Today, sports at the University of Michigan are big business and sometimes big controversy. Inspired by these developments, the researchers of this year’s Michigan in the World project have taken a critical look at the history of sports at U-M. Along the way, we have attempted to address questions such as how athletics have contributed to what we now call diversity, equity, and inclusion, why athletic priorities have shaped the allocation of resources within the University, and how sports have contributed to a sense of community that extends well beyond the Michigan campus to include alumni and residents of the state who may never have set foot in Ann Arbor.