The 2016 season's largest margin: Michigan 78, Rutgers 0. A 78-point win — the year's high-water mark.
2016 — The Top-10 Year
Michigan finished 2016 inside the final AP top-10. The top-10 is the tier the program calibrates annual expectation against.
The Shape — week-by-week · cumulative W–L below
Who carried it
- Wilton SpeightQB2,538 passing yards
- De'Veon SmithRB846 rushing yards
- Chris EvansRB614 rushing yards
- Karan HigdonRB425 rushing yards
- Amara DarbohWR862 receiving yards
- Jake ButtTE546 receiving yards
- Jehu ChessonWR500 receiving yards
- Ben GedeonLB94 tackles
- Mike McCrayLB72 tackles
- Jabrill PeppersLB72 tackles
- Taco CharltonDE9.5 sacks
- Chris WormleyDE6 sacks
- Chase WinovichLB5 sacks
Season leaders, 2016.
The season's deepest loss: Michigan 27, Ohio State 30. A 3-point margin the season is remembered by.
The season's last act: Michigan fell to Florida State 32-33 in the postseason.
"Those who stay will be champions."
2016 is a middle chapter for Michigan — neither a crown year nor a crisis. It is the kind of season that fills the ledger between the named ones and gives the arc its shape.