1989 Michigan Wolverines football team

1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 8
APNo. 7
Record10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorGary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorLloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVPTony Boles
Captains
Home stadiumMichigan Stadium
1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 7 Michigan $ 8 0 0 10 2 0
No. 10 Illinois 7 1 0 10 2 0
No. 16 Michigan State 6 2 0 8 4 0
No. 24 Ohio State 6 2 0 8 4 0
Minnesota 4 4 0 6 5 0
Indiana 3 5 0 5 6 0
Iowa 3 5 0 5 6 0
Purdue 2 6 0 3 8 0
Wisconsin 1 7 0 2 9 0
Northwestern 0 8 0 0 11 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184. They lost to Notre Dame in the season opener and then won 10 consecutive regular season games before losing to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines were ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls. Prior to the Rose Bowl, Schembechler announced that he would retire after the Rose Bowl.

Quarterbacks Michael Taylor and Elvis Grbac passed for 966 and 824 yards, respectively. Tailback Tony Boles led the team in rushing with 839 yards, and split end Greg McMurtry led with 37 receptions for 655 yards. Placekicker J.D. Carlson was the leading scorer with 73 points, converting 36 of 39 extra points and 12 of 13 field goals. Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection on the 1989 All-America team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.