Wolverines on Threshold of Win No. 1,000
We give you our Top 10 favorite Michigan football victories of all-time, and would like to know yours
Photos Courtesy of University of Michigan Photography
Fans storm the field with the Wolverines as snow fell minutes after the Buckeyes fell to Michigan, 42-27, at Michigan Stadium in 2021.
By Derek Kornacki and Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan is on the threshold of win No. 1,000.
Its next victory will make the Wolverines the first college football team to reach that plateau, and as Coach Jim Harbaugh pointed out Monday, there isn’t a pro or high school team even close to that magic number.
The No. 2 college team in wins is Ohio State (963), followed by Alabama (962) and Notre Dame and Texas tied at 945.
So, it’s quite an accomplishment – one that offers a chance to reflect as No. 3 Michigan (10-0) visits Maryland (6-4) Saturday.
We posed this question: What are your 10 favorite Michigan wins?
We both ranked ours and assigned 10 points to our first-place game all the way down to 1 point for 10th before adding the totals to determine our list. It was a fun exercise because it brought back so many great memories and shared experiences.
In the 1994 win at Notre Dame sparked by quarterback Todd Collins driving the team 55 yards in 45 seconds, I was in the press box and had my binoculars trained on the goal post as All-American Remy Hamilton drilled the game-winning, 42-yard field goal with two seconds remaining.
My young sons, Derek and Brad, were seated in the end zone right behind that goal post. I went from watching the ball to watching them celebrate, and how can you top that?
We’d love to have readers send their favorite games, ranked 1 through 10, to us via the story comments option at the bottom of this story. We’ll enjoy reading them and any memories you care to share.
Here are our selections:
No. 1: 11-27-21, No. 5 U-M 42, No. 2 Ohio State 27 in Ann Arbor: There was just a magic in the air that day. It was a collective catharsis for every Wolverine across the planet. People were crying tears of joy, and strangers were stopping to hug as we left Michigan Stadium. Nobody wanted to go home that day after Aidan Hutchinson had three sacks and Hassan Haskins ran for five touchdowns. D.K.
Photo Courtesy of Melissa Hutchinson
Aidan Hutchinson takes a family selfie after the 2021 victory over Ohio State at Michigan Stadium with (left to right) sister Mia (sunglasses on yellow knit beanie), mother Melissa, and sister Aria.
No. 2: 1-1-98, No. 1 U-M 21, No. 8 Washington State 16 in Rose Bowl: This was the crowning glory game for the only perfect season the Wolverines have had in most of our lifetimes, and there was so much to cherish forever. Brian Griese threw three touchdown passes to win MVP honors with his father, Bob Griese, calling the game with Keith Jackson. Charles Woodson made the pivotal early interception in the end zone against Ryan Leaf, and Lloyd Carr got what he so richly deserved with the Associated Press national championship. S.K.
Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr glows in the moment with linebacker Rob Swett after the win that won a 1997 national championship in Pasadena.
No. 3: 11-22-97, No. 1 U-M 20, No. 4 Ohio State 14 in Ann Arbor: Charles Woodson took the game over. I’ve never heard Michigan Stadium so loud as it was during Woodson’s 78-yard punt return for a touchdown. My brother and I rushed the field after the game and slapped shoulder pads of any passing Wolverine player. D.K.
Charles Woodson sprints down the left sideline at Michigan Stadium on the 78-yard punt return touchdown that capped his 1997 Heisman Trophy-winning season.
No. 4: 11-26-22, No. 3 U-M 45, No. 2 Ohio State 23 in Columbus: When Donovan Edwards followed up his 75-yard touchdown run with an 85-yard sprint to the end zone, what was left of the crowd had emptied Ohio Stadium. Except for those fans wearing maize and blue. J.J. McCarthy started the turnaround with 69- and 75-yard touchdown passes to Cornelius Johnson and established himself as a star on this big-play day. S.K.
No. 5 (tie): 11-22-69, No. 12 U-M 24, No. 1 Ohio State 12 in Ann Arbor: The game that shocked us all and put Bo Schembechler’s genius in motion. The Buckeyes were 17-point favorites and had won 22 consecutive games for Woody Hayes, who mentored Bo. Barry Pierson made three interceptions and returned a punt 60 yards as the star of the game, and All-America offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf told me it was the greatest day of his life – bar none. This sparked the “Ten-Year War” between coaching legends, and Bo had a 5-4-1 advantage. S.K.
Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
All-America tackle Dan Dierdorf (No. 72) hugs quarterback Don Moorhead with fellow offensive lineman and lifelong friend Dick Caldarazzo (No. 56) approaching to celebrate during the 1969 upset of No. 1 Ohio State in Ann Arbor.
No. 5 (tie): 9-14-91, No. 3 U-M 24, No. 7 Notre Dame 14 in Ann Arbor: This was the game that got us over the hump against the Fighting Irish after four consecutive losses, and featured one of the greatest catches in Michigan history, courtesy of Desmond Howard, on his way to winning the Heisman. Elvis Grbac hit him for a 25-yard touchdown on fourth-and-one to lock up the outcome. D.K.
Courtesy of Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
Desmond Howard fully extends to grab a 25-yard touchdown pass from Elvis Grbac on fourth-and-one against Notre Dame at Michigan Stadium in 1991.
No. 5 (tie): 9-10-94, No. 6 U-M 26, No. 3 Notre Dame 24 in South Bend:
My brother and I hugged and jumped up and down, yelling at the top of our lungs after Remy Hamilton kicked the game-winning field goal. D.K.
No. 8 (tie): 1-1-93, No. 7 U-M 38, No. 9 Washington 31 in Rose Bowl: Tyrone Wheatley played with back spasms and shooting pain in his left leg, but didn’t stop until carrying 15 times for 235 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Elvis Grbac threw two touchdown passes to tight end Tony McGee, and after the game his father, Ivan Grbac, who came here from Croatia, put a bear hug on me. Tears streamed down his cheeks while he exclaimed: “This is the American dream!” S.K.
No. 8 (tie): 10-30-04, No. 11 U-M 45, Michigan State 37 (3OT) in Ann Arbor: What do you remember more? The Wolverines overcoming a 27-10 deficit with 8:43 to play? Or Braylon Edwards making 11 catches for 189 yards and three touchdowns – including the game-winner? Chad Henne hit Edwards on a slant route for 24 yards on third-and-nine to finish it. S.K.
No. 10: 11-25-95, No. 18 U-M 31, No. 2 Ohio State 23 in Ann Arbor: The greatest single performance from a Michigan running back in the history of the rivalry. Tshimanga Biakabutuka went for 313 yards on the day (No. 2 Wolverine single-game total to Ron Johnson’s 347 versus Wisconsin in 1968) and spoiled the Buckeyes’ national championship hopes. D.K.
Tshimanga Biakabutuka ran for 313 yards against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium in 1995.
Those were wonderful games, Steve! Here's my list:
1. Michigan 24 Ohio State 12 in 1969. Bo Schembechler takes over.
2. Michigan 22 Ohio State 0 in 1976 Michigan wipes out Woody Hayes and goes to the Rose Bowl.
3. Michigan 27 Indiana 21 in 1979 John Wangler to Anthony Carter to celebrate Team 100
4. Michigan 21 Washington State 16 in the 1998 Rose Bowl National Champs!
5. Michigan 45 Michigan State 37 in 2004 Braylon Edwards goes nuts.
6. Michigan 21 Penn State 13 in 1993 Joe Paterno with the first of his 9 losses to U-M
7. Michigan 34 Penn State 8 in 1997 Michigan vaults to #1 and stays there
8. Michigan 42 Michigan State 0 George Perles was certain sparty would knock our socks off.
9. Michigan 24 UCLA 23 Bo outcoaches Terry Donahue and wins on a FG as time expires
10. Michigan 35 Alabama 34 Tom Brady is da man
Honorable Mention: Every win over Notre Dame
Thanks, Bob! That's a great list. We considered doing an all-encompassing list of best games, but opted for our favorite games because those are more personal. But the great thing about doing a list like this is that it can be whatever you want it to be. Kolesar HOF Bowl and 1988 OSU games both were games I loved, too!