The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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1 Team in the FBS did not allow a kickoff return longer than 30 yards in the past three seasons — Michi- gan. During that three-year stretch, the Wol- verines booted touchbacks on 207 of their 309 kickoffs, helping the cause. 3 Consecutive Big Ten championships and wins over Ohio State for Michigan football. The last time the Wolverines had won three straight conference crowns was a five-year stretch from 1988- 92. However, the 2021-23 run marked the first time U-M has won three consecutive outright Big Ten titles. The last time they beat Ohio State three meetings in a row was 1995-97 under head man Lloyd Carr. 6 Michigan captains on the 2023 national championship team: graduate linebacker Michael Barrett, senior running back Blake Corum, senior defensive lineman Kris Jenkins, graduate left guard Trevor Keegan, graduate defensive back Mike Sainristil (a two-time captain) and senior right guard Zak Zinter. The leaders of Team 144 helped bring Michigan its first national championship since 1997. 10.4 Points allowed per game for the Michigan de- fense, ranking No. 1 in the country. The Wolverines and Georgia's 2021 outfit (10.2) are the only two units to give up fewer than 11 points per outing since Alabama in 2012 (10.9). 15 Wins in the 2023 season — the most in a single season in 144 years of Michigan football. 26 Unanimous first-team All-Americans in Michigan his- tory, including senior offensive lineman Zak Zinter this season. The Wolverines have had a different player named unanimous All-American in three straight seasons for the first time ever, with defensive end Aidan Hutchinson in 2021 and run- ning back Blake Corum in 2022 preceding Zinter. The right guard became the first U-M offensive lineman to earn the honor since left tackle Jake Long in 2007. 27-1 Was junior quarterback J . J . M C C A R T H Y 's career record as a starter at Michigan. That .964 win percent- age is the best among col- lege football quarterbacks since Chuck Early went 35-0 at Toledo from 1969-71. 61 Wins for graduate linebacker MICHAEL BARRETT in his six-year career — the most by any Michigan player in history. 90.8 Was junior quarterback J.J. Mc- Carthy's overall Pro Football Focus grade for the season, which led Michigan and ranked tied for eighth in the country among quarterbacks with 200-plus dropbacks. Sopho- more defensive lineman Mason Gra- ham paced the U-M defense with a 90.0 rating. 27.2 Million Was the average viewership on ESPN for Michi- gan's 27-20 overtime win over Alabama in the CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, the most-watched CFP semifinal since 2014 and non-NFL sporting event since 2018. The Wolverines played in the three most-viewed tilts of the 2023 season, with the 34-13 victory over Washington in the national championship game Jan. 8 ranking second with 25 million average viewers and the 30-24 win over Ohio State Nov. 25 checking in third with 19 million. This season, we came here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and we were all out of bubblegum." — Graduate left guard TREVOR KEEGAN When I went down in The Big House and was laying on the turf, the lowest moment of my career, I heard each and every one of you, and for that I will be eternally grateful." — Senior right guard Zak Zinter to U-M fans on his injury against Ohio State Nov. 25 Michigan will forever be in my heart and will always be in my heart, and I will be proud to be known as a Michigan man." — Junior quarterback J.J. MCCARTHY PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF