The 1997 Michigan Wolverines are the gold standard of maize & blue-clad football for one simple reason – they won a national championship. Although shared thanks to a whiny Nebraska quarterback named Scott Frost, since 1948, the 1997 team remains the only Michigan team to claim the sport’s ultimate prize.
Similar to this year, the unit paving the way to victory was the offensive line.
Michigan’s offensive line in 1997 is widely considered the best in the history of the program, but it didn’t start out that way. Following the 1996 season, the Wolverines and head coach Lloyd Carr were tasked with replacing three-of-five starters including All-American center Rod Payne.