In the world of college football, the Michigan Wolverines are among the most storied and prestigious teams, alongside many of the teams in the Big Ten conference. With the 2024 season at a close for the 7-5 Wolverines, and only the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama in the coming days to look forward to, let’s take a look at three of the seasons of the past 30 years that have brought even more glory and prestige to the Michigan football program.
1997
The 1997 season is the first time the Wolverines went undefeated in their school history. No one can forget the stellar play of Charles Woodson, who ended the season with 7 interceptions and went on to win the Heisman Trophy as a Safety.
On offense, QB Brian Griese led the Michigan football team to victory time and again with 14 touchdowns on 2042 passing yards, and the team had six running backs that combined for 17 touchdowns and 2,047 rushing yards, according to Sports Reference. The Wolverines would go 12-0, win the Rose Bowl, and cement their place as the best all-around team in college football.
2011
Coming off of a few bad seasons, the 2011 Michigan football finished at 11-2. The biggest reason why they finished considerably better than years previous can be attributed to the electrifying offensive prowess of QB Denard Robinson.
Not only did "Shoelace" total 20 passing TDs on 2,173 passing yards, but he led the team in rushing with 16 TDs and 1,176 rushing yards. With a one-of-a-kind QB, this team would have still been just as formidable today as they were 13 years prior.
2023
The second time Michigan football went undefeated (in the modern era), they were at the top of the football world with a 15-0 record just last year. Defense after defense was picked apart by QB J.J. McCarthy as he fell just short of a 3000-yard season, settling for 2,991 passing yards and 22 passing TDs.
RB Blake Corum dodged and weaved his way to 27 rushing TDs on the season and WR Roman Wilson was the prime target for McCarthy with 12 receiving TDs. Winning the Rose Bowl against Alabama was the perfect way to end the year for this offensive monster of a team that Coach Jim Harbaugh brought together.
The Michigan Wolverines have been a college football powerhouse since their first winning season all the way back in 1892. Since their inception in 1881, the Wolverines have an insanely positive all-time record, sitting at a whopping 985-350-35. Of the games played against their biggest rival the Ohio State Buckeyes, they are 59-51-6.