In its first season under head coach William McCauley, the team compiled a 9–1–1 record and outscored its opponents by a combined score of 244 to 84.

The win over Cornell "marked the first time in collegiate football history that a western school defeated an established power from the east.

The first was Charles A. Baird, manager of the football team who later became Michigan's first athletic director and was the person who hired Fielding H. Yost in 1901.

In 1894, Baird hired William McCauley, who had played at the tackle position on Princeton's championship team in 1893, as Michigan's head football coach.

At a mass meeting held last month great enthusiasm was shown by students, and several hundred dollars was [sic] raised for the team.

"[3]Several players returned in 1894 from the 1893 team, including quarterback and team captain James Baird, halfbacks Gustave Ferbert, Horace Dyer, and George Dygert, guard "Pa" Heninger, center C. H. Smith, end Henry Senter, and tackle Giovanni "Count" Villa.

Four minutes into the second half, the Military Academy executed a double pass, and Burrows ran around end for a touchdown, with Deering again kicking goal.

Eleven minutes later, Michigan tied the score on a short touchdown carry by fullback George Dygert and goal kick by Bloomingston.

[8] Left halfback Gustave Ferbert scored Michigan's first and second touchdowns, and the kick for goal failed each time.

[16] The Detroit Free Press also praised left halfback Gustave Ferbert for having consistently "wriggled" away from the Case tacklers and covered himself in glory.

On the opening kickoff, Ferbert "made a pretty run of 20 yards," and Michigan drove the distance of the field for a touchdown.

[23] The Detroit Free Press reported: "Despite a cold bleak day, 5,000 people witnessed the contest and pronounced it the best ever seen in Kansas City.

The Detroit Free Press described the commotion created by the large crowd arriving by train: "Striking Woodward avenue this advance column made policemen for blocks prick up their ears for a moment by their yells and onward the legions filed .

[29] Michigan scored a touchdown in the first half on a series of tackle plays in which Senter, Ferbert, Villa, Dyer and Bloomingston participated.

The Detroit Free Press described the efforts of Michigan's yell-master to incite the crowd:"Stationed at regular intervals along the line were the howling master and his worthy assistants.

At first these yells could be heard nearly to Grand Circus park, but in the last ten minutes of play the real enjoyment was in watching the facial movements of the howlers.

Their voices had been wafted away by the gentle breezes and all that was left was a rasping, guttural sound accompanied by an expression of determination but nothing vocal to carry it out.

"[29] A group of 500 students, stretching a block in length, towed a large green bus carrying the team from the athletic grounds.

The team was entertained by a vaudeville show while seated in the boxes at the Whitney Opera House, which was decorated with chrysanthemums and colored ribbons.

According to an account in the Detroit Free Press, the city was given over to "the U. of M. boys" for the night: "Wherever one turned he was confronted with the din and tumult; the ear-splitting yells from throats with vocal chords of extraordinary vibratory possibilities.

"[29] Many of the city's residents were reportedly entertained by the spectacle: "Heretofore some idea of college boys had only been gleaned from a minstrel performance ...

I think the benefit of victory lies in the cultivation of this broad, generous university spirit that pervades all departments and makes us feel here one interest and common joy.

Brought together, as in Buffalo, to celebrate this foot-ball victory, our graduates have felt the old fire of enthusiasm for their grand old University, and have formed permanent alumni associations, the value and importance of which is bound to be great.

"[36]On Thanksgiving Day, November 29, 1894, Michigan closed its 1894 season with a 6–4 victory over Amos Alonzo Stagg's Chicago Maroons.

[37][38] An account published in the Detroit Free Press described the atmosphere surrounding the game: "The east and south sides of the field were lined with tally-hos, landaus, etc.

"[39] Michigan's team was accompanied onto the field by "a little negro mascot" of 8 to 10 years who wore a uniform of blue on one side and yellow on the other.

[37] Michigan won the game on a touchdown drive late in the second half that featured long runs by Senter and LeRoy.

[38] Near the end of the game, Bloomingston narrowly missed a field goal attempt from the 40-yard line, with the ball passing just under the cross bar.

"[40][37] In another account, the Detroit Free Press complained of biased officiating by the umpire, Phil Allen, who was a cousin of Chicago's captain.

In an article on Inter-Collegiate Athletics in the Middle West, Reuben M. Strong of Oberlin College wrote, "Michigan University, without doubt, deserves the honors of first place in foot-ball for '94.