1974 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1974 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1974 college football season. In his sixth year as Michigan's head coach, Bo Schembechler led the team to a 10–1 record. The Wolverines outscored their opponents 324 to 75. Michigan was ranked #3 in final AP Poll of the 1974 season.

Michigan won the first ten games of the 1974 season in convincing fashion, including blowout victories over Colorado (31-0), Navy (52-0), Minnesota (49-0), and Purdue (51-0). In the final game of the season, #3 Michigan faced #2 Ohio State. The Wolverines lost by a score of 12-10. Place-kicker Mike Lantry missed a last-minute field goal that would have given Michigan a victory.

On offense, the team was led by quarterback Dennis Franklin who completed 58 of 104 passes for 933 yards and rushed 108 times for 209 yards. Three Michigan running backs combined for 2,510 rushing yards. Gordon Bell led the way with 1,048 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Rob Lytle added 802 rushing yards, and Chuck Heater 660 yards. Center Dennis Franks and end Dan Jilek were selected as All-Big Ten Conference players.

On defense, the Wolverines held opponents to 75 points, an average of 6.8 points per game. Cornerback Dave Brown was selected as first-team All-American for the second straight year. Five Wolverine defenders were selected for the All-Big Ten Conference team, including Brown, middle linebacker Steve Strinko, wolfman Don Dufek, left tackle Jeff Perlinger, and middle guard Tim Davis. Strinko led the team in total tackles for the second consecutive year and was selected as the team's most valuable player.

Offense

 * James Armour, offensive guard, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started 3 games at left offensive guard
 * Gordon Bell, tailback, junior, Troy, Ohio - started 3 games at tailback
 * Gil Chapman, wing back, senior, Elizabeth, New Jersey - started all 11 games at fullback
 * Scott Corbin, fullback, freshman, Cincinnati, Ohio
 * James C. Czirr, center, junior, St. Joseph, Michigan
 * Greg DenBoer, tight end, senior, Kentwood, Michigan - started all 11 games at tight end
 * Mark Donahue, offensive guard, freshman, Oak Lawn, Illinois
 * Walt Downing, tackle, freshman, Coatesville, Pennsylvania
 * Bill Dufek, tackle, freshman, East Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * Mark Elzinga, quarterback, junior, Bay City, Michigan - started 2 games at quarterback
 * Dennis Franklin, quarterback, senior, Massillon, Ohio - started 9 games at quarterback
 * Dennis Franks, center, senior, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania - started all 11 games at center
 * James D. Hall, offensive tackle, sophomore, Ypsilanti, Michigan - started 1 game at right offensive tackle
 * Chuck Heater, tailback, senior, Tiffin, Ohio - started all 11 games at wing back
 * Thomas P. Jensen, center, senior, Springfield, Illinois
 * Keith Johnson, split end, junior, Munster, Indiana
 * R. Steven King, fullback, senior, Tiffin, Ohio - started 10 games at right offensive tackle
 * Mike Lantry, place-kicker, senior, Oxford, Michigan
 * Kirk Lewis, offensive guard, junior, Garden City, Michigan
 * Rob Lytle, tailback, sophomore, Fremont, Ohio - started 8 games at tailback
 * David F. Metz, offensive guard, senior, Harrison, Ohio - started 9 games at left offensive guard
 * Les Miles, offensive guard, junior, Elyria, Ohio
 * Steve Nauta, center freshman, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania
 * George Przygodski, tight end, junior, Grand Rapids, Michigan
 * Max Richardson, tailback, freshman, Fort Wayne, Indiana
 * Jim Smith, split end, sophomore, Blue Island, Illinois - started all 11 games at left end
 * Jeff Spahn, quarterback, senior, Steubenville, Ohio
 * Curt Stephenson, split end, sophomore, La Jolla, California
 * Pat Tumpane, offensive tackle, senior, Midlothian, Illinois - started all 11 games at left tackle
 * Jerry Vogele, fullback, sophomore, Cincinnati, Ohio

Defense

 * John Anderson, outside linebacker, freshman, Waukesha, Wisconsin
 * Harry Banks, defensive back, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started all 11 games at strong side defensive halfback
 * Larry Banks, defensive end, senior, Cleveland, Ohio - started 8 games at right defensive end, 1 game at left defensive end
 * Jim Bolden, defensive back, sophomore, Akron, Ohio
 * Dave Brown, safety, senior, Akron, Ohio - started all 11 games at safety
 * Tim Davis, middle guard, junior, Warren, Ohio - started 6 games at middle guard
 * David Devich, linebacker, junior, Highland, Indiana
 * Thomas E. Drake, defensive back, senior, Midland, Michigan - started 6 games at weak-side defensive halfback
 * Don Dufek, wolfman, junior, East Grand Rapids, Michigan - started all 11 games at wolfman
 * David L. Elliott, defensive back, senior, Coral Gables, Florida - started 5 games at weak-side defensive halfback
 * John Hennessy, defensive tackle, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
 * Dwight Hicks, defensive back-running back, freshman, Pennsauken, New Jersey
 * Bill Hoban, defensive tackle, senior, Chicago, Illinois
 * Michael G. Holmes, defensive end, junior Akron, Ohio
 * Derek Howard, wide receiver - defensive back, freshman, Hamilton, Ohio
 * Mark Jacoby, wolf, senior, Toledo, Ohio
 * Dan Jilek, defensive end, junior, Sterling Heights, Michigan - started all 11 games (10 at left defensive end, 1 at right defensive end)
 * Larry L. Johnson, defensive end, senior, Munster, Indiana - started 2 games at right defensive end
 * Kurt Kampe III, defensive back, senior, Defiance, Ohio
 * Richard A. Koschalk, middle guard, junior, Toledo, Ohio - started 5 games at middle guard
 * Bob Lang, middle guard, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
 * Greg Morton, defensive tackle, junior, Akron, Ohio - started all 11 games at right defensive tackle
 * Calvin O'Neal, linebacker, junior, Saginaw, Michigan - started 2 games at wide linebacker, 1 game at middle linebacker
 * Jeff Perlinger, defensive tackle, junior, Crystal, Minnesota - started all 11 games at left defensive tackle
 * Carl Russ, linebacker, senior, Muskegon Heights, Michigan - started 9 games at wide linebacker
 * Geoffrey Steger, wolf, senior, Winnetka, Illinois
 * Steve Strinko, linebacker, junior, Middletown, Ohio - started 10 games at middle linebacker
 * Jerry Zuver, safety, sophomore, Archbold, Ohio

Awards and honors

 * All-Americans: Dave Brown
 * All-Conference: Dave Brown, Dennis Franks, Steve Strinko, Dan Jilek, Jeff Perlinger, Tim Davis, Don Dufek
 * Most Valuable Player: Steve Strinko
 * Meyer Morton Award: Dennis Franklin
 * John Maulbetsch Award: Rob Lytle
 * Frederick Matthei Award: Kirk Lewis
 * Arthur Robinsion Scholarship Award: Larry Johnson

Coaching staff

 * Head coach: Bo Schembechler
 * Assistant coaches: Dennis Brown, Tirrel Burton, Jerry Hanlon, Jack Harbaugh, Jed Hughes, Bill McCartney, Gary Moeller, Tom Reed, Chuck Stobart, Elliot Uzelac
 * Trainer: Lindsy McLean
 * Manager: Thomas Rasdale Jr.