1988 Michigan Wolverines football team

1988 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 22–14 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 4
APNo. 4
Record9–2–1 (7–0–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Moeller (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorLloyd Carr (2nd season)
MVPMark Messner
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
Seasons
← 1987
1989 →
1988 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Michigan $ 7 0 1 9 2 1
Michigan State 6 1 1 6 5 1
Illinois 5 2 1 6 5 1
Iowa 4 1 3 6 4 3
No. 20 Indiana 5 3 0 8 3 1
Purdue 3 5 0 4 7 0
Ohio State 2 5 1 4 6 1
Northwestern 2 5 1 2 8 1
Wisconsin 1 7 0 1 10 0
Minnesota 0 6 2 2 7 2
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1988 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 20th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 9–2–1 record (7–0–1 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, defeated USC in the 1989 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 361 to 167, and was ranked No. 4 in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 957 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 1,408 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 470 receiving yards, and placekicker Mike Gillette with 97 points scored.[3]

Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1988 All-America college football team: center John Vitale (consensus) and defensive tackle Mark Messner (consensus). Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1988 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

  1. ^ "1988 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "1988 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "1988 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.