In their tenth season under head coach Lloyd Carr, the Wolverines compiled a 9–3 record (7–1 in conference games), outscored opponents by a total of 370 to 279, and tied with Iowa for the Big Ten championship.

Having beaten Iowa during the regular season, the Wolverines received the Big Ten's berth in the 2005 Rose Bowl where they lost to No.

19 after an early loss to Notre Dame and a narrow victory over San Diego State, rose to No.

Four Michigan players received first-team honors on the 2004 All-America team: Braylon Edwards; David Baas; cornerback Marlin Jackson; and safety Ernest Shazor.

Nine Michigan players received first-team All-Big Ten honors: Mike Hart; Braylon Edwards; David Baas; Marlin Jackson; Ernest Shazor; offensive guard Matt Lentz; offensive tackle Adam Stenavich; tight end Tim Massaquoi; and defensive lineman Gabe Watson.

After an injury to Matt Gutierrez, Chad Henne became the second true freshman quarterback (after Rick Leach in 1975) to start a season opener for Michigan.

Brady Quinn and Darius Walker led the Fighting Irish to 21 points in a fourth-quarter comeback.

[7] Braylon Edwards had 12 receptions for 126 yards, but Michigan's running game was stymied, and the Wolverines settled for four field goals.

Starting running back David Underwood sustained a head injury on a block in the backfield on Michigan's second offensive play.

The game featured the debut of true freshman tailback Mike Hart as a major offensive weapon.

[9] Hart got the start against San Diego State after David Underwood sustained a concussion against Notre Dame and gained 121 yards on 25 carries.

Freshman tailback Mike Hart rushed for 99 yards and scored his first collegiate touchdown on a seven-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Grant Mason registered one of the interceptions, returning it 25 yards for the Wolverines' final points of the game.

[13] On the opening drive of the game, Indiana converted a fake punt for a long gain and drove to Michigan's 14-yard line.

Edwards credited the success of the passing game to Indiana's defensive strategy: "They played eight in a box.

[15] The game included three delays for instant replay as the Big Ten conducted an experiment with the technology during the 2004 season.

In one instance, the game was delayed for 14 minutes while officials reviewed and ultimately overturned a kick-catch interference penalty against Indiana.

13 Minnesota Golden Gophers, 27–24, in the Little Brown Jug rivalry game before a crowd of 111,518 at Michigan Stadium.

[17] The defense gave up 345 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run by Laurence Maroney at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, Leon Hall fumbled a punt, and Minnesota recovered the ball at Michigan's nine-yard line.

The defense stiffened and allowed no gain on three plays, forcing the Golden Gophers to settle for a field goal and a 24–17 lead with 13:14 remaining in the game.

The teams traded first-quarter touchdowns, Michigan scoring on a 25-yard pass from Chad Henne to Mike Hart.

Michigan pulled ahead with three Garrett Rivas field-goals, the winning kick at 3:36 in the fourth quarter.

[26] [17] [27] On November 13, and following a bye week, Michigan defeated Randy Walker's Northwestern Wildcats, 42–20, before a crowd of 111,347 in Ann Arbor.

After the game, Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News called Hart "a freak" and "the most intriguing young player we've seen in years.

[36] Despite the loss, Michigan tied with Iowa for the Big Ten championship and received the conference's Rose Bowl berth, having defeated the Hawkeyes earlier in the season.

Fifth-year senior David Baas started 30 straight games at left guard for Michigan.

"[44] In his first year playing the center position, Baas won multiple post-season honors, including the following: Despite starting the season as a backup, freshman tailback Mike Hart led the Big Ten with 1,455 rushing yards and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

He also won first-team honors from both the coaches and media on the 2004 All-Big Ten Conference football team.