The 2010 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Michigan played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the Big Ten Conference. The season was the first since the renovation of Michigan Stadium, begun in 2007, was completed. The Wolverines were led by third-year head coach Rich Rodriguez. After its week 10 win against Illinois, Michigan became bowl eligible for the first time since 2007, and later accepted a bid to play in the Gator Bowl against Mississippi State on January 1, 2011, losing 52–14. The Wolverines finished the season sixth out of 120 Division I FBS teams in total offense, 110th in total defense and 112th in passing defense. Michigan finished with an overall record of 7–6, 3–5 in Big Ten play. After the season, head coach Rich Rodriguez and his staff were dismissed on January 5, 2011.
Several individual players had standout performances. Quarterback Denard Robinson set several school records, became the first quarterback in college football history to rush and pass for 1,500 yards, and finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting. He surpassed Drew Brees' single-season Big Ten Conference total offense record and the FBS single-season quarterback rushing record. He also won the 2010 Big Ten rushing title, the Chicago Tribune Silver Football for being the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player, and was named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year.
Jonas Mouton was the Big Ten's statistical champion in tackles, while Jordan Kovacs finished second. In conference games alone, Roy Roundtree led the conference in receiving yards per game, in part on the strength of a school single-game record 246-yard outing against Illinois. Reserve quarterback Tate Forcier also set a school single-game completion percentage record with a 12-for-12 performance against Bowling Green. The defense also set several records, including most points allowed and yards allowed.
Preseason In 2009, the Wolverines started out 4–0, but finished the season 5–7 and missed a bowl game for the second year in a row. Michigan finished the season seventh in the Big Ten in total offense and ninth in total defense.
The team entered the season surrounded by questions of how they would overcome the late season collapse from last year and what it would take for Rich Rodriguez to return for a fourth year. On January 5, Michigan hired Dave Brandon to replace Bill Martin as its athletic director. Martin had previously announced his retirement during the 2009 season. Reaction to the hire was positive, but the hire also brought increased scrutiny upon Rich Rodriguez, as Brandon made it clear that he would do whatever was necessary to turn the program around from its recent slump.
The team also faced uncertainty relating to who would be the starting quarterback. While it was expected that Tate Forcier would retain his starting job, the build-up to the season led to a quarterback controversy that turned into a three-way battle between Forcier, Denard Robinson, and highly touted recruit Devin Gardner. On defense, Michigan installed a new 3–3–5 formation that the coaches hoped would better suit the players currently on the team. Michigan lost several key players from the previous season, including DE Brandon Graham, the 2009 Big Ten defensive Most Valuable Player, RB's Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown, LB Stevie Brown, and CB Donovan Warren. Michigan suffered a severe blow to its defensive secondary during fall practice, as starting CB Troy Woolfolk suffered a dislocated ankle that ended his season before it began.
Recruiting
Recruits
Preseason award watch lists Michigan began the season with five players listed on prominent watch lists. Junior Kevin Koger was listed on the John Mackey Award list for tight ends. Redshirt sophomore Roy Roundtree was listed on the Fred Biletnikoff Award list for wide receivers. Fifth-year senior Stephen Schilling was listed on the Outland Trophy list for lineman. Redshirt junior David Molk was named to the Rimington Trophy list for centers. Fifth-year senior Jonas Mouton was listed on the Butkus Award watch list for linebackers.
Rankings *Source: ESPN.com: 2010 NCAA Football Rankings
Schedule
Game summaries
Connecticut
Michigan opened the 2010 season at home against the Connecticut Huskies, the first ever meeting between the two schools. Michigan celebrated the re-dedication of Michigan Stadium with a special flyover by a World War II era B-25 bomber from the nearby Yankee Air Museum in Ypsilanti Township, and then another flyover immediately following the national anthem by two A-10 aircraft. Brock Mealer—the brother of Michigan guard Elliot Mealer—led the team onto the field by walking to the banner and touching it, which sparked a standing ovation from the crowd. Brock Mealer had only recently regained the ability to walk following injuries in a car crash.
Although a close game was predicted, the game was the exact opposite, as the Wolverines finally displayed the long sought offensive firepower from a Rich Rodriguez offense. Michigan scored the only points of the first quarter, as Vincent Smith opened the scoring with a 12-yard touchdown run and quarterback Denard Robinson added another touchdown on a 32-yard run. Michigan started the second quarter with another touchdown, this time with a 3-yard run by Michael Shaw. All of Connecticut's scoring came in the second quarter: a 32-yard field goal by Dave Teggert, and then a 2-yard run by Jordan Todman. The only scoring of the third quarter came on a 24-yard Michigan field goal by Brendan Gibbons. Connecticut managed to enter Michigan's red zone during the third quarter, but D.J. Shoemate fumbled the ball after a hit by J.T. Floyd and Obi Ezeh recovered it to prevent Connecticut from scoring. In the fourth quarter, Smith caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Robinson; however, the extra point attempt was no good.
The attendance of 113,090 was the highest in college football history. Robinson had 29 carries and completed 19-of-22 passes for 186 yards, contributing 383 of Michigan's 473 total yards. Robinson ran for 197 yards, setting a school record for a quarterback, surpassing Steve Smith, who rushed for 147 yards on four carries at Minnesota on November 12, 1983. Michigan committed no turnovers, the first time since the game against Miami (Ohio) on September 6, 2008. With the win, the Wolverines improved to 108–18–2 all-time in home openers.
At Notre Dame
Following their win against Connecticut, the Wolverines traveled to South Bend, Indiana to take on their long-time rivals, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, in their first road game of the season. Michigan won the previous year's contest on a Tate Forcier to Greg Mathews touchdown pass with 11 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The game was seen as a crucial test to Michigan's season, as it was Michigan's first game in a hostile environment.
Notre Dame began the scoring early in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dayne Crist; however, Crist suffered a concussion during the opening drive and was forced to miss the remainder of the first half. Michigan responded with three unanswered touchdowns. First was a 31-yard reception by Roy Roundtree midway through the first quarter, then a 1-yard run by Stephen Hopkins near the end of the first, and later an 87-yard run by QB Denard Robinson, the longest in Notre Dame Stadium history. After halftime, the Fighting Irish responded with two touchdowns and a field goal. First was a 53-yard pass to TJ Jones, followed by a 24-yard field goal by David Ruffer. Next was a 95-yard catch by Kyle Rudolph, which put Notre Dame ahead late in the game. Michigan retook the lead with 27 seconds left with a 2-yard run by Denard Robinson. Michigan's defense held off Notre Dame on its final drive of the game, with Crist's final pass sailing over everyone and out of the end zone.
Denard Robinson set a school record for total offense at 502 total yards – 258 rushing, 244 passing. The rushing yards set a new high for yards on the ground in one game by a Big Ten quarterback, as Robinson broke the league record of 217 yards set by Mike Kafka at Minnesota on November 1, 2008. Robinson became the ninth quarterback in NCAA history to rush and pass for 200 yards or more in a game, the last being West Virginia's Pat White against Pittsburgh on November 16, 2006 (220 rushing and 204 passing). The last 200-yard rusher for Michigan was Mike Hart, who had 215 yards against Eastern Michigan on October 6, 2007.
Vs. Massachusetts
After its dramatic win in South Bend against Notre Dame, Michigan played the Division I FCS Massachusetts Minutemen (UMass) in Ann Arbor, the first ever meeting between the two teams. Michigan sought to avoid an upset similar to the 2007 team, which lost to Appalachian State.
The game proved to be much closer than expected, and much more similar to the upset of 2007 than Michigan desired. On the opening drive, UMass drove to the Michigan 12-yard line, but was forced to settle for a 29-yard field goal. On Michigan's first possession, Denard Robinson threw an interception on the second play (and first pass) of the drive. After a defensive stop, Michigan drove 93 yards for a touchdown on a drive that featured passes of 16 yards to Martavious Odoms and 43 yards to Kelvin Grady. Michael Shaw scored the touchdown on a 1-yard run. Thirty-five seconds into the second quarter, UMass retook the lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Hernandez, capping a 67-yard scoring drive. Midway through the second quarter, Michigan drove 64 yards (including 40 rushing yards by Robinson), but Seth Broekhuizen missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. In the closing minutes of the first half, UMass drove 79 yards, capped by the second touchdown run by Hernandez. UMass led 17–7 with 1:17 remaining in the half, but Michigan stormed back in the final 61 seconds of the half. On Michigan's first play from scrimmage after the UMass touchdown, Robinson threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Stonum with 1:01 left in the half. On the second play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Jordan Kovacs forced a fumble by Hernandez, and Michigan recovered the ball at their own 45-yard line. Michigan quickly drove 55 yards and scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to Stonum with 16 seconds left in the half. Michigan led 21–17 at halftime on the strength of 259 yards (195 passing yards and 64 rushing yards) of total offense from Denard Robinson.
On the opening drive of the second half, Michigan drove 69 yards and scored on Shaw's 34-yard touchdown run, his second touchdown of the game. On their second possession of the second half, Michigan drove 94 yards and scored on an 8-yard run by Robinson. The score marked Michigan's fourth touchdown in four drives as Michigan scored 28 unanswered points after UMass took the 17–7 lead. UMass scored on a 7-yard touchdown run by Havens at 13:47 of the fourth quarter. On Michigan's first possession of the fourth quarter, Shaw led the way with a 50-yard run and a 4-yard touchdown run to put Michigan ahead 42–24. UMass responded with its second touchdown of the quarter on a five-yard pass from Havens to Julian Talley, but missed on the two-point conversion attempt. After a three-and-out by Michigan, UMass blocked Michigan's punt and drove for its third fourth-quarter touchdown aided by a pass interference penalty against Michigan's James Rogers. With 2:05 left to play, and Michigan leading 42–37, UMass attempted an onside kick that went out of bounds at the 40-yard line, allowing Michigan to run out the clock for the win.
Vs. Bowling Green
Following its close win against UMass, Michigan hosted the Bowling Green Falcons. This was the first meeting between the schools since 2000, which saw Michigan emerge victorious 42–7.