The 2014 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the sport of college football during the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolverines played in the new East Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Brady Hoke. It was nicknamed "Team 135" in reference to the 135th year of the Michigan football program.
The season was characterized by a growing frustration among Michigan fans and media with the coaching of Brady Hoke and the leadership of athletic director Dave Brandon. After opening the year with a victory against Appalachian State in their first meeting since the Wolverines shocking loss in 2007 they suffered their first shutout loss since 1984 and the most lopsided defeat in series history when they lost to Notre Dame 31–0. In a 30–14 loss to Minnesota three weeks later, coach Hoke received criticism for keeping quarterback Shane Morris in the game after he appeared to have suffered a concussion. After losing to Rutgers, Michigan was 0–2 in Big Ten play for the first time since 1967. Michigan ultimately compiled a 5–7 record, including 3–5 in conference play to finish in a tie for fourth place in the East Division. This marked the first season since 2009, and only the third season since 1975, in which Michigan missed a bowl game.
On October 31, following large student demonstrations, athletic director Dave Brandon resigned. On December 2, head coach Brady Hoke was fired. He finished at Michigan with a four-year record of 31–20.
Preseason The 2013 team compiled a 7–6 record under third-year head coach Brady Hoke and faced Kansas State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, losing 31–14.
Hoke announced that the quarterback position was an open battle prior to spring practice, notably including 5th-year senior Devin Gardner and sophomore Shane Morris, and later named Gardner the starter on August 12. On February 12, Michigan announced that tight end Jake Butt suffered a torn ACL and would miss all of spring practice. On March 20, Michigan announced that center Graham Glasgow would be suspended for a portion of spring practice and the season opener against Appalachian State for a violation of team rules stemming from a drunk driving arrest. On June 10, Michigan announced that running back Ty Isaac was transferring to the team from USC, but the NCAA denied his request for a waiver to play for Michigan immediately, forcing him to redshirt the 2014 season.
Michigan returned 15 starters from the 2013 team. Michigan lost starting running back Fitzgerald Toussaint, wide receiver Jeremy Gallon, offensive tackles Taylor Lewan and Michael Schofield, safety Thomas Gordon, defensive tackles Jibreel Black and Quinton Washington, kicker Brendan Gibbons, and long snapper Jareth Glanda to graduation.
Recruiting
Recruits Michigan's recruiting class consisted of 16 recruits. Jabrill Peppers was the considered highlight of the class; he was ranked as the third overall recruit in the country by 247's composite rankings, which averages the rankings of Rivals, Scout, ESPN, and 247.
Schedule
Radio Radio coverage for all games was broadcast statewide on The Michigan Wolverines Football Network and on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. The radio announcers were Jim Brandstatter with play-by-play, Dan Dierdorf with color commentary, and Doug Karsch with sideline reports. Frank Beckmann retired after the 2013 season after 32 years as Michigan's play-by-play announcer.
Game summaries
Vs. Appalachian State
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To open the season, Michigan faced the Appalachian State Mountaineers. During the previous meeting, Appalachian State became the first football championship subdivision (FCS) team to defeat a top 25 football bowl subdivision (FBS) team, defeating Michigan 34–32 in a massive upset. Prior to the game, Michigan announced that Devin Funchess would wear the #1 jersey, making him the first player to wear the #1 jersey since Braylon Edwards in 2004.
Michigan dominated the game, winning 52–14. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Devin Gardner to Funchess, and expanded its lead late in the first quarter with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to Funchess. In the second quarter, Gardner threw his third touchdown pass of the game to Funchess giving Michigan a 21–0 lead. Michigan then scored 14 points in 38 seconds via a 12-yard touchdown run from De'Veon Smith and a 32-yard blocked punt return for a touchdown by Ben Gedeon giving Michigan a 35–0 lead at halftime. Michigan extended its lead in the third quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Derrick Green before Appalachian State responded with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Kameron Bryant to Simms McElfresh. Michigan responded with a 13-yard touchdown run from Smith, making the score 49–7 at the end of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Appalachian State reduced Michigan's lead to 35 points via one-yard touchdown run from Marcus Cox, but Michigan ended the scoring via an 18-yard field goal from Matt Wile.
Michigan's captains for the game were Brennen Beyer, Frank Clark, Gardner, Desmond Morgan, and Jake Ryan. Freshman Mason Cole became the first true freshman in Michigan football history to start the season opener on the offensive line. Michigan scored 35 or more points in a half for the first time since the 2013 season opener against Central Michigan and scored more than 50 points in a game for the second consecutive season opener. Gardner completed 13 of 14 pass attempts for 173 yards and three touchdowns, with all three of those touchdowns being thrown to Funchess. Funchess's seven receptions matched a career-high, and his three touchdown receptions set a new career high. Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith each rushed for more than 100 yards—Green had 15 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown, while Smith had eight carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns—with both setting career highs for rushing yardage. This was the first game since 2007 that two Michigan running backs each had over 100 rushing yards, when Brandon Minor and Carlos Brown each rushed for over 100 yards against Minnesota. Ben Gedeon recorded his first career touchdown when returning a blocked punt in the second quarter. It was Michigan's first blocked punt return for a touchdown since the season opener against Central Michigan in 2013. Morgan and James Ross III led Michigan's defense with six tackles each, while Dymonte Thomas, Joe Bolden, and Ondre Pipkins each recorded a career-high five tackles.
At Notre Dame
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Following its game against Appalachian State, Michigan visited the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This was the final game in the rivalry before it went on a hiatus. Michigan won the previous meeting 41–30.
Notre Dame shut out Michigan for the first time in series history, winning 31–0. Notre Dame opened the scoring in the first quarter via a one-yard touchdown run from Cam McDaniel, and then added to its lead in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown pass from Everett Golson to Amir Carlisle. Shortly before halftime, Notre Dame made it 21–0 with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Golson to Will Fuller. In the third quarter, Notre Dame added to its lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Golson to Fuller, and then ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 43-yard field goal from Kyle Brindza.
This was the first time Michigan had been shut out since 1984 when it lost to Iowa 26–0, and it snapped an NCAA record of most consecutive games in which Michigan had scored a point at 365 games. Devin Funchess caught a career-high nine passes in the game, while Jake Ryan tied a career-high with eleven tackles. Jake Butt returned from his ACL injury to play for the first time this season. The captains for the game were Blake Countess, Will Hagerup, Joe Kerridge, and Raymon Taylor. Michigan's record against Notre Dame dropped to 24–17–1 with the loss.
Vs. Miami (OH)
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Following the game against Notre Dame, Michigan hosted the Miami (OH) Redhawks. This was the first meeting between the two teams since 2008, which Michigan won 16–6.
Michigan won the game 34–10. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 29-yard field goal from Matt Wile and added to its lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to Amara Darboh. Miami responded with ten points of its own in the second quarter to tie the game at ten with those points coming via a 26-yard field goal from Kaleb Patterson and a three-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Hendrix to Dawan Scott. Michigan regained the lead before halftime via a Derrick Green one-yard touchdown run, which made the score 17–10 in favor of Michigan at half-time. Michigan added to its lead in the third quarter via a 29-yard touchdown pass from Gardner to Jake Butt, and then increased its lead in the fourth quarter to 21 points via a 12-yard touchdown run from Green. Michigan ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal from Wile.
Michigan's defense held Miami to 33 rushing yards, the lowest amount since Michigan allowed 32 rushing yards to Bowling Green in 2010. Derrick Green ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns, the first multi-touchdown performance of his career. Darboh had eight receptions for 88 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown. Jourdan Lewis intercepted a pass in the first quarter; this was Michigan's first forced turnover of the season. Jabrill Peppers recorded a career-high three tackles. The announced attendance of 102,824 pushed Michigan's streak of consecutive games with more than 100,000 fans in attendance to 253, but was Michigan's lowest attendance since a matchup against Memphis in 1995 that drew a crowd of 100,862.
Vs. Utah
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Following its game against Miami, Michigan faced the Utah Utes. This was the first meeting since 2008, which Utah won 25–23.
Utah defeated Michigan 26–10 in a game that featured an almost two-and-a-half hour weather delay. Michigan opened the scoring in the first quarter via a Matt Wile 42-yard field goal, but Utah responded with a 35-yard field goal from Andy Phillips. Utah then took the lead in the second quarter via a Kaelin Clay 66-yard punt return for a touchdown, but Michigan tied the game via a Willie Henry seven-yard interception return for a touchdown. Utah then took the lead for good right before halftime via a 38-yard field goal from Phillips. In the third quarter, Utah extended its lead via a 28-yard pass from Travis Wilson to Dres Anderson. Utah ended the scoring in the fourth quarter with two Phillips field goals from 48 and 50 yards.
The weather delay was Michigan Stadium's first since 2011 against Western Michigan. The loss ended Michigan's 17-game winning streak against non-conference opponents at home, which dated back to 2008, and was Michigan's first loss at home in the month of September since 2007. Michigan's defense held Utah to three rushing yards in the first half. Jake Ryan led Michigan's defense with three tackles. Michigan's captains for the game were Anthony Capatina, Sione Houma, Jack Miller, and Mario Ojemudia.
Vs. Minnesota
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After its game against Utah, Michigan faced the Minnesota Golden Gophers in its conference opener. In the previous meeting, Michigan dominated Minnesota and won by a score of 42–13.