks of some of them in the dressing room they have been tackling locomotives and other tough obstacles around the college town, but, like the veterans in the army, they only seem to relish it all the more when once bruised and broken up.

The newspaper described the crowd's reaction to a tackle of Jewett: "Diving in between two of the Michigan men, he grasped the negro by the legs and brought him down.

The team spent Sunday afternoon with alumni in St. Paul and visited Minnehaha Falls on Monday morning.

[15] Michigan's starting center Frank Harding was unable to play due to the injury he sustained against Wisconsin.

The Detroit Free Press's account of the game reported that Michigan was "badly outclassed at center and could not withstand Minnesota's rush.

"[16] The Minneapolis Tribune noted that "Jewett, Ann Arbor's colored phenomenon at half-back, could win the game alone with half a chance.

On the opening drive, he ran around the end for 40 yards, McAllister scored on the next play, and Jewett kicked goal to give Michigan a 6–0 lead.

[19] According to the Detroit Free Press, the Wolverines "did sharp work" for the first 15 minutes of the game, scoring all 18 points in that time.

[18] On Monday, October 24, 1892, Michigan lost to Purdue, 24–0, before a crowd of 2,500 spectators at Stuart Field in Lafayette, Indiana.

Michigan sustained multiple injuries, and team captain George Dygert was injured on Purdue's fourth touchdown run.

The Detroit Free Press described a spate of injuries that eventually led to the game's early termination: "Michigan's team was crippled at several points as it went on the field.

At the opening of the second half McAllister had his leg so strained that he gave his place to Woodworth, Southworth playing end.

Players appearing in the game solely as substitutes for Michigan were Bird (right guard), Freund (right halfback), and Southworth (left end).

The Michigan team arrived in Chicago shortly before 8 p.m. on Friday evening and spent the night at the Tremont Hotel.

[24] Early in the game, Michigan's left tackle Frank Decke recovered a fumble and returned it for a touchdown.

The Chicago Daily Tribune noted: "In the second half, Jewett the big colored halfback of Ann Arbor, made a number of brilliant rushes.

"[24] The Detroit Free Press reported that "Bray, Jewett and Decke carried off the honors for the U. of M."[25] After the game, a large celebration took place on the Northwestern campus in a square on Davis Street.

[26] The Detroit Free Press reported: "The university team played a sprinting game, nearly every touchdown being made after long runs and skillful dodging.

[27] Contemporaneous newspaper accounts do not detail which players scored Michigan's 10 touchdowns, though Jewett, Dygert, and Leonard were credited with long runs.

Michigan's left guard Jefferis received a "vicious kick" in the back, the sound of which could be heard in the grandstand.

Michigan's right end Hayes accused Albion's fullback Mulholland of putting fingers in his mouth and trying "to tear him.

[29] Michigan reportedly made good gains through center, "used the wedge effectively" and "tackled hard, but guarded poorly and fumbled continually.

A group of 300 traveled by train from Ann Arbor, escorted the team to Boody House, and "showed Toledo how college boys take a city by storm.

[32][33] On November 19, 1892, Michigan played a close game against an undefeated Oberlin team led by player-coach John Heisman.

[35] The U. of M. Daily opined that Oberlin had played a strong game but had "neutralized the good impression" by "leaving the field several minutes before time was up.

Umpire Prettyman had the time and says that Mr. Ensworth did not take out a four minutes wait during the latter part of the half when one of the players was recovering from an injury.

The athletic competition which is now awakening will rouse a more active display of their latent enthusiasm, and it will do it without sacrificing the real and more serious purpose of the University.