The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan. They have the most all-time wins and highest all-time winning percentage in NCAA Division I-A history.[1] The team is also known for its distinctive helmet design, its fight song, its record-breaking attendance figures, and its many rivalries, particularly its annual season-ending game against Ohio State.
Michigan began competing in intercollegiate football in 1879. The Wolverines compete in the Big Ten Conference and have won or shared 42 league titles, more than any other football program in any conference. Their current head coach is Rich Rodriguez.
- Most wins ever with (872) and highest winning percentage with (.740) in NCAA Division I-A football history
- The most winning seasons (110)
- The most undefeated seasons in Division 1-A football (25)
- One of only three schools with a winning record against every Division 1-A conference, including independent schools such as Notre Dame.
- The 1901 Michigan Wolverines football team is the only undefeated, untied, and unscored-upon football team to also win the Rose Bowl without being scored upon.
- The largest crowd to ever attend an NCAA football game: 112,118 on November 22, 2003, at Michigan Stadium vs. Ohio State[2]
- The longest current streak of over 100,000 in attendance at home (214 games)[2]
- The most televised school in college football history (382 televised games)[2]
- The longest current streak of games in Division 1-A since last being shut out (287 games; last time on October 20, 1984, at Iowa).
- The number one sports rivalry: Michigan-Ohio State, according to ESPN's "10 Greatest Sports Rivalries"[3]
- The best helmet in football, according to ESPN's "End of Century" Special
- The best uniform in sports, according to ESPN2's 64 Team Bracket Results[4]
- The Victors is one of the few fight songs in the Hall of Fame[2]
Michigan has been invited to play in 39 bowl games in its history, compiling a record of 19-20 in those games.
Note: From 1918-1945, the Big Ten did not allow its teams to participate in bowls. From 1946-1974, only the conference champion was allowed to attend a bowl (the Rose Bowl), and no team could go two years in a row (with one exception).
| Date |
Bowl |
W/L |
Opponent |
PF |
PA |
Notes |
| January 1, 1902 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Stanford |
49 |
0 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1948 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
USC |
49 |
0 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1951 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Cal |
14 |
6 |
|
| January 1, 1965 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Oregon State |
34 |
7 |
|
| January 1, 1970 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
3 |
10 |
|
| January 1, 1972 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
Stanford |
12 |
13 |
|
| January 1, 1976 |
Orange Bowl |
L |
Oklahoma |
6 |
14 |
|
| January 1, 1977 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
6 |
14 |
|
| January 2, 1978 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
Washington |
20 |
27 |
|
| January 1, 1979 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
10 |
17 |
|
| December 28, 1979 |
Gator Bowl |
L |
North Carolina |
15 |
17 |
|
| January 1, 1981 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Washington |
23 |
6 |
|
| December 31, 1981 |
Bluebonnet Bowl |
W |
UCLA |
33 |
14 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1983 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
UCLA |
14 |
24 |
Notes |
| January 2, 1984 |
Sugar Bowl |
L |
Auburn |
7 |
9 |
Notes |
| December 21, 1984 |
Holiday Bowl |
L |
BYU |
17 |
24 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1986 |
Fiesta Bowl |
W |
Nebraska |
27 |
23 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1987 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
Arizona State |
15 |
22 |
Notes |
| January 2, 1988 |
Hall of Fame Bowl |
W |
Alabama |
28 |
24 |
Notes |
| January 2, 1989 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
USC |
22 |
14 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1990 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
10 |
17 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1991 |
Gator Bowl |
W |
Mississippi |
35 |
3 |
|
| January 1, 1992 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
Washington |
14 |
34 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1993 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Washington |
38 |
31 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1994 |
Hall of Fame Bowl |
W |
North Carolina State |
42 |
7 |
Notes |
| December 30, 1994 |
Holiday Bowl |
W |
Colorado State |
24 |
14 |
Notes |
| December 28, 1995 |
Alamo Bowl |
L |
Texas A&M |
20 |
22 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1997 |
Outback Bowl |
L |
Alabama |
14 |
17 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1998 |
Rose Bowl |
W |
Washington State |
21 |
16 |
Notes |
| January 1, 1999 |
Citrus Bowl |
W |
Arkansas |
45 |
31 |
|
| January 1, 2000 |
Orange Bowl |
W |
Alabama |
35 |
34 |
Notes |
| January 1, 2001 |
Citrus Bowl |
W |
Auburn |
31 |
28 |
|
| January 1, 2002 |
Citrus Bowl |
L |
Tennessee |
17 |
45 |
|
| January 1, 2003 |
Outback Bowl |
W |
Florida |
38 |
30 |
Notes |
| January 1, 2004 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
14 |
28 |
Notes |
| January 1, 2005 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
Texas |
37 |
38 |
Notes |
| December 28, 2005 |
Alamo Bowl |
L |
Nebraska |
28 |
32 |
Notes |
| January 1, 2007 |
Rose Bowl |
L |
USC |
18 |
32 |
Notes |
| January 1, 2008 |
Capital One Bowl |
W |
Florida |
41 |
35 |
Notes |
| Total |
39 bowl games |
19-20 |
|
926 |
779 |
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Michigan plays two trophy games. Michigan plays Minnesota for the Little Brown Jug, with their record in games played for the Jug, which date to 1909, being 65-22-3. The Wolverines currently hold the trophy having won the 2008 contest. Michigan also competes against Michigan State for the Paul Bunyan Trophy, which was introduced in 1953. Michigan's record in games played for the trophy is 34-20-2. The Wolverines had won six straight meetings, before losing to Michigan State on October 25th, 2008.
Note: Michigan did not field a team in 1882.
- 1969: Bo Schembechler
- 1997: Lloyd Carr
- 1997: Jim Herrmann
- 1977: Bo Schembechler
- 2007: Lloyd Carr
There have been 25 Heisman Trophy candidates who have played at Michigan, three of which won the award:
- 1939: Tom Harmon, 2nd
- 1940: Tom Harmon, 1st
- 1943: Bill Daley, 7th
- 1947: Bob Chappuis, 2nd
- 1955: Ron Kramer, 8th
- 1956: Ron Kramer, 6th
- 1964: Bob Timberlake, 4th
- 1968: Ron Johnson, 6th
- 1974: Dennis Franklin, 8th
- 1975: Gordon Bell, 8th
- 1976: Rob Lytle, 3rd
- 1977: Rick Leach, 8th
- 1978: Rick Leach, 3rd
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- 1980: Anthony Carter, 10th
- 1981: Anthony Carter, 7th
- 1982: Anthony Carter, 4th
- 1986: Jim Harbaugh, 3rd
- 1991: Desmond Howard, 1st
- 1993: Tyrone Wheatley, 8th
- 1994: Tyrone Wheatley, 12th
- 1995: Tim Biakabutuka, 8th
- 1997: Charles Woodson, 1st
- 2003: Chris Perry, 4th
- 2004: Braylon Edwards, 10th
- 2006: Mike Hart, 5th
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Michigan Most Valuable Player Award (1926-1994); officially renamed the Bo Schembechler Award (1995-present) winners:[5]
[edit] College
Inductees to the College Football Hall of Fame include:[6]
[edit] Professional
Michigan alumni inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame include:[7]
- Most rushing attempts, career: 1,015, Mike Hart (2004-07)
- Most rushing attempts, season: 338, Chris Perry (2003)
- Most rushing attempts, game: 51, Chris Perry (November 1, 2003 at Michigan State)
- Most rushing yards, career: 5,040, Mike Hart (2004-07)
- Most rushing yards, season: 1,818, Tim Biakabutuka (1995)
- Most rushing yards, game: 347, Ron Johnson (November 16, 1968 vs. Wisconsin)
- Most rushing touchdowns, career: 55, Anthony Thomas (1997-2000)
- Most rushing touchdowns, season: 19, Ron Johnson (1968)
- Most rushing touchdowns, game: 5, Ron Johnson (November 16, 1968 vs. Wisconsin)
- Longest run from scrimmage: 92 yards (84 m), Butch Woolfolk (November 3, 1979 vs. Wisconsin)
- Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, career: 28, Mike Hart (2004-07)
- Most games with at least 100 rushing yards, season: 10, Jamie Morris (1987)
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, career: 5, Mike Hart (2004-07)
- Most games with at least 200 rushing yards, season: 3, Mike Hart (2004)
- Most passing attempts, career: 1,387, Chad Henne (2004-07)
- Most passing attempts, season: 456, John Navarre (2003)
- Most passing attempts, game: 56, Tom Brady (November 21, 1998 at Ohio State)
- Most passing completions, career: 828, Chad Henne (2004-07)
- Most passing completions, season: 270, John Navarre (2003)
- Most passing completions, game: 34, Tom Brady (January 1, 2000 vs. Alabama in Orange Bowl)
- Most passing yards, career: 9,715, Chad Henne (2004-07)
- Most passing yards, season: 3,331, John Navarre (2003)
- Most passing yards, game: 389, John Navarre (October 4, 2003 at Iowa)
- Most passing touchdowns, career: 86, Chad Henne (2004-07)
- Most passing touchdowns, season: 25, Elvis Grbac (1991) and Chad Henne (2004)
- Most passing touchdowns, game: 4, 17 times, most recently by Chad Henne (November 3, 2007 at Michigan State)
- Longest pass completion: 97 yards (89 m), Ryan Mallett to Mario Manningham (November 10, 2007 at Wisconsin)
- Most games with at least 200 passing yards, career: 28, John Navarre (2000-03)
- Most games with at least 200 passing yards, season: 10, John Navarre (2003)
- Most games with at least 300 passing yards, career: 5, Chad Henne (2004-07)
- Most games with at least 300 passing yards, season: 3, John Navarre (2003) and Chad Henne (2004)
- Most receptions, career: 252, Braylon Edwards (2001-04)
- Most receptions, season: 97, Braylon Edwards (2004)
- Most receptions, game: 15, twice by Marquise Walker (September 8, 2001 at Washington and November 24, 2001 vs. Ohio State)
- Most receiving yards, career: 3,541, Braylon Edwards (2001-04)
- Most receiving yards, season: 1,330, Braylon Edwards (2004)
- Most receiving yards, game: 197, Jack Clancy (September 17, 1966 vs. Oregon State)
- Most touchdown receptions, career: 39, Braylon Edwards (2001-04) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
- Most touchdown receptions, season: 19, Desmond Howard (1991) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
- Most touchdown receptions, game: 4, Derrick Alexander (October 24, 1992 vs. Minnesota)
- Longest pass reception: 97 yards (89 m), Mario Manningham from Ryan Mallett (November 10, 2007 at Wisconsin)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, career: 17, Braylon Edwards (2001-04)
- Most games with at least 100 receiving yards, season: 7, Braylon Edwards (2004) and Mario Manningham (2007)
- Most kickoff returns, career: 81, Steve Breaston (2003-06)
- Most kickoff returns, season: 28, Steve Breaston (2004)
- Most kickoff returns, game: 8, Todd Howard (January 1, 2002 vs. Tennessee in Florida Citrus Bowl)
- Most kickoff return yards, career: 1,993, Steve Breaston (2003-06)
- Most kickoff return yards, season: 689, Steve Breaston (2004)
- Most kickoff return yards, game: 221, Steve Breaston (January 1, 2005 vs. Texas in Rose Bowl)
- Most kickoff return touchdowns, career: 2, Desmond Howard (1989-91)
- Longest kickoff return: 100 yards (91 m), Seth Smith (October 29, 1994 vs. Wisconsin)
- Most punt returns, career: 127, Steve Breaston (2003-06) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
- Most punt returns, season: 45, Steve Breaston (2003)
- Most punt returns, game: 9, Steve Breaston (September 23, 2006 vs. Wisconsin)
- Most punt return yards, career: 1,599, Steve Breaston (2003-06) (also a Big Ten Conference record)
- Most punt return yards, season: 619, Steve Breaston (2003)
- Most punt return yards, game: 140, George Hoey (October 28, 1967 at Minnesota)
- Most punt return touchdowns, career: 4, Gene Derricotte (1944-48), Derrick Alexander (1989-93), and Steve Breaston (2003-06)
- Longest punt return: 93 yards (85 m), Desmond Howard (November 23, 1991 vs. Ohio State)
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- Jim Cnockaert (2003). Stadium Stories: Michigan Wolverines: Colorful Tales of the Maize and Blue. Globe Pequot. ISBN 0-7627-2784-5.
- Kevin Allen, Art Regner, Nate Brown, and Bo Schembechler (2005). What it Means to Be a Wolverine: Michigan's Greatest Players, Talk about Michigan Football. Triumph Books. ISBN 1-57243-661-1.
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Michigan Wolverines football |
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All Time Record |
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868–286–36 (.745)
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