A Second Straight Losing Record

The 2009 Michigan Wolverines finished 5-7 overall and 1-7 in Big Ten play, tying for last in the conference. They scored 354 points (29.5 per game) and allowed 330 (27.5). Under second-year coach Rich Rodriguez, Michigan missed a bowl for the second consecutive season—the first back-to-back sub-.500 years since 1962-63—and failed to win a road game for the first time since 1962.

Regular Season

Michigan opened 4-0: Western Michigan (31-7), No. 18 Notre Dame (38-34), Eastern Michigan (45-17), and Indiana (36-33). The Notre Dame win was another late comeback in the series. Tate Forcier was the primary quarterback.

The remaining eight games produced one win and seven losses. Michigan fell in overtime at Michigan State (20-26) and at No. 12 Iowa (28-30). A 63-6 home win over Delaware State was the only victory in that stretch. Losses followed to No. 13 Penn State (10-35), at Illinois (13-38), Purdue (36-38), at No. 21 Wisconsin (24-45), and No. 9 Ohio State (10-21). Michigan went 5-3 at home and 0-4 on the road.

Statistical and Contextual Notes

Forcier threw for 2,050 yards and 13 touchdowns. Denard Robinson appeared in a limited role. Brandon Graham was team MVP and an All-Big Ten defensive end. Punter Zoltan Mesko also earned all-conference recognition. The offense remained in transition in the second year of the spread.

Historically, 2009 confirmed that the Rodriguez transition was not a one-year adjustment. Consecutive seasons without a bowl broke a streak that had lasted more than three decades and left the program at its lowest competitive point in the modern era.