ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Earlier in the season, Michigan safety Quinten Johnson was showing his family around the football facility and they took a look at what is called “The Win Wall,” a two-story glass-encased curved wall with rows and rows of footballs representing every win by the Wolverines.

Each ball, which appears to be suspended within the case, features in gold the number of the win above the score and opponent, date and location.

Michigan is now at No. 999 with a chance to become the first team to reach 1,000 wins on Saturday, when the Wolverines (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten), at No. 3 in the College Football Playoff rankings, plays at Maryland (6-4, 3-4). They return to Michigan Stadium for the regular-season finale against Ohio State on Nov. 25.

“It was Week 3 or Week 4 and I was taking my family through here, and I was like, ‘We’re running out of space,’ ” Johnson said Tuesday of the Win Wall. “It’s astonishing to see. It’s definitely a testament to the program and to how much history and lineage there is before you. You’re definitely playing for something bigger than yourself.”

Johnson, a graduate student who arrived at Michigan in 2019, said he never imagined Michigan being at this point, on the verge of the program’s 1,000th victory. Michigan played its first games in 1879 and is 999-353-36. Ohio State has the second-most wins with 963, Alabama has 962 and Texas and Notre Dame are tied with 945.

The Wolverines, the two-time defending Big Ten champions, have won 26 straight regular-season games and 10 straight road games heading into Saturday’s game.

“On the wall back there, we have win count, and it didn’t seem like that day will come, but the day’s come,” Johnson said of reaching the 1,000-win threshold. “It’s something I know I’m gonna take pride in 40, 50 years down the road, just being a Wolverine.”

Michigan may reach its 1,000th win without head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sideline. Harbaugh, 59, in his ninth season coaching his alma mater, was suspended for the final three regular-season games last Friday by Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who said Harbaugh violated the conference’s Sportsmanship Policy, relating to an ongoing NCAA investigation into an alleged sign-stealing scheme.

Lawyers representing Harbaugh and the university filed for a temporary restraining order against the Big Ten and Petitti later Friday in state court in an attempt to negate the Big Ten suspension. There was no ruling and Harbaugh did not coach last Saturday at Penn State. A hearing for a preliminary injunction that would block the suspension is scheduled Friday at the Washtenaw County Courthouse.

Harbaugh, in a statement on Oct. 19, when the Big Ten confirmed the NCAA investigation into the sign-stealing scheme allegedly orchestrated by staff Connor Stalions, who was immediately suspended and recently resigned, denied any knowledge of his staff illegally stealing signs. Petitti, wrote in his response last Friday, that there was no evidence it received from the NCAA that Harbaugh was aware of the scheme.

“It’s in our wildest dreams. That’s what we hope for, that’s what we worked for was that we’d have a chance to play in our 11th game this season a chance to get that at 1,000,” Harbaugh said Monday at his weekly news conference. “And just really want to shout out the Green Bay Packers, most wins in NFL history, 793. Most wins in high school football, Valdosta, Georgia, 951. And Michigan Wolverines, 999. No one has won more — nobody.

“And I want to thank especially everyone who has put on the winged helmet, (and) all those that have contributed and those that have supported their efforts. It’s monumental and motivates us to find extra work to do, keep a one-track mind and get keener, finer, and more alert, get the job done. Very proud of our football team.”

Defensive line coach Mike Elston said on Wednesday that it would be “incredibly” disappointing if Harbaugh is not on the sideline Saturday with an attempt to get the 1,000th win. While suspended, Harbaugh is not permitted in the stadium on game day.

“Of anybody, he's earned this opportunity to be with his team, to be part of this victory, if it’s this weekend or next weekend or when it comes,” Elston said. “Obviously, everybody is hoping for this weekend. For him to not be part of that would be an absolute shame.”

If Harbaugh is not on the sideline at Maryland, offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore will be acting head coach, as he was last week.

"I definitely want (Harbaugh) to be the coach when that happens," Moore said. "To me and to everybody else, he's the head coach of this football team, and I'm just standing in there and making sure we don't mess it up, For him, it's a super honor. He's led us to so many wins."

Earlier this season, Harbaugh spoke of how the program could commemorate the achievement. He said he received ideas from many friends and fans.

“What if, in the end zone, Michigan is spelled with a ‘1G’ instead of an ‘IG,’ ” Harbaugh said. “The ‘M’, that’s a Roman numeral for 1,000. There will definitely be a sticker on the helmet. I thought (Colorado coach) Deion Sanders had a great idea where he gave suits to all the players. I would love to have a suit with a 'Michigan 1,000' on there. I’m sure there will be lots of T-shirts and memorabilia. Cool stuff.”

Receiver Cornelius Johnson spoke Monday about the milestone and thought back to the early years of Michigan football and those players who established the program.

“(We) just want to make those people proud that came before you,” Johnson said. “Just keep on stacking wins and keep being that winningest program, because you know No. 2 is.”

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