Michigan Football has 6 unclaimed National Championships
Everyone knows Michigan has 11 national championships. But we have 6 more that we left on the table and have not claimed.
National championships in FBS are very difficult to explain sometimes because of the long history of them being mythical. I'd argue they're still mythical in present-day football as we just replaced the unbiased BCS computers with old people who are biased. There have been around 40 different selectors throughout the history of college football. Polls, computer rankings, math systems.
Alabama's 17 national titles claim is highly criticized. The most dubious of their claims is 1941; a year where they went 9-2, lost 2 SEC games and finished #20 in the AP Poll. The only system that selected them was the Houlgate System, and yet Alabama claims it. Minnesota went 8-0 and was selected by the AP Poll in 1941.
They aren't the only ones who do it. Ohio State claims 1970 where they went 9-1 and lost in the Rose Bowl, only selected by the NFF while AP Champion Nebraska went 10-0-1 in 1970. There are dozens of others.
With all the talk of the CFP creating "undisputed" champions, lo and behold we had a split championship in 2017. Laugh all you want but UCF was selected by Colley Matrix--an official selector--and they of course claimed the title. Fodder in the moment but will people care or mention that in 50 years? I don't hear anyone saying that about OSU or Alabama unless they really know their history. The media certainly doesn't mention those things when talking about Alabama's 17 national championships.
Teams are even retroactively claiming national championships. USC claimed 1939 in 2004. Texas A&M added 1919 & 1927 upon joining the SEC. Minnesota claimed 1904 in 2013. Auburn claimed 1913, 1983 and 1993 (11-0 but ineligible due to NCAA sanctions that year) a few years ago.
This post isn't trying to sell you that Michigan should claim their unclaimed titles. It's August and it's sharing some history to get people's thoughts.
1910: 3-0-3, Independent
Selector(s): Eckersall
Other teams that claim 1910: Harvard (8-0-1)
Other teams selected but don't claim: Pittsburgh (9-0-0)
The ties probably leap off the page. Back in the early 1900s there typically was an Eastern champion selected usually from the Ivy League and a Western champion. Independent Michigan defeated Big Ten champion Minnesota in the season finale and Walter Eckersall of the Chicago Tribune opined that Michigan was the true champion of the West in 1910.
1925: 7-1 (5-1), Western Conference Champions
Selector(s): Sagarin Ratings
Other teams that claim 1925: Alabama (10-0-0), Dartmouth (8-0-0)
Despite the Point-a-Minute teams of the turn of the century, Fielding Yost called the 1925 Wolverines his best ever. Michigan was a machine, outscoring opponents 227-3. The 3 resulted in the only loss of the season.
Michigan faced Northwestern in a muddy pit of a field in a driving rainstorm at Soldier Field in Chicago. Northwestern punted on their first play from scrimmage and it was muffed by Benny Friedman and recovered by the Wildcats. NU kicked a FG to go up 3-0. In the 3rd quarter, Michigan's fierce defense pinned NU at their own 1 yd line. Rather than risk giving up a TD on a short field, Northwestern took an intentional safety. Back in those days the team that gave up the 2 points got to keep the ball. Northwestern used that rule to their advantage and escaped with a 3-2 win.
1926: 7-1 (5-0), Western Conference Champions
Selector(s): Sagarin Ratings
Other teams that claim 1926: Alabama (9-0-1), Lafayette (9-0), Navy (9-0-1), Stanford (10-0-1)
Michigan's only loss of 1926 was to powerhouse Navy in Baltimore. The Benny to Bennie combination lit it up for the majority of the season as Michigan outscored opponents 191-38. Michigan closed out the season against their secondary rival Ohio State and their main rival Minnesota, winning both by 1 point margins. Ohio State blew a 10-0 lead at home and nearly salvaged a tie but missed the PAT as Michigan prevailed 17-16. In the final game of Fielding H. Yost's legendary career, Minnesota struck first, scoring a TD first but missed the PAT. Later on in the game the Gophers fumbled and it was returned 58 yards by Bennie Oosterbaan for a TD. Benny Friedman's PAT drop-kick was good and Michigan won 7-6.
1964: 9-1 (6-1) Big Ten Champions, Rose Bowl Champions
Selector(s): Dunkel
Other teams that claim 1964: Alabama (10-1-0), Arkansas (11-0-0)
Other teams selected but don't claim: Notre Dame (9-1-0)
This was the 2011 season of the dark ages of the 50's and 60's. Michigan rose from its slumber and won the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1950. The only blemish on the record that season came at home against Purdue who was led by QB Bob Griese. In a back and forth contest, Purdue held a 21-14 lead in the 4th quarter until Michigan QB Bob Timberlake broke away for a 54 yard TD scramble. Head coach Bump Elliott opted to go for the win instead of the tie and Michigan's conversion attempt was stopped short of the goal line. Purdue held on for a 21-20 upset win of the #5 Wolverines.
1964 was the last time Michigan defeated both MSU and OSU on the road in the same season. MSU was in their golden age in the 1960s so the 17-10 win over them in a Top-10 showdown was extremely impressive. The Wolverines won the Big Ten Championship in Columbus with a 10-0 shutout win over #7 Ohio State. It was a cakewalk in Pasadena as #4 Michigan mauled #8 Oregon State 34-7.
1973: 10-0-1 (7-0-1) Big Ten Champions
Selector(s): National Championship Foundation, Poling System
Other teams that claim 1973: Alabama (11-1-0), Notre Dame (11-0-0)
Other teams selected but don't claim: Ohio State (10-0-1), Oklahoma (10-0-1)
You probably know the story of this team. If you don't, it was arguably Bo Schembechler's best team. Mike Lantry missed the game-winning FG against #1 Ohio State at The Big House and the game ended in a 10-10 tie. Big Ten ADs had a vote on who would go to the Rose Bowl and they voted for OSU despite Michigan outplaying OSU. Woody Hayes was even stunned and expected Michigan to get to go to Pasadena. This opened the door for the Big Ten to allow teams to accept bowl invites outside of the Rose Bowl, but it came at the expense of the 1973 Wolverines. Alabama and Notre Dame both claim 1973 despite Notre Dame beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. I did a comparison of 1973 Michigan and Notre Dame on here years ago.
1985: 10-1-1 (6-1-1) Fiesta Bowl Champions
Selector(s): Matthews Grid Ratings
Other teams that claim 1985: Oklahoma (11-1-0)
Other teams selected but don't claim: Florida (9-1-1)
This is also arguably Bo's greatest team. The 1985 defense was one of the greatest in Michigan history. The offense was pretty good as well led by QB Jim Harbaugh, Michigan started 1985 unranked after a disaster 6-6 season in 1984. The Wolverines pummeled 3 straight ranked opponents to open 1985 and reached #2 in the AP Poll before traveling to #1 Iowa. The Hawkeyes kicked four FGs and escaped with a 12-10 victory. Oklahoma also lost to unranked Miami though so the door was left open. The game that likely cost the 1985 team a large chunk of national championship selections was a 3-3 tie at Illinois. Illinois nearly won the game on a last second FG, but the ball was tipped at the line and bounced off the crossbar which resulted in the tie. Michigan won their final 4 games of 1985 including a 27-17 triumph over #12 Ohio State and a 27-23 comeback victory over #8 Nebraska in the Fiesta Bowl.
August 17th, 2019 at 5:39 PM ^
The only national championship I want to claim right now is the 2020 CFB Playoff Championship.
August 18th, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Agreed. This year would be the the time to claim one. Go out there and dominate every opponent and leave nothing up to question. The op is really grasping here. This took way too much time and energy that you will never get back. You need to get a girlfriend or a hobby or something. We’re not UCF. No need to claim titles that really are not earned. This is Michigan fur gawd sakes!!
Go Blue!!
August 17th, 2019 at 5:42 PM ^
I dont know what to say .... except ... San Dimas high school football rules!
August 17th, 2019 at 7:08 PM ^
Beaver football rules too!!
# Sideline passes.
August 17th, 2019 at 5:42 PM ^
That was a lot of informative, interesting content. Look at you, man.
August 17th, 2019 at 5:52 PM ^
Good stuff. There's a segment of Michigan purists who probably hate this, but it's a conversation worth having given what other schools have done.
I'd be happy if (not until Michigan wins another title) they claimed a share of all of those minus 1910.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:15 PM ^
It has zero to do with being a "purist".
It comes across as sour grapes or revisionist history.
August 17th, 2019 at 7:15 PM ^
I disagree...its just info. It's not like the OP says we SHOULD claim them.
What I find interesting is that a lot of the schools who claim all these NCs claim in years we could've claimed.
What I found even more interesting was that I didn't know there were other schools who "won" the same year we don't claim it.
Whatever. Moving on.
August 17th, 2019 at 7:21 PM ^
I'm not really either, I don't think, but I think we should claim them all. The banners should also go back up. Auburn claims a NC while in probation? put up the banners.
August 19th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
I've had this same thought over the years after seeing this list for the first time:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/College_football_national_championships_in_NCAA_Division_I_FBS
I agree, I don't think UM should claim 1910 as they weren't selected by any Major Selector but the rest I think they should.
I wish op had included detail on UM's selection by some of the these Major Selectors.
August 17th, 2019 at 5:54 PM ^
August 17th, 2019 at 6:00 PM ^
I couldn't give 2 shits if we claimed the 1910 championship
August 17th, 2019 at 6:13 PM ^
^^^ THIS...All. Day. Long.
This post makes Michigan look like UCF:
Kinda lame
August 17th, 2019 at 7:07 PM ^
^^^This...understatement of the day!
August 17th, 2019 at 7:22 PM ^
Disagree. They got snubbed. They have a legitimate argument they got hosed. Not saying they would have won, but it's possible had they gotten a shot.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:06 PM ^
Bama/Clemson v UCF would have been a bigger goose egg than Staee losing 38-0.
August 17th, 2019 at 7:26 PM ^
You know, some people rail against participant ribbons in today's sports landscape and that's fine, but it is of an entirely different order when you manufacture your own participant ribbons....
August 17th, 2019 at 8:07 PM ^
... AND having the government manufacturing some of the loot.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:02 PM ^
Please let's win one now instead of claiming bs ones from decades ago. We have good claims to all the ones we currently claim.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:25 PM ^
Win this year’s title, stake WD’s claim in the same announcement (bury it in the small print that accompanies all PR announcements...we’ll be covered)
August 17th, 2019 at 6:06 PM ^
Different sport, but I’m still wishing we’d claim our 2013 hoops championship.
/kinda kidding, but we actually were the last legal team standing.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:24 PM ^
Or hang the banners.
I feel like we’re being penalized both ways.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:14 PM ^
Claim all the past ones. Win all the future ones. Go blue!
August 17th, 2019 at 6:22 PM ^
Upon reading this, Alabama just claimed 3 more championships.
August 17th, 2019 at 7:06 PM ^
Silly. Alabama can't read.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:22 PM ^
I'd be interested to learn more about the random selectors, and how and why they come up with a different MNC than the consensus.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:23 PM ^
undefeated in 1992. there's gotta be an unclaimed championship somewhere that year
August 17th, 2019 at 10:26 PM ^
I still remember almost every play of the '93 Rose Bowl. What a game. That day was also the last time I rooted for 'Bama
August 17th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
Is this the longest post in mgoblog history?
I wish I had the patience to read it. TL,DR
August 17th, 2019 at 8:09 PM ^
Here's the tl;dr
Michigan should claim championships they don't have because other schools are doing it too.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:24 PM ^
Your eyes are deceiving you if you saw that anywhere in the OP. But, continue raging.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:54 PM ^
Raging?
You must be off of your depression meds.
August 18th, 2019 at 9:39 AM ^
Here’s a direct quote from the OP:
This post isn't trying to sell you that Michigan should claim their unclaimed titles. It's August and it's sharing some history to get people's thoughts.
Humility and admitting when you’re wrong is a virtue we respect at MgoBlog. Your life will improve if you decide to begin practicing it a bit more.
August 17th, 2019 at 8:46 PM ^
It doesn't say that...at all.
August 17th, 2019 at 10:31 PM ^
Doesn’t it?
August 17th, 2019 at 10:35 PM ^
Now we know why -- in a long list of reasons -- WD couldn't get into Michigan. His verbal SAT scores must have been in the toilet.
August 18th, 2019 at 7:18 AM ^
You seem miserable.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:28 PM ^
I can see that: '19, '21, '23, '24, '25, '29 :)
I love how much that pissed the ninnies off.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:30 PM ^
I can't stand UCF - I root against them every week because of their audacity. And I live in Florida.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:58 PM ^
August 17th, 2019 at 8:37 PM ^
It's a "playoff" only for the four teams that get invited. For everyone else it's just an invitational exhibition. Only *slightly* more effective than the previous systems, which were a two team invitational playoff and before that an open shouting match. Until a system exists that every participating team can control their own destiny within a single season (even if it would be very difficult for the smaller schools, but not impossible), then it's all BS.
Anyone claiming this is impossible/impractical is full of it, since this is exactly the case for FCS and March Madness - any team that goes undefeated will get their chance, even if it's a longshot.
August 17th, 2019 at 11:03 PM ^
Simple solution. 4 16 team conferences form their own subdivision. You must win your conference (CCG become de-facto quarterfinals) and you go the CFP by winning it. No committees, polls, or computers. Win your league and you get a shot. The Non-power 5 have their own subdivision and playoff and compete in bowls with the non-qualifying teams of the power conference teams.
August 17th, 2019 at 11:19 PM ^
Not worth debating over the exact methodology of a true playoff system - there are many ways of getting there. The main point is that it has to give all participants a clear pathway (whether it's easy or hard can vary as long as everyone knows exactly what they need to do to ensure getting in). Having situations where one (or more) teams go undefeated and still get left out proves the system is ineffective.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:31 PM ^
Alabama and Notre Dame both claim 1973 despite Notre Dame beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.
undefeated ND hands bamas its 1 loss yet bama claims that natl title...thats one of the crazier things ive heard
August 17th, 2019 at 11:35 PM ^
If Bama and others are claiming stuff when they were the undisputed not national champ..We do need to have this conversation.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:43 PM ^
Damn dude, why don't you have a book contract yet? Maybe you should contact John U Bacon and ask who his agent is? I'm not joking.
August 17th, 2019 at 9:04 PM ^
Ill have to ask him for one. He parks in the same lot that we tailgate in off Hoover
August 17th, 2019 at 6:45 PM ^
This is the kind of thing that causes people to hate our great university. I am absolutely in favor of KNOWING history, but don’t LIVE in it. This is like Italy declaring itself the preeminent world power because Rome dominated the world for a thousand years (fine print: a long time ago). Neg away.
August 17th, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^