[1] Since leaving the Big Ten Conference, Michigan had played annual rivalry games against Penn at or near the end of the season.

[2] In June 1912, the Detroit Free Press wrote that, with eight varsity letter winners returning from the 1911 team, Michigan's football prospects were the "brightest in years.

"[3] In early August 1912, invitations were sent to candidates for the football team for training camp at Ferry Field in mid-September.

[7][8] Stung by fumbles in past years, Coach Yost posted a sign on the door of the training house at Ferry Field that read, "No butterfingers need apply.

"[9] On September 23, 1912, the Detroit Free Press reported from training camp that one of the Michigan players had broken the program's marathon eating record.

"[10] After the contest, Michigan's trainer Stephen Farrell aid, "More could not have been asked," to which the person in charge of feeding the team replied, "More would not have been given.

"[10] On the day before the season opener, Coach Yost declined to give the press his final starting lineup.

However, questions remained as to whether Yost would start Herbert Huebel or Michael Boyle at quarterback and Miller Pontius or Roy Torbet at left end.

[12] The game was played in hot weather in front of a crowd totaling somewhat over 6,000 persons at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor.

The Detroit Free Press wrote that the heat slowed both teams and "made anything except pop hard work.

"[13] Halfback Jimmy Craig and fullback George C. Thomson were the principal ground gainers for Michigan.

The Free Press praised Craig for his "wonderful 'crooked' running" and Thomson for his accurate forward passing, solid defense, and for "hitting the line like a wild engine.

Michigan scored eight touchdowns in the game, two each by Jimmy Craig and Tommy Hughitt and one each by George C. Thomson, Herbert Huebel, Charles Barton, and Thomas Bushnell.

The day before the game, E. A. Batchelor described the condition of the field in the Detroit Free Press: "Judging by the condition of the Standard Oil stadium tomorrow's football game between Michigan and Syracuse is more likely to be a test of seamanship than of speed, strength and strategy.

Syracuse is rather tickled over the especially fine crop of mud now ripening in the stadium, but Yost doesn't like it a bit.

"[26] Michigan took a 7–0 lead in the first quarter on a 70-yard scoring drive capped with a three-yard run by fullback George C. Thomson and an extra point by Herbert Huebel.

Michigan center Charles Barton was blamed for five bad long snaps to Thomson that "proved disastrous for the Ann Arborites.

[27][28] In the fifth week of the season, Michigan defeated the South Dakota Coyotes by a 7–6 score at Ferry Field.

[30] In the Detroit Free Press, E. A. Batchelor wrote that South Dakota was an "unknown quantity," and the game was "impossible to 'dope'.

Herbert Huebel ran for Michigan's first touchdown, and George C. Paterson kicked the extra point.

In the second quarter, Thomson scored again, and Paterson kicked the extra point to give Michigan a 21–0 lead.

In the fourth quarter, Penn cut Michigan's lead to 21–20 but missed the extra point attempt that would have tied the game.

Michigan's final touchdown was scored by Huebel on a 55-yard punt return in the last minute of the game.

[41][43] At the end of the 1912 season, Miller Pontius was the only Michigan player to receive first-team All-America honors.