2020 Michigan Wolverines football team

2020 Michigan Wolverines football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record2–4 (2–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJosh Gattis (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorDon Brown (5th season)
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 2 Ohio State xy$^   5 – 0     7 – 1  
No. 12 Indiana   6 – 1     6 – 2  
Penn State   4 – 5     4 – 5  
Maryland   2 – 3     2 – 3  
Rutgers   3 – 6     3 – 6  
Michigan   2 – 4     2 – 4  
Michigan State   2 – 5     2 – 5  
West Division
No. 10 Northwestern xy   6 – 1     7 – 2  
No. 16 Iowa   6 – 2     6 – 2  
Wisconsin   3 – 3     4 – 3  
Minnesota   3 – 4     3 – 4  
Nebraska   3 – 5     3 – 5  
Purdue   2 – 4     2 – 4  
Illinois   2 – 6     2 – 6  
Championship: Ohio State 22, Northwestern 10
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, the Big Ten suspended the season on August 11, but later decided to begin play on October 24. In addition to the title game that was played on December 19, the conference seeded all remaining teams for "championship week" games.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their sixth year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines played only six games (all against conference opponents) in a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, compiling a 2–4 record.

The Big Ten Conference initially canceled the fall sports season, on August 11, 2020,[2] but reversed course on September 16, announcing an eight-game conference-only schedule.[3] Michigan's previously scheduled nonconference games against Washington, Ball State, and Arkansas State were canceled due to the pandemic.[4] Precautions were taken to promote player, staff, and fan safety, including regular COVID-19 testing, isolation requirements, and mask wearing; games were largely played with no fans in attendance.

Michigan began the year ranked 16th in the preseason AP Poll. In the season's opening game against then-No. 21 Minnesota, Michigan won on the road, 49–24. After rising to 13th in the polls, Michigan was upset by unranked in-state rival Michigan State. After losing two more games against ranked opponents Indiana and Wisconsin, Michigan won a triple-overtime game against Rutgers, and lost to Penn State the following week. Michigan's final three conference games, against Maryland, Ohio State, and Iowa, were canceled due to COVID-19 outbreaks.[5][6][7] While the NCAA's win requirements for bowl eligibility were lifted for the season, Michigan was not selected to a bowl game for the first time since 2014.[8]

Quarterback Joe Milton began the season as the team's starting quarterback, but by the end of the season he had been replaced by backup Cade McNamara. The team's leading rusher was Hassan Haskins, with 375 yards, and the team's leading receiver was Ronnie Bell with 401 receiving yards. On defense, lineman Kwity Paye led the team in tackles-for-loss and was named second-team all-conference. Linebacker Josh Ross led the team in tackles.[9]

  1. ^ Stevens, Matthew. "Big Ten To Play A "Championship Weekend" 9th Game Of 2020 Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Big Ten Statement on 2020-21 Fall Season". Big Ten Conference. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "The Big Ten Conference Adopts Stringent Medical Protocols; Football Season to Resume October 23-24, 2020". Big Ten Conference. September 16, 2020. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference nonconferencecanceled was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Football Game vs. Maryland Canceled as Michigan Pauses Practice Until Monday". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Ablauf, Dave; Shepard, Chad (December 8, 2020). "Saturday's Football Game at Ohio State Canceled". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Michigan cancels Big Ten Championship game at Iowa WEYI-TV, December 15, 2020
  8. ^ Sang, Orion (December 20, 2020). "Michigan football won't play in bowl game; disappointing season ends at 2-4". Detroit Free Press.
  9. ^ "2020 Michigan Wolverines Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2021.