In 1927, Michigan compiled a 6–2 record with Bennie Oosterbaan winning All-American honors for the third consecutive year.

The 1927 team also included All-Big Ten Conference honorees Louis Gilbert at halfback and Ray Baer at guard.

Oosterbaan, Gilbert, and Baer graduated in 1928, leaving coach Tad Wieman to rebuild the core of his team with new personnel.

The Detroit News reported, "While no official word of any eruption has been issued, it is well known in inner circles that Wieman is in rebellion and thinking seriously of leaving Ann Arbor.

[5] In late October 1928, the athletic department issued a joint statement from Wieman and Yost denying any estrangement and noting that their relationship was too long and intimate to be jeopardized by "any minor misunderstandings.

Michigan's lone touchdown was set up when Danny Holmes intercepted a pass and returned the ball to the Ohio Wesleyan two-yard line.

[6] The Ohio Wesleyan band played "that old familiar air, 'We Don't Give a D--m for the Whole State of Michigan'" as it marched onto the field.

[6] According to another account, Ohio Wesleyan coach George Gauthier, a Michigan State alumnus, led his team in singing the song in the locker room before the game began.

Harry Bullion of the Detroit Free Press criticized Michigan's tackling and blocking and described the match as "a listless game".

[12] The Indianapolis Star described the game as "the greatest football day in Indiana's history within recent years.

[19] Joe Gembis scored the game's only points in the first quarter on a field goal from placement from the 35-yard line.

Gembis' field goal was set up when Alvin Dahlem intercepted a pass and returned it to the Illini 20-yard line.

[18] The outcome proved to be the only defeat for Robert Zuppke's Illini during the 1928 season, as Illinois won the Big Ten championship and shut out Northwestern, Chicago, and Ohio State.

After a scoreless first half, Johnny Gannon of Navy returned the second-half kickoff for 72 yards to Michigan's eight-yard lines.

Michigan tied the game in the fourth quarter when backup fullback Stanley Hozer led a 50-yard drive culminating with a short touchdown run.

[21] One newspaper account described the new jerseys, unveiled for the Navy game, as "screeching yellow" and "of almost a screaming canary" color.

Despite the victory, Harry Bullion wrote in the Detroit Free Press that Michigan "played one of the worst football games they ever thought the system in force at Ann Arbor could display to public scrutiny.