Ranking all eight of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football teams

3. 2016

Oct 29, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines linebacker Jabrill Peppers (5) breaks the tackle of Michigan State Spartans linebacker Chris Frey (23) during the first half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan’s 2016 team is widely recognized as one of the best teams never to win a National Championship — especially in Ann Arbor. After the Wolverines’ 10-3 season in 2015, Michigan football got off and running with a 9-0 record that included many impressive wins.

The Wolverines knocked off some of the nation’s best with a 49-10 win over the eventual Big Ten Champions (Penn State), a 14-7 win over No. 8 Wisconsin, a 9-point win at Michigan State, and a 78-0 victory at Rutgers. Michigan football climbed as high as No. 2 in the polls before starting QB Wilton Speight went down with an injury at Iowa. The Hawkeyes managed to upset the Wolverines with a walk-off field goal, which was the start of a 1-3 finish to Michigan’s season.

Controversially, Ohio State managed to overcome the Wolverines in Columbus (though many people still claim JT was short), which sent Michigan down to 10-2 on the season. The Wolverines eventually dropped the Orange Bowl to Florida State as they were without Heisman contender Jabrill Peppers and All-American Jake Butt. Despite its 10-3 record, Michigan football still finished top-10 and was one of the best football teams to ever take the field at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI.

FINAL RECORD: No. 10, 10-3 (7-2 Big Ten), loss to No. 10 Florida State in Orange Bowl.