Conference Big Ten Conference AP No. 12 Head coach Lloyd Carr (4th year) | Coaches No. 12 1998 record 10–3 (7–1 Big Ten) Offensive coordinator Mike DeBord (2nd year) | |
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The 1998 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team's head coach was Lloyd Carr. The Wolverines played their home games at Michigan Stadium. The 1998 Wolverines finished the season with a 10–3 record (7–1 in the Big Ten) and defeated the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1999 Florida Citrus Bowl. The team was ranked #12 in both the coaches and AP polls.
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Entering 2017, this Michigan team is the last defending national champion in FBS football to lose their opening game (they lost their first two games for that matter).
Statistical achievements
The team earned the second consecutive Big Ten passing defense statistical championships for all games by holding opponents to 181.2 yards per game as well as the second consecutive championship for conference games by holding conference opponents to 139.2 yards per game. They also ranked first in passing efficiency defense for both all games (49.9), while Ohio State led for conference games. The team led the conference in total defense for conference games (244.6), while Ohio State led for all games.
On November 21 against Ohio State, Tom Brady established the current Michigan record for single-game pass attempts (56), surpassing Scott Dreisbach's 52 set in 1995. In the same game, he surpassed Todd Collins' single-game pass completions record of 29 with 31, a record he would go on to surpass himself later in his career. That day, he also established the single-game passing yards record (375), surpassing Dreisbach's 372 set in 1995 with a record that would be broken by John Navarre in 2003. Brady set several other records: single-season pass attempts record (350), surpassing Brian Griese's 307 set in 1997 and broken by Navarre in 2001; single-season completions (214), surpassing Griese's 193 set in 1997 and tied by himself the following season and broken by Navarre in 2002. He tied 1986 Jim Harbaugh's single-season 200-yard game output of 8, a record broken by Navarre in 2002.
Draft
The following players were selected in the 1999 NFL Draft:
Awards and honors
The individuals in the sections below earned recognition for meritorious performances.