Michigan defensive lineman Mazi Smith (58) rushes against Connecticut offensive lineman Noel Ofori-Nyadu (62) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

ANN ARBOR, MI - After making it through the nonconference season undefeated and unchallenged, Michigan football wraps up its early run of home games inside Michigan Stadium on Saturday in its conference opener against Maryland.

No. 4 Michigan (3-0) hosts the Terrapins (3-0) at noon on Sept. 24, in Michigan Stadium, with the Wolverines officially beginning their defense of the Big Ten Championship.

Read more: The Maize and Blue bucket list: 20 things every Michigan fan must do

If you’re heading to the Big House this weekend, you’ll need to know where to park, where the best tailgating spots are, what to bring and what spots to avoid.

Michigan running back Blake Corum (2) celebrates his 20-yard touchdown run against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

The teams: Maryland (3-0, won 34-27 last week against SMU) at No. 4 Michigan (3-0, won 59-0 last week against Connecticut).

Michigan's A.J. Henning (3) celebrates his punt return for a 61-yard touchdown against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

Those still looking for tickets to Saturday’s showdown against the Terps are in luck. Tickets can be purchased through the Michigan athletics website, starting at $80 and going up to $120 each.

Tickets also are available through third-party vendors, including StubHub, which has individual seats starting at $50 each before fees. On Vivid Seats, tickets start at $60 each, before fees are calculated.

With warm weather highlighting the first three Michigan home games of the season, Saturday looks to see the forecast transitioning into fall. The National Weather service is calling for partly sunny skies, with high temperatures reaching 66 degrees.

Those driving to Michigan Stadium should prepare for some street closures and road construction.

Read more: How to navigate street closures, construction for Michigan football home opener

East Keech Street and East Stadium Boulevard close three hours before game time and stay closed until the game ends. Southbound South Main Street also closes one hour before kickoff.

MLive file photo.MLive file photo

Many lots around Michigan Stadium are permit-only, but there are also numerous lots for guests looking for game-day parking.

Football parking opens between 6 and 8 a.m. on game day. Vehicles should vacate all lots within two hours after the game or they will be towed. UM provides a comprehensive list of parking locations and pricing information. Check out this map for an overview of parking options near Michigan Stadium.

The Ann Arbor News file photo.ANN ARBOR NEWS

One significant change this fall is that RVs are no longer allowed to park in the Pioneer High School lot, which has long been a spot tailgaters have looked to.

Ann Arbor Public Schools issued a statement explaining its decision to end RV parking at Pioneer High, describing it as a matter of health and safety and citing an April 18 letter from Fire Chief Mike Kennedy detailing numerous life-safety concerns last November regarding overnight recreational vehicles parking at Pioneer High.

A new option for RV parking in Ann Arbor is available beginning this weekend, however, with Briarwood Mall announcing it is making parking spaces available for vehicles including RVs.

RVs can stay for two nights, arriving between 6 and 9 p.m. on Friday and departing by noon Sunday. A total of 125 spaces are available.

RV parking also is still available at UM’s Brown Lot, near the Varsity Tennis Center, beginning at 7 a.m. for noon games and noon for 3:30 p.m. or night games. Permits for the lot are available through on-site, cash sales only on the day of the game, pending capacity.

UM’s Blue Lot, on the other hand, is available for access only with a permit. There are no cash sales for RVs at the Blue Lot, located southeast of Michigan Stadium, north of Stadium Boulevard, on the day of the game. Blue Lot passes are sold to season ticket holders based on priority points.

RVs may park at the Maize Lot on the south end of the South Athletic Campus on game day beginning at 7 a.m. for noon games and 3:30 p.m. games, or at noon for night games. Permits for this lot are available on-site, credit only on the day of the game, pending capacity.

Michigan's mascot, Biff the Wolverine mingles with fans while tailgating outside of the Big House ahead of Michigan's home opener game against Colorado State on September 3, 2022.Ryan Sun | rsun@mlive.com

Now it’s time to tailgate. But first, a warning...

One of the most time-honored traditions prior to kickoff is tailgating, which takes place throughout Ann Arbor for every home game.

But if you plan on walking between tailgates, don’t bring an open container of alcohol with you. Ann Arbor Police Department are watching and open containers are illegal on public property.

Fans tailgate near Michigan Stadium.MLive file photo

Any discussion of tailgating at Michigan Stadium starts with the lots adjoining Michigan Stadium and Crisler Center, where the long-time season ticket holders and many big-money donors go to UM set up shop.

These parking lots are only accessible to cars with special permits, so if you’re not already setting up there, don’t plan on just wheeling in your grill. Restrictions do not apply to those showing up on foot, in the event that you’re meeting up with someone.

Victor Michaels, 7, left, throws a football to his father, Marc Michaels during a tailgate before the Michigan game against Western Michigan at the Big House, in Ann Arbor, on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Today is Victor’s first time attending a Michigan football game.Alyte Katilius | MLive.com

For the largest tailgating area with some of the most elaborate setups, you’ll want to head to the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club. The pastoral course packs in thousands of fans coming from across the country.

The club is directly across Stadium Boulevard from the south end of the stadium. Admission is $50 per vehicle and motor homes, buses, large trucks and other large vehicles are not allowed.

Charcoal grills, fire pits or deep fryers are not permitted. Gates open at 7 a.m. for general admission for all games except night games, when they open at noon.

Tailgaters fill the Pioneer high school parking lot prior to a Michigan football game. Ann Arbor Public Schools is bidding out its new contract for a vendor to provide parking operations that generate revenue for the school district.

Tailgaters fill the Pioneer high school parking lot prior to a Michigan football game. Ann Arbor Public Schools is bidding out its new contract for a vendor to provide parking operations that generate revenue for the school district.The Ann Arbor News file photo

While no longer available for RV parking, the Pioneer High School parking lot on the corner of Stadium Boulevard and Main Street is still home to an eclectic group of tailgaters.

Parking is available starting at 6 a.m. Saturday for this event. Cars can park for $66.

Scenes while tailgating outside of the Big House ahead of Michigan's home opener game against Colorado State on September 3, 2022.Ryan Sun | rsun@mlive.com

Across Main Street from the stadium going about three blocks back is a small neighborhood of gridded streets with many people offering up their yards as your own personal party central. You may share with a few other fans, but it will be a far cry from the hectic atmosphere in the bigger lots.

Yard parking and smaller tailgating spaces are also available further north on Main Street and off of Packard Street and Granger Avenue west of the stadium.

University of Michigan students tailgate before a Michigan football home game.MLive file photo

Loud music and cheap beer served in plastic cups are aplenty where University of Michigan students get their game faces on before kickoff.

Hosted by fraternities, clubs and groups of friends who happen to live in the same house or apartment, these parties get started early and often run right up until the team takes the field.

Start at the intersection of State and Hill streets, following State Street in either direction, or Hill Street east of the intersection, and you’ll encounter hundreds of maize-clad students stumbling from one tailgate to the other.

Michigan's A.J. Henning (3) returns a punt for a 61-yard touchdown against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)AP

Michigan has a 6-1 record in Big Ten openers under head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines are 9-1 all-time against Maryland, and have won six straight games in the series.

The Wolverines have won 14 of their last 16 conference openers, and 50 of their last 54, with the last loss coming in 2019 at Wisconsin.

MLive file photo.MLive file photo

Final note on what to bring and what not to bring

There are some items you can bring in to Michigan Stadium and some you cannot.

Permitted Items include foam seat pads, small non-pocket seat cushions, binoculars (cases not permitted), cell phones and pagers, small cameras and radios, blankets and rain apparel.

Prohibited items include all bags, including purses and fanny packs’ bottles of any kind; alcoholic beverages; aerosol and spray cans; animals; apparel with profane language; containers of any kind; flags; food; irritants; projectiles; strollers; video cameras; umbrellas and weapons.

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