1989 Michigan Wolverines football team

1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 7
Record10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorLloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVPTony Boles
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
(Capacity: 101,701)
Seasons
← 1988
1990 →
1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Michigan $ 8 0 0 10 2 0
No. 10 Illinois 7 1 0 10 2 0
No. 16 Michigan State 6 2 0 8 4 0
No. 24 Ohio State 6 2 0 8 4 0
Minnesota 4 4 0 6 5 0
Indiana 3 5 0 5 6 0
Iowa 3 5 0 5 6 0
Purdue 2 6 0 3 8 0
Wisconsin 1 7 0 2 9 0
Northwestern 0 8 0 0 11 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 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 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.[3]

Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.

Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl.

  1. ^ "1989 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "1989 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
  3. ^ "1989 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.