| 1978 Michigan Wolverines football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Big Ten co-champion | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 5 |
| AP | No. 5 |
| Record | 10–2 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
|
| MVP | Rick Leach |
| Captain | Russell Davis, Jerry Meter |
| Home stadium | Michigan Stadium |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 5 Michigan + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 10 | – | 2 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 Michigan State + | 7 | – | 1 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 13 Purdue | 6 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 6 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 4 | – | 4 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 4 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 4 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 3 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 2 | – | 6 | – | 0 | 2 | – | 9 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 0 | – | 6 | – | 2 | 1 | – | 8 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 0 | – | 8 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 10 | – | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 1978 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan in the 1978 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 10th season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 against conference opponents), tied for the Big Ten championship, outscored opponents by a total of 372 to 105, and were ranked No. 5 in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2] The defense allowed only 94.6 passing yards per game and ranked second in the country in scoring defense, allowing an average of only 8.75 points per game.[3]
The Wolverines sustained their only regular season defeat against in-state rival Michigan State, but defeated rivals Notre Dame (the first game in the Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry since 1943) and Ohio State (the last game in The Ten Year War between coaches Schembechler and Woody Hayes). The Wolverines then lost to No. 3 USC in the 1979 Rose Bowl, following Charles White's famed "phantom touchdown".
The team's statistical leaders included senior quarterback Rick Leach with 1,283 passing yards and 72 points scored, tailback Harlan Huckleby with 741 rushing yards, and wing back Ralph Clayton with 546 receiving yards.[3] Leach won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference, finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, and was selected by the American Football Coaches Association as a first-team All-American in a tie with Chuck Fusina.
Eight Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1978 All-Big Ten Conference football team, including Leach, fullback Russell Davis, offensive tackle Jon Giesler, defensive tackle Curtis Greer, linebacker Ron Simpkins, and defensive backs Mike Jolly and Mike Harden.[1]
- ^ a b "1978 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ "1978 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- ^ a b "1978 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 5, 2020.