Michigan Wolverines football statistical leaders

The lists of Michigan Wolverines football statistical leaders identify individual statistical leaders of the Michigan Wolverines football program in various offensive categories, including passing, rushing, and receptions. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season and career leaders in yardage, number (receptions, rushes or passes), and touchdowns. Statistics accumulated after transferring from or before transferring to Michigan are not included here. The Michigan Wolverines football program is a college football team that represents the University of Michigan in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Big Ten Conference.

Career leader in passing yards, Chad Henne
Career leader in rushing yards, Mike Hart
Career leader in receiving yards, Braylon Edwards

Passing leaders. Michigan's career leader in passing yardage is Chad Henne with 9,715 passing yards from 2004 to 2007. Henne also holds the career records in completions (828) and touchdown passes (87). John Navarre holds the records for passing yards in a single season (3,331), set during the 2003 season. Devin Gardner holds the record for passing yards in a single game (503) against Indiana in 2013. Tom Brady holds the school's record for most completions in a game, having completed 34 passes against Alabama in the 2000 Orange Bowl.

Rushing leaders. Michigan's career leader in rushing yards is Mike Hart with 5,040 rushing yards from 2004 to 2007. Hart also holds the career record with 1,050 carries. Tim Biakabutuka holds the single-season record with 1,818 rushing yards during the 1995 season. Ron Johnson holds the single-game record with 347 rushing yards in a game against Wisconsin during the 1967 season. Willie Heston, who played on Fielding H. Yost's "Point-a-Minute" teams from 1901 to 1904, holds the career record for rushing touchdowns with 72. Blake Corum holds the records for most rushing touchdowns in a season (27), setting the record during Michigan’s 2023 national championship campaign. Albert E. Herrnstein owns the single-game touchdown record (7), having set the mark for the 1902 team.

Receiving leaders. Michigan receiving records are dominated by Braylon Edwards who played for Michigan from 2001 to 2004. When Edwards finished, he held the records for most career receiving yards (3,541),[1] receptions (252),[2] and touchdowns (39).[3] In 2004, Edwards also set the single-season records for receiving yards (1,330) and receptions (97).[4] However, in 2013 his single-season record for receiving yards was surpassed by Jeremy Gallon, who finished the season with 1,373 yards.[5] Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard holds the single season record with 19 touchdown catches during the 1991 season.[6] Michigan's single-game records are held by Jeremy Gallon (369 receiving yards, Indiana, October 19, 2013),[7] Marquise Walker (15 receptions twice, Ohio State, November 24, 2001 and Washington, September 8, 2001), and Derrick Alexander (4 touchdown receptions, Minnesota, October 24, 1992).[8]

Historical caveats. Although Michigan began competing in intercollegiate football in 1879,[9] the school's official statistical database only tracks offensive statistics since 1949.[10] Definitive tracking of most defensive statistics dates only to 1965, and tracking of sacks did not start until 1979. Field goal statistics have only been included since 1984, and a complete database of field goal statistics (i.e., down to the level of individual games) dates only to 1997.

Because the official database commences in 1949, many statistical achievements are overlooked in these lists. For example, Dick Rifenburg's career receiving statistics are not included in the official database despite the fact that his 16 career and eight single-season touchdowns were recognized as school records until 1980.[11]

Where pre-1949 records are available from reliable sources, they have been included below with yellow shading. Because there is no complete database of pre-1949 records, such records are incomplete and may not be considered "official" records.

With playing seasons extending progressively from relatively short four-games seasons in the 19th century to the current 12-game regular seasons, conference championship games, and bowl games,[12] and with players being eligible to play four years of college football starting in 1972,[13] as well as the NCAA's decision to not count the COVID-affected 2020 season against the athletic eligibility of any football player,[14] the lists tend to be dominated by more recent players.

Passing edit

Completions edit

Passing yards edit

Passing touchdowns edit

Rushing edit

Rushing yards edit

Rushing touchdowns edit

Records for years prior to 1949 are not included in the University of Michigan's statistical records database. Where pre-1949 records are available from reliable sources, they have been included below with yellow shading. Because there is no complete database of pre-1949 records, such records are incomplete and may not be considered "official" records. Unless otherwise indicated, touchdown totals in this section are taken from the 2011 Michigan Football Record Book.[20]

Receiving edit

Receptions edit

Receiving yards edit

Receiving touchdowns edit

Total offense edit

Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.[23]

Michigan does not include total offense records in its current statistical database.

Total offense yards edit

Touchdowns responsible for edit

"Touchdowns responsible for" is the official NCAA designation for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.[30]

Defense edit

Interceptions edit

Tackles edit

Sacks edit

Kicking edit

Field goals made edit

Field goal percentage edit

Margin of victory edit

Season edit

Rank Year Coach Points for Points against Delta
1 1902 Yost 644 12 632
2 1903 Yost 565 6 559
3 1901 Yost 550 0 550
4 1904 Yost 567 22 545
5 1905 Yost 495 2 493
6 2023 Harbaugh 538 156 382
7 (tie) 1947 Crisler 394 53 341
7 (tie) 2016 Harbaugh 524 183 341
7 (tie) 2022 Harbaugh 566 225 341
10 1971 Schembechler 421 83 338

Game (overall) edit

Rank Year Opponent Margin Score
1 1904 West Virginia 130 130–0
2 1901 Buffalo 128 128–0
3 1902 Michigan State 119 119–0
4 1902 Iowa 107 107–0
5 1904 Kalamazoo 95 95–0
6 1901 Beloit 89 89–0
7 (tie) 1902 Albion 88 88–0
7 (tie) 1903 Ferris 88 88–0
9 1902 Ohio State 86 86–0
10 1939 Chicago 85 85–0


Game (modern era) edit

Rank Date Opponent Margin Score
1 2016 Rutgers 78 78–0
2 (tie) 1947 Pittsburgh 69 69–0
2 (tie) 1975 Northwestern 69 69–0
4 2016 Hawaii 60 63–3
5 2022 UConn 59 59–0
6 (tie) 2000 Indiana 58 58–0
6 (tie) 2011 Minnesota 58 58–0
8 (tie) 1969 Illinois 57 57–0
8 (tie) 2009 Delaware State 57 63–6
10 (tie) 1971 Virginia 56 56–0
10 (tie) 1971 Iowa 56 63–7
10 (tie) 1977 Wisconsin 56 56–0
10 (tie) 1986 Illinois 56 69–13
10 (tie) 2016 Maryland 56 59–3

References edit

  1. ^ "Career Leaders and Records for Receiving Yards". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  2. ^ "Career Leaders and Records for Receptions". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  3. ^ "Career Leaders and Records for Receiving Touchdowns". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  4. ^ "Single Season Leaders and Records for Receptions". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Single Season Leaders and Records for Receiving Yards". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  6. ^ "Single Season Leaders and Records for Receiving Touchdowns". Sports-Reference: College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  7. ^ "Michigan's Jeremy Gallon Sets Big Ten Record for Most Receiving Yards in a Game". Bleacher Report. Bleacher Report, Inc./Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  8. ^ "Michigan Football Record Book" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive Advanced Media. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "University of Michigan Football Annual Team Records". mgoblue.com. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  10. ^ "2015 Michigan Football Media Guide" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  11. ^ Northrop, Milt (December 7, 1994). "Delectable Subplots Await in Season's Homestretch". Buffalo News.
  12. ^ "1887 Football Team". The Regents of the University of Michigan. March 31, 2007.
  13. ^ "Big Ten Football: Individual Records (All Games)" (PDF). The Big Ten Conference. Retrieved December 5, 2007.
  14. ^ Cobb, David (August 21, 2020). "NCAA approves blanket waiver for 2020 fall sports athletes to retain year of eligibility". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c "No. 14 Michigan hangs on for 48-41 win over Indiana in 2OT". ESPN.com. November 14, 2015.
  16. ^ "Michigan State vs. Michigan Box Score". ESPN.com. October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
  17. ^ a b c "Michigan vs. Michigan State Box Score". ESPN.com. October 30, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Devin Gardner, Jeremy Gallon set records in Michigan's shootout win". ESPN.com. October 19, 2013.
  19. ^ a b "Ohio State survives when Michigan's 2-point attempt fails". ESPN.com. November 30, 2013.
  20. ^ "Michigan Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2011. p. 122.
  21. ^ "NCAA Football's Finest" (PDF). NCAA. 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2012.(In 2002, the NCAA published "NCAA Football's Finest," researched and compiled by the NCAA Statistics Service. The compilers were able to find rushing statistics for only 17 of Heston's 36 games for Michigan.)
  22. ^ Paul Magoffin's total is for all touchdowns during the 1907 game against Michigan Agricultural College. No breakdown is readily available to determine whether any of his touchdowns were receiving touchdowns.
  23. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 9. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  24. ^ "Michigan's Denard Robinson caps stellar performance with winning TD". ESPN.com. September 11, 2010.
  25. ^ "Denard Robinson scores with 17 seconds left as Michigan breaks Indiana". ESPN.com. October 2, 2010.
  26. ^ "Michigan erases 10-point halftime deficit to beat Northwestern". ESPN.com. October 8, 2011.
  27. ^ "Michigan scores with 2 seconds left, stuns Irish". ESPN.com. September 10, 2011.
  28. ^ "Denard Robinson carries Michigan to hard-fought win over Air Force". ESPN.com. September 8, 2012.
  29. ^ "Denard Robinson accounts for 4 TDs as No. 17 Michigan routs Umass". ESPN.com. September 15, 2012.
  30. ^ "2021 Football Bowl Subdivision Records" (PDF). NCAA. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  31. ^ a b "Quinn Nordin". ESPN.com.