1976 Michigan Wolverines football team

1976 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten co-champion
Rose Bowl, L 6–14 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 3
AP	No. 3
1976 record	10–2 (7–1 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (8th year)
Defensive coordinator	Gary Moeller (4th year)
Base defense	5–2
MVP	Rob Lytle
Captain	Kirk Lewis
Captain	Rob Lytle
Captain	Calvin O'Neal
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium
Seasons ← 1975 1977 →

1976 Big Ten football standings
	Conf					Overall
Team	W		L		T	W		L		T
#3 Michigan +	7	–	1	–	0	10	–	2	–	0
#6 Ohio State +	7	–	1	–	0	9	–	2	–	1
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0	6	–	5	–	0
Illinois	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Indiana	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	4	–	4	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Wisconsin	3	–	5	–	0	5	–	6	–	0
Michigan State	3	–	5	–	0	4	–	6	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0	1	–	10	–	0

+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

Week 1: Wisconsin at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wisconsin	10	7	0	0	17
• Michigan	23	7	0	0	30

Date: September 11, 1976
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 101,337

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Safety on Morgan fumble out of end zone	MICH 2-0

1	MICH	Huckleby 56-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 9-0

1	MICH	Huckleby 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 16-0

1	MICH	J. Smith 12-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 23-0

2	WISC	Egloff 26-yard pass from Carroll (Lamla kick)	MICH 23-7

2	MICH	J. Smith 25-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 30-7

3/4	WISC	Lamla 42-yard field goal	MICH 30-10

3/4	MICH	Wood 36-yard field goal	MICH 33-10

3/4	WISC	Lamla 42-yard field goal	MICH 33-13

3/4	WISC	Canada 6-yard run (Lamla kick)	MICH 33-20

3/4	MICH	Huckleby 1-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 40-20

3/4	WISC	Charles 7-yard pass from Carroll (Lamla kick)	MICH 40-27

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Safety on Morgan fumble out of end zone	MICH 2-0

1	MICH	Huckleby 56-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 9-0

1	MICH	Huckleby 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 16-0

1	MICH	J. Smith 12-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 23-0

2	WISC	Egloff 26-yard pass from Carroll (Lamla kick)	MICH 23-7

2	MICH	J. Smith 25-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 30-7

3/4	WISC	Lamla 42-yard field goal	MICH 30-10

3/4	MICH	Wood 36-yard field goal	MICH 33-10

3/4	WISC	Lamla 42-yard field goal	MICH 33-13

3/4	WISC	Canada 6-yard run (Lamla kick)	MICH 33-20

3/4	MICH	Huckleby 1-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 40-20

3/4	WISC	Charles 7-yard pass from Carroll (Lamla kick)	MICH 40-27

Week 2: Stanford at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Stanford	0	0	0	0	0
• Michigan	14	17	13	7	51

Date: September 18, 1976
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 103,741

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Huckleby 8-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 7-0

1	MICH	Leach 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 14-0

2	MICH	Lytle 16-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 21-0

2	MICH	Wood 49-yard field goal	MICH 24-0

2	MICH	Russell Davis 16-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 31-0

3	MICH	Lytle 14-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 38-0

3	MICH	G. Johnson 3-yard pass from Leach (kick failed)	MICH 44-0

4	MICH	R. Davis 85-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 51-0

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Huckleby 8-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 7-0

1	MICH	Leach 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 14-0

2	MICH	Lytle 16-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 21-0

2	MICH	Wood 49-yard field goal	MICH 24-0

2	MICH	Russell Davis 16-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 31-0

3	MICH	Lytle 14-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 38-0

3	MICH	G. Johnson 3-yard pass from Leach (kick failed)	MICH 44-0

4	MICH	R. Davis 85-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 51-0

Week 3: Navy at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Navy	7	7	0	0	14
• Michigan	7	14	28	21	70

Date: September 25, 1976
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 101,040

Scoring summary

1	NAVY	Kurowski 20-yard run (Tata kick)	NAVY 7-0

1	MICH	Lytle 3-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 7-7

2	MICH	Safety, Ohanian tackled by Greer in end zone	MICH 9-7

2	MICH	Wood 51-yard field goal	MICH 12-7

2	NAVY	Kiawinski 1-yard run (Tata kick)	NAVY 14-12

2	MICH	Safety punt blocked out of end zone	MICH 14-14

2	MICH	J. Smith 31-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 21-14

3	MICH	Leach 6-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 28-14

3	MICH	O'Neal 29-yard interception return (Wood kick)	MICH 35-14

3	MICH	Leach 7-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 42-14

3	MICH	G. Johnson 5-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 49-14

4	MICH	S. Johnson 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 56-14

4	MICH	K. King 3-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 63-14

4	MICH	L. Reid 2-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 70-14

Scoring summary

1	NAVY	Kurowski 20-yard run (Tata kick)	NAVY 7-0

1	MICH	Lytle 3-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 7-7

2	MICH	Safety, Ohanian tackled by Greer in end zone	MICH 9-7

2	MICH	Wood 51-yard field goal	MICH 12-7

2	NAVY	Kiawinski 1-yard run (Tata kick)	NAVY 14-12

2	MICH	Safety punt blocked out of end zone	MICH 14-14

2	MICH	J. Smith 31-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 21-14

3	MICH	Leach 6-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 28-14

3	MICH	O'Neal 29-yard interception return (Wood kick)	MICH 35-14

3	MICH	Leach 7-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 42-14

3	MICH	G. Johnson 5-yard pass from Leach (Wood kick)	MICH 49-14

4	MICH	S. Johnson 4-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 56-14

4	MICH	K. King 3-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 63-14

4	MICH	L. Reid 2-yard run (Wood kick)	MICH 70-14

Week 4: Wake Forest at Michigan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wake Forest	0	0	0	0	0
• Michigan	7	10	7	7	31

Date: October 2, 1976
Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
Game attendance: 103,241

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Leach 3-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 7-0

2	MICH	Lytle 9-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 14-0

2	MICH	Wood 23-yard field goal	Michigan 17-0

3	MICH	Huckleby 13-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 24-0

4	MICH	Lytle 25-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 31-0

Scoring summary

1	MICH	Leach 3-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 7-0

2	MICH	Lytle 9-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 14-0

2	MICH	Wood 23-yard field goal	Michigan 17-0

3	MICH	Huckleby 13-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 24-0

4	MICH	Lytle 25-yard run (Wood kick)	Michigan 31-0

The 1976 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines finished the season with a 10–2 record, won the Big Ten Conference championship, and played in the 1977 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 432 to 95 and ranked first in the country in total offense (448.1 yards per game), scoring offense (38.7 points per game), and scoring defense (7.2 points per game). In the final AP and UPI Polls, Michigan was ranked #3.

Highlights of the season included a 51-0 victory over Stanford in which three Michigan running backs rushed for over 100 yards. Michigan's 70-14 victory over Navy was the worst defeat in the history of the Naval Academy's football program. Michigan spent most of the season ranked #1 in the polls, but a 16-14 loss to Purdue in the ninth game of the season dropped the Wolverines out of the top spot. In the final game of the regular season, Michigan defeated Ohio State, 22-0, to win the Big Ten championship. The game marked the first time the Buckeyes had been held scoreless since 1964. In the 1977 Rose Bowl, Michigan lost to USC, 14-6, as the Wolverines completed only four passes and were held to 155 rushing yards.

On offense, senior running back Rob Lytle was selected as the team's most valuable player, finished third in voting for the Heisman Trophy, and led the Wolverines with 1,469 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. Lytle finished the season as Michigan's all-time career rushing leader with 3,307 rushing yards gained from 1974 to 1976. Quarterback Rick Leach passed for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for another 638 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 13 touchdown passes tied a team record set by Bob Chappuis in 1947. Harlan Huckleby added 912 rushing yards, and wing back Jim Smith caught 26 passes for 714 yards and six touchdowns.

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