By the numbers: Michigan has won eight-straight games by 24-plus points for first time since...

No. 3 Michigan Wolverines football has been the most dominant team in the country this season, 8-0 heading into the final four regular-season clashes (Purdue, at Penn State, at Maryland, Ohio State). U-M is the only team in the nation to win all of its games by 20 or more points and one of seven 8-0 teams.

The Maize and Blue have won eight games in a row by 24-plus points for the first time since 1904, smashing opponents in an unprecedented fashion for a modern-era team.

The 1904 Wolverines won nine-consecutive tilts by 24 or more points, over Case (33-0), Ohio Northern (48-0), Kalamazoo (95-0), Physicians & Surgeons (72-0), Ohio State (31-6), American Medical (72-0), West Virginia (130-0), Wisconsin (28-0) and Drake (36-4). That bunch won its fourth consecutive national championship.

Michigan’s streak during that stretch actually dated back to 1903, with the Maize and Blue topping Oberlin (42-0) and Chicago (28-0) to cap off that national championship-winning campaign. That put the Wolverines’ win streak of 24-plus points at 11 games, which this year’s crew could match or surpass in a matter of weeks.

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Michigan hasn’t just been dominant when comparing to U-M teams of the past, it’s been so in the context of greater college football. The Wolverines are the first team in the AP era (since 1936) to score at least 30 points and hold each of their opponents to 10 points or fewer in their first eight games. The 1905 Minnesota Golden Gophers were the last Big Ten team to achieve a similar streak (30-plus points scored, 14 points or fewer allowed), but it lasted only seven games.

Michigan hasn’t always started fast, trailing 7-0 to Indiana until late in the second quarter and giving up a big-play touchdown to fall behind Rutgers early on, but the Wolverines have held significant leads for the majority of each game. According to CBS Sports, U-M is way out ahead of the rest of college football with 63.6 percent of its snaps with a lead of 14 or more points. Checking in second is SMU (51.1 percent), the only other team over 50 percent.

The Wolverines slotted behind No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Georgia in the College Football Playoff’s initial rankings released this week, largely due to résumé. The Buckeyes have beaten No. 11 Penn State and No. 15 Notre Dame. Like Michigan, Georgia — the two-time defending national champion — hasn’t played a ranked opponent yet, either. Both have big matchups ahead, though, with the Wolverines set to take on Penn State Nov. 11 and Ohio State Nov. 25, and the Bulldogs scheduled to play No. 12 Missouri Nov. 4, No. 10 Ole Miss Nov. 11 and No. 17 Tennessee Nov. 18.

While the College Football Playoff rankings show generates television ratings for partner ESPN and attention for the sport at large, the initial release doesn’t typically resemble the four-team field after conference championship weekend. Only once since the CFP was formed in 2014 have the top-four teams in the initial rankings been the four to appear in the playoff — in 2020, perhaps the most unusual college football season in history. Since 2014, 21 of the 36 playoff teams appeared in the initial rankings.

Michigan has made the CFP each of the last two seasons but was not top four in the first release either time, slotting No. 7 in 2021 and No. 5 in 2022. The Wolverines earned the No. 2 seed each year.

By the numbers: Michigan vs. Purdue

No. 1 Is where Michigan ranks nationally in scoring defense, total defense and passing defense. It slots No. 7 in rushing defense.

2 Big Ten players have double-digit tackles for loss this season, and both are Purdue outside linebackers — Kydran Jenkins (11.5) and Nic Scourton (10). They have also combined for 12 sacks, the most by a duo in the conference. Jenkins leads the league with 7 sacks and Scourton is third with 5.

2nd In the nation is where Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy checks in with his 78.2 completion percentage. He’s also second in pass efficiency (195.9 rating) and yards per attempt (10.6).

3 Wins over top-five teams for Purdue over the last five seasons. In that span, the Boilermakers are 7-8 against ranked opponents.

4.7 Yards per carry for Purdue running back Devin Mockobee, who’s rushed 112 times for 524 yards and 4 touchdowns.

No. 6 Is where Michigan ranks in scoring offense, putting up 40.6 points per contest. The Wolverines have scored 4 defensive touchdowns in addition to the success by the offense (those are included in the above total). U-M ranks 53rd in the country with 247.4 passing yards and 45th with 174.3 rushing yards per game.

11 Interceptions for the Michigan defense through eight games, ranking tied for 10th in the country. U-M had 14 picks through 14 contests last season, the most it’s had in a year since 2013 (17), and is on pace to surpass both marks.

13 Rushing touchdowns for Michigan senior running back Blake Corum, the most in the country.

20 Straight wins for Michigan at home, including a 5-0 mark this season. The Maize and Blue have also won 20 consecutive conference games, a program record.

21.9 Points per game for Purdue, checking in 106th in the country. The Boilermakers are 85th in passing offense (after finishing last season 22nd) and 93rd in rushing offense.

30 Points per contest allowed by the Boilermakers, tied for 103rd in the nation. They rank 82nd against the run and 64th versus the pass.

46-14 Is Michigan’s lead in the all-time series against Purdue. The Maize and Blue have won nine of the last 11 games in the series, including the past five. The most recent was a 43-22 win over the Boilermakers in the Big Ten championship game last December. Purdue hasn’t beaten U-M since a 38-36 win in Ann Arbor in 2009.

75 Night games in Michigan football history, including three this season (the Purdue game will be the 76th and fourth, respectively). The Wolverines are 47-28 in games starting after 5 p.m. local time, including a 12-2 record at home.

214.6 Passing yards per game for Purdue quarterback Hudson Card, a Texas transfer, fourth in the Big Ten. He’s completing just 59.4 percent of his passes, however, ranking eighth in the league, and averaging 6.2 yards per throw, 11th.