1970 Michigan Wolverines football team

1970 Michigan Wolverines football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 7
APNo. 9
Record9–1 (6–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorJim Young (2nd season)
MVPHenry Hill, Don Moorhead
Captains
  • Henry Hill
  • Don Moorhead
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
Seasons
← 1969
1971 →
1970 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 5 Ohio State $ 7 0 0 9 1 0
No. 9 Michigan 6 1 0 9 1 0
Northwestern 6 1 0 6 4 0
Iowa 3 3 1 3 6 1
Wisconsin 3 4 0 4 5 1
Michigan State 3 4 0 4 6 0
Minnesota 2 4 1 3 6 1
Purdue 2 5 0 4 6 0
Illinois 1 6 0 3 7 0
Indiana 1 6 0 1 9 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1970 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1970 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 9–1 record, tied for second place in the conference, and outscored opponents by a total of 288 to 90. Michigan's victories included intersectional contests with Arizona (20–9), Washington (17–3), and Texas A&M (14–10). The team won its first nine games before losing to rival Ohio State and was ranked No. 7 in the final UPI Poll and No. 9 in the final AP Poll[1]

Quarterback Don Moorhead and middle guard Henry Hill were selected as the team's most valuable players.[1] The team's statistical leaders included Moorhead with 1,167 passing yards, tailback Billy Taylor with 911 rushing yards and 66 points scored, and split end Paul Staroba with 519 receiving yards.[2]

Offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf was a consensus first-team choice for the 1970 All-America team. Henry Hill received first-team All-America honors from the Central Press Association, and linebacker Marty Huff was similarly honored by the American Football Coaches Association. In addition, 10 Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1970 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

The Wolverines entered the season knowing they would not play in a bowl game. Big Ten rules in place until 1975 allowed only the team representing the conference in the Rose Bowl to participate in the postseason; additionally, the Big Ten had a "no repeat" rule barring appearances in consecutive Rose Bowls until 1972.

  1. ^ a b "1970 Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  2. ^ "1970 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 31, 2019.