Michigan football: 5 best seasons in Wolverines history
Big 10 Runner-Up, Fiesta Bowl Champion. No. 2 Coaches/No. 2 AP. player. Pick Analysis. 1985 (10-1-1). 2. 811. Scouting Report
Michigan football finishes No. 2 in the nation in 1985.
The 1985 Michigan Football team was led by Schembechler and quarterback Jim Harbaugh. The season didn’t end with a national title but could arguably be one of the best, if not the best team that was coach by Schembechler.
To start the season, the Wolverines took on three ranked opponents and outscored them 74-15. After two blowout wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State, the Wolverines played Iowa in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 midseason showdown. The Wolverines fell just short, suffering their lone loss of the ’85 season by two points as the Hawkeyes kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired.
The Wolverines would go on to finish the season at 10-1-1, ending the 1985-86 season with a 27-17 win over Ohio State and 27 to 23 victory over Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl. Had the Wolverines not lost to Iowa, they might have one the first national title since 1948.
Regardless, the ’85 Michigan Football team was balanced on both sides of the ball and took care of their opponents week-in and week-out and surprised many after going 6-6 the prior season. No national title but they’ve earned their spot as the undisputed runner-up on our countdown.