The defending champion and ninth-ranked Michigan Wolverines will kick off their 2024-25 college football season against the Fresno State Bulldogs on Saturday, August 31.

The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC. Fans looking to watch this college football game can do so for free on FuboTV, which offers a free trial (as well as RedZone, for you NFL fans) or on DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV has promotional offers available, as well.

The Bulldogs have won 29 games over the last three years and their last five bowl games. Fresno State interim coach Tim Skipper can improve his chances of keeping the job with a strong showing at the Big House. Michigan quarterbacks Alex Orji and Davis Warren separated themselves from the competition to succeed J.J. McCarthy and each may get a shot to take snaps in the opener.

Michigan has a new coach on the sideline this season and enters a new era after Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL to lead the Los Angeles Chargers. Sherrone Moore gained some experience in the role in 2023, filling in four times for Harbaugh as he served a suspension early in the year and again at the end of the regular season.