In the first year of the Crisler era, the Wolverines compiled a 6–1–1 record and outscored opponents 131 to 40, allowing an average of only five points per game.
Three Wolverines, Ralph Heikkinen, halfback Tom Harmon and quarterback Forest Evashevski, were selected as first-team players on the 1938 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
[2] On February 9, 1938, Crisler announced his resignation at Princeton in order to assume the head coaching position at Michigan.
[11] On March 21, 1938, Crisler and his new coaching staff were formally introduced to Michigan's student body at a rally that drew a crowd of 4,500 persons.
Crisler told the students he had no "promises or predictions" but pledged that he would make "unqualified demands of 100 percent physical and moral courage" on his team.
[12] Later that month, with enthusiasm surrounding the hiring of Crisler, a record 115 candidates registered for Michigan's spring practice.
[13][14] As fall practice got underway, the media focused on the team's sophomore backfield, including halfbacks Tom Harmon and Paul Kromer and quarterback Forest Evashevski, each of whom had matriculated during Harry Kipke's tenure as head coach.
"[10] On the eve of the season opener against Michigan State, a capacity crowd was expected, and enthusiasm was running high in Ann Arbor, leading Arch Ward of the Chicago Tribune to quip: "Hitler can have Sudetenland[15] for all they care over here [in Ann Arbor], as long as Crisler gets Michigan.
Michigan converted only three of seven PAT attempts with points scored by Danny Smick, John Brennan and Jack Meyer.
After Harmon's fumble, Minnesota halfback Harold Van Every threw a long pass to Bill Johnson who was downed at Michigan's 14-yard line.
The Yale Bulldogs, winners of 27 national championships in the first century of intercollegiate football, had won the last game – in 1883 – by a 64 to 0 score.
On the next play, Tom Harmon gained 20 yards "on a beautiful, snaky run that was the first sign of an offense the Wolverine had shown.
In the third quarter, Michigan narrowed Yale's lead on a 63-yard touchdown drive that included a 52-yard gain on a pass from Harmon to Norm Purucker.
At that point, sports writer Allison Danzig of The New York Times wrote that Michigan "looked to have met its master.
The United Press described the game-winning drive as follows:"Michigan seemed to be fighting for a hopeless cause and the hand crawled around the clock toward the end of the game.
[29] Michigan's first touchdown was scored by guard Milo Sukup after Don Siegel blocked Frank Reagan's punt and the ball bounced back into the end zone.
After three unsuccessful running plays, Northwestern passed on fourth down, and the ball was intercepted in the end zone by Norm Purucker of Michigan.
In the fourth quarter, Michigan advanced the ball to the Northwestern six-yard line, but a field goal attempt by Fred Trosko was unsuccessful.
With one minute remaining, Purucker faked a punt and ran 44 yards to Northwestern's 25-yard line, but Michigan was unable to score.
[33] In the second quarter, Michigan fullback Wallace Hook fell on an Ohio State fumble at the Buckeyes' 16-yard line.
Michigan's final score was set up by an interception by substitute quarterback Louis Levine; Fred Trosko then ran 38 yards around the left end for a touchdown.
[34][35] After the game, a brawl erupted on the field as Michigan fans attempted to tear down the goalposts at Ohio Stadium.
[34] The game's outcome was the most one-sided loss for Ohio State in five years under head coach, Francis Schmidt.
[34] The United Press opined that Michigan's victory over the Buckeyes was the "climax of the Wolverines' return as a major gridiron power.
[36] On December 11, 1938, Crisler was honored at a banquet hosted by Michigan's New York alumni for having brought the Wolverines "out of the football depression.
[43] Heikkinen also placed second behind Wisconsin fullback Howard Weiss in close voting for the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy, honoring the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.