Looking Back on the 1997 National Championship Michigan Wolverines

It has been 27 years since the Wolverines have been in a title game position when they were awarded the title in 1997. The Wolverines have been a dominant force in the NCAA for the past couple of years, so it is about time they get their shot at the National Title.

Before the Wolverines look to make history with their first championship since the introduction of the College Football Playoff format, let's take a look back at what the Wolverines looked like back in 1997.

The Team

The 1997 Championship Team was led by coach Lloyd Carr who, in his third season with the Wolverines, went 12-0 and finished the season ranked #1. Coincidentally, they played another team from Washington in the Rose Bowl when they beat Washington State 21-16.

Heisman Winner

The Wolverines had a spectacular team in 1997, but one player stood out. #2 Charles Woodson played Cornerback for the Wolverines defense. He became the first "primarily defensive player" in NCAA history to win the Heisman Trophy. On top of this honor, he received several awards including the Walter Camp Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award, and Jim Thrope Award. Woodson went on to play 18 seasons in NFL, 11 for the Oakland Raiders and 7 for the Green Bay Packers.

2024 National Championship Game

The Wolverines will face the Washington Huskies tonight at 7:30 and can be watched on ESPN. If you don't have ESPN, here are a few other ways you could watch the game.