The 2023 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the East Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their ninth and final year under head coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines compiled a perfect 15–0 record, outscored opponents by a total of 538 to 156, and won their third consecutive Big Ten championship with a 26–0 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game. They defeated No. 4 Alabama, 27–20 in overtime, in the 2024 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines then defeated No. 2 Washington, 34–13, in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship to claim their first College Football Playoff (CFP) title and 12th national championship in program history, the first since 1997, and the first consensus national championship since 1948. With a win against Maryland on November 18, Michigan became the first program in college football history to reach 1,000 wins.
Michigan was the first national champion to have a lead at halftime in every game it played since the 2001 Miami Hurricanes. The Wolverines are the first team in Big Ten football history to complete a 15–0 season and the fourth NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team to do so following Clemson in 2018, LSU in 2019, and Georgia in 2022. Michigan finished ranked No. 1 in the AP for the first time since 1997, and finished ranked No. 1 in the Coaches Poll for the first time in program history.
Michigan's statistical leaders included starting quarterback J. J. McCarthy with 2,991 passing yards and a 72.3% completion percentage and running back Blake Corum with 1,245 rushing yards and an FBS-leading and single-season school-record 27 rushing touchdowns. Guard Zak Zinter was selected as a unanimous All-American, with Corum and cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Will Johnson receiving first-team All-American honors.
McCarthy was awarded the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and Corum received the Big Ten Running Back of the Year for a second straight season. Both were also selected to the 2023 All-Big Ten Conference football team receiving first-team honors. In addition was Zinter, Sainristil, Johnson, center Drake Nugent, offensive tackle LaDarius Henderson, tight end Colston Loveland and defensive lineman Mason Graham. Michigan's defense held opponents to 10.4 points per game (PPG), the fewest by a Big Ten team since Michigan's 1997 national championship team (9.5 PPG) and fewest overall since the 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide (8.8 PPG).
Harbaugh was suspended by the university from game-day coaching for the first three games of the season due to alleged recruiting violations during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also suspended by the Big Ten for the final three games of the regular season as punishment of the program for the allegations of sign-stealing. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore led the team to four victories, including wins over No. 10 Penn State and No. 2 Ohio State, as acting head coach during Harbaugh's absence.
Michigan drew an average home attendance of 109,971 in 2023, the highest in college football. To date, 25 players from the 2023 roster have been selected in subsequent NFL drafts, including a school-record 13 selections in 2024, the most from a single university that year.
Schedule
Rankings
Preseason Coaching changes On January 17, 2023, sources reported that co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss was placed on leave pending an ongoing police investigation into a report of "computer access crimes" that occurred in December 2022. On January 20, 2023, Michigan announced that “[a]fter a review of University policies, the athletic department has terminated the appointment of co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss." On January 27, it was announced that Michigan promoted Kirk Campbell to the role of quarterbacks coach, replacing the departed Matt Weiss. Campbell spent 2022 at Michigan as an offensive analyst after serving as the offensive coordinator at Old Dominion for two seasons. On February 8, Michigan announced the return of former Michigan assistant Chris Partridge to the staff in an unspecified role. Partridge served in a variety of roles at Michigan from 2015 to 2019 and spent the last three seasons as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Ole Miss. On February 16, Michigan and linebackers coach George Helow mutually agreed to part ways. The next day on February 17, Michigan announced that the previously hired Chris Partridge would be the linebackers coach, replacing Helow. In the same announcement, Sherrone Moore became the sole offensive coordinator, having previously served as the co-offensive coordinator alongside Weiss.
Suspensions of Jim Harbaugh On August 23, Michigan announced that it was self-imposing a three-game suspension on head coach Jim Harbaugh related to recruiting violations. Days later it was announced that Sherrone Moore, Jesse Minter, Jay Harbaugh and Mike Hart would all serve as interim head coach in Harbaugh's absence with Minter coaching the first game, Jay Harbaugh coaching the first half of the second game, Hart coaching the second half of the second game, and Moore coaching the third game. In addition, Jack Harbaugh was named assistant head coach and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert was promoted to associate head coach. On November 10, Harbaugh received another three-game suspension, this time related to the Michigan Wolverines football sign-stealing scandal. Moore was named as the interim head coach for the duration of Harbaugh's suspension. A planned court hearing to challenge the suspension was cancelled as Harbaugh agreed to accept it, with the Big Ten also closing its investigation the same day.
Game summaries East Carolina
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To open the season, Michigan played against East Carolina. Before a crowd of 109,480 at Michigan Stadium, the Wolverines defeated the Pirates, 30–3. It was the first meeting between the two programs. The game began with back-to-back three-and-outs as neither team had success on their initial possessions. On East Carolina's second possession, Michigan intercepted a Mason Garcia pass at the Michigan 46-yard line. The Wolverines then drove 57 yards, scoring on a 14-yard touchdown pass from J. J. McCarthy to Roman Wilson. On Michigan's next drive, the Wolverines drove 90 yards on seven plays, including a 37-yard run by Blake Corum followed by a two-yard touchdown run by Corum. On the Wolverines fourth possession, they drove 76 yards on seven plays and scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from McCarthy to Wilson and James Turner missed the extra point. On their final possession of the half, Michigan drove 42 yards on 10 plays, with Turner kicking a 50-yard field goal on the final play of the half. Michigan led, 23–0, at halftime.
After the second-half kickoff, Michigan drove 75 yards on 12 plays, scoring on a 15-yard touchdown pass from McCarthy to Wilson – the third touchdown pass and catch of the game for the pair. On its next possession, Michigan drove 79 yards on 12 plays but were stopped short of the goal line. On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, Davis Warren took over at quarterback for Michigan; the Wolverines began the drive at the East Carolina 38-yard line, gained only four yards, and James Turner missed a 52-yard field goal attempt. Andrew Conrad kicked a 33-yard field goal for East Carolina as time ran out.
Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter served as acting head coach for the game and was credited with the victory, as Jim Harbaugh was serving a three-game suspension. Quarterback J. J. McCarthy recorded his best career passing game at home (280 yards, three touchdowns). McCarthy's 86.7% completion percentage (26-for-30) ranks second-highest in program history, behind Elvis Grbac's 90.9% (20-for-22) against Notre Dame on September 14, 1991.
UNLV
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Following its opening game against East Carolina, Michigan hosted the UNLV Rebels, winning 35–7, before a crowd of 109,482 at Michigan Stadium. As a result of the university's three-game suspension of Jim Harbaugh, special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh served as acting head coach in the first half, while running backs coach Mike Hart was the acting head coach in the second half. Hart became the first African American to serve in the role of head football coach at Michigan.
On the game's opening drive, UNLV drove 19 yards before punting. On the Wolverines' first possession, they drove 80 yards on nine plays, as J. J. McCarthy completed passes to Blake Corum for 20 yards, Tyler Morris for 16 yards, Roman Wilson for 25 yards, and Cornelius Johnson for six yards, and Corum scored on a three-yard run. Michigan's defense then held UNLV to a three-and-out. On their second possession, the Wolverines drove 75 yards on 11 plays, including McCarthy's passes to Tyler Morris for 15 yard and AJ Barner for 12 yards. McCarthy then ran 17 yards to UNLV's two-yard line, and Corum scored on a two-yard run on the first play of the second quarter.
UNLV was limited to five yards and a punt on its first drive of the second quarter. Michigan then drove 42 yards to UNLV's 18-yard line, but Corum's run on fourth-and-two failed to gain the necessary yardage. UNLV then drove 25 yards on seven plays but was forced to punt. On its second drive of the second quarter (fourth of the game), Michigan drove 83 yards on 19 plays, including passes to Cornelius Johnson for 18 yards, Donovan Edwards for 15 yards, and Roman Wilson for 13 yards and a touchdown. Michigan led, 21–0, at halftime.
On Michigan's second drive of the second half, McCarthy completed a touchdown pass to Roman Wilson covering 47 yards. As he completed the 47-yards pass to Wilson, McCarthy wore the number 47 on his hand in tribute to high-school teammate and former UNLV player Ryan Keeler who died of a heart arrhythmia in February 2023. UNLV responded with a seven-play, 42-yard drive to Michigan's 33-yard line, but the drive ended with a turnover on downs. The teams then exchange three-and-outs. Michigan then drove 76 yards on four plays, including a 19-yard run by Corum and a 26-yard pass completion from McCarthy to Johnson; Corum scored on a five-yard run, and Michigan led 35–0, at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Davis Warren took over at quarterback for Michigan. Warren threw an interception on his second pass, and UNLV took over at its own 23-yard line. UNLV drove 37 yards but was unable to convert on fourth-and-three at Michigan's 40-yard line. Jack Tuttle took over as Michigan's quarterback, but was knocked out of the game on a late hit out of bounds. Jayden Denegal took over at quarterback, and Michigan was held to a three-and-out. UNLV then drove 81 yards on nine plays, scoring on a 20-yard touchdown run by Jordan Younge-Humphrey.
Through two games, J. J. McCarthy has completed 48 of 55 pass attempts for an 87.2% completion percentage. Running back Blake Corum posted 15 carries for 80 yards and scored three rushing touchdowns, for his 11th career multi-touchdown game.
Bowling Green
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On September 16, Michigan defeated Bowling Green, 31–6, before a crowd of 109,955 at Michigan Stadium. It was the final game of Jim Harbaugh's three-game suspension with offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore serving as acting head coach. Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler played for Michigan in the 1990s and was an assistant coach at Michigan from 2002 to 2006.