Michigan football's 2024 season-opening opponent, Fresno State, makes coaching change

Michigan football has long known how it will open the 2024 season − against Fresno State on Aug. 31 under the lights at Michigan Stadium at 7:30 p.m. − however, the initial expected head coach will no longer be on the opposing sideline.

On Monday, the program announced Jeff Tedford was stepping down as the Bulldogs' head coach, citing his health as the primary motivator. Tim Skipper, who served as the program's acting head coach when Tedford missed the 2023 Isleta New Mexico Bowl, has been named interim, effective immediately.

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"It is with sad emotions that following my recent medical check-up, it is clear that due to health concerns, my family and I have made the decision to step aside as Fresno State's head coach and allow someone else to lead the football program," Tedford said in a statement. "I have a tremendous amount of pride and passion for Fresno State, and I understand the time and energy necessary to lead at a high level.

"The players, coaches and Bulldog supporters deserve the best. Unfortunately, I am not able to sustain the commitment needed to performa at the level needed to guide the program."

Tedford, 62, went 44-22 overall across five seasons over two separate stints at FSU. He led the Bulldogs to three 10-win seasons across his tenure (2017, 2018 and 2022), two Mountain West Championship wins, three West Division titles, four Bowl Game victories and guided the program to finish ranked in the top 25 times twice.

Tedford, who is 127-79 overall, which includes the 11 years he spent at Cal (2002-12) where he became the program's winningest coach of all time (82 victories), was named finalist for the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year Award in 2018 when Fresno set a program-record with 12 victories.

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"Coach Tedford is a living legend," Skipper said in the release. " He is definitely an innovator and trendsetter of the game. His impact on college football will be felt forever, and I feel very fortunate to be able to have coached on his staff these past two seasons. The knowledge I have gained is priceless. I am looking forward to leading Bulldog football next season, and to continue the pride and tradition here at Fresno State to make the Red Wave proud."

A three-time Coach of the Year − Pac-10 in 2002 and 2004 and Mountain West in 2017 − Tedford's 9-3 overall bowl game record is third best in NCAA Division I football history among coaches with at least 10 postseason appearances.

As for Skipper, he started at middle linebacker for Fresno State (1997-2000) for four years, was a two-time captain and twice made the Butkus Award watch list. He is still second in program history in tackles (418), which included 117 in his freshman All-America season.

"I look forward to supporting the program in any way that I can as I focus on family and my health," Tedford said. "My family and I will forever be grateful for the exciting and wonderful times. We also appreciate the support from the University and the community, and are grateful to have been allowed to be a part of it all."

Fresno State was picked to finish third in the preseason Mountain West poll last week during Media Day (which Tedford attended) as it returns eight starters on offense, six on defense and added a handful of pieces in the portal including Korey Foreman, a former five-star defensive end who played at USC.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan football's 2024 season-opening opponent, Fresno State, makes coaching change