LMAO. Sad Michigan fans always talk about 'gifts' when no one outside of Michigan thinks they would have stood a chance against Nebraska. A gift is claiming 11 national titles when 4 of them were before passing was a thing, 8 of them were before the AP even existed, the NCAA even only recognizes 9 - and all but 4 of those were split titles. Michigan has been riding the coattails of a time before the Titanic sank, of a time when the Ottoman Empire still existed for decades on decades. In the past 72 years, Michigan has claim to 2 national titles... and one of those they split with us.
A gift... is the media keeping you relevant because your football play couldn't do it for ya.
Per HuskerinBig10...
"
Bowl game
Nebraska 42 Tennessee 17, score was 35-9 after three quarters, Nebraska never trailed
Michigan 21 Washington State 16 score was 14-13 after three quarters Washington state led 7-0 after 1st quarter and 13-7 early in the second half.
Washington State had Ryan Leaf, Tennessee had Peyton Manning
Nebraska gave up 96 points in the 4th quarter during garbage time
Nebraska only trailed Missouri after 3 quarters, game played in Missouri
Michigan trailed Iowa after after 3 quarters, game played in Ann Arbor
The average score of Nebraska games after three quarters
Nebraska 37.8 opponent 9.5, a 28 point lead
The average score of Michigan games after three quarters
Michigan 21.8 opponent 7.5, a 14 point lead
Total Defense
Michigan ranked #1
Nebraska ranked #5
Washington St ranked #30
Tennessee ranked #32
Rush defense
Nebraska rush defense ranked #3
Michigan rush defense ranked #7
Tennessee rush defense ranked #8 Nebraska rushed for 408 yards against them
Washington St Rush defense ranked #27 Michigan ran for 128 yards on Wash St
If Michigan couldn't rush against Washington State, they certainly were not going to rush against Nebraska
Passs Defense
Michigan #1 Washington State passed for 331 yards on the #1 defense
Washington State #17
Nebraska #32
Tennessee #36
Scoring Defense
Michigan #1
Ohio State #2 Michigan put up 20, game played in Ann Arbor
Iowa ranked #4 Michigan put up 28 on them, game played in Ann Arbor
Kansas State #6 Nebraska put up 56 on them, game played in Lincoln
Nebraska #12
Tennessee #30 Nebraska put up 42 on them
Washington St ranking not in the top 50
Rushing Offense
Nebraska #1
Michigan #30
Washington St #48
Tennesee #52
Total Offense
Nebraska #1
Washington State #2
Tennessee #4
Michigan #44
Ok, so Tennessee wasn't a running team. They were a passing team!!
Passing Offense
Washington State #2 put up 331 yards on Michigan
Tennessee #11 put up 187 yards on Nebraska
Michigan #26
Nebraska #44
#1 defense against the #1 offense
#5 defense against the #44 offense"
HuskerinBig10
The #2 offense had nearly 400 yards on that#1 defense and had the lead twice in the game. If Washington State had a defense Washington State would have won the game
Nebraska's #5 defense shutdown the #4 offense. The #5 defense would have had little problem against the #44 offense. It can be argued, that if Nebraska played their starters in the 4th quarter during the entire season, there might have been a different #1 defense.
Nebraska put 56 points on the K State defense. K state won their bowl game 35-17.
Nebraska beat Washington in Seattle, the same Washington team that beat Michigan State 51-23
Michigan beat Ohio State, Ohio State lost their bowl game 31-14
Michigan beat Iowa, Iowa lost their bowl game 17-7
Michigan beat Michigan State, Michigan State lost their bowl game in a close one 51-23
Michigan beat Notre Dame, Notre Dame lost their bowl game 27-9
Michigan beat Penn State, Penn State lost their bowl game 21-6
Michigan beat Wisconsin, Wisconsin lost their bowl game 33-6
Looks like the Michigan opponents were getting soundly beaten by other defenses. makes you go hmmmmm.....
Matter of fact, all of Michigan's opponents that went to a bowl game, LOST. Average score was 30 - 10.8.
HuskerinBig10
The Associated Press had Michigan #1 and nebraska #2
Coaches Poll had Nebraska #1, Michigan #2
Sagarin Nebraska #1, Michigan #4
Scripps Nebraska #1, Michigan #5
NY Times Nebraska #1, Michigan #3
Others that had Nebraska #1 Glantz-Culver, Seattle Times, Collegefootballpoll
The SEC went 5-1 in bowl games in 1997. The only loss was by SEC champ Tennessee to Nebraska.
Nebraska beat from the AP final rankings
#7 Tennessee lost their bowl game
#8 Kansas State won their bowl game
#18 Washington won their bowl game
#20 Texas A&M lost their bowl game
#23 Missouri lost their bowl game
Michigan beat from the AP final rankings
#9 Washington State lost their bowl game
#12 Ohio State lost their bowl game
#16 Penn State lost their bowl game
@HuskerinBig10
Here are some more stats since the claim that the #1 defense is uber, using the bowl appearing teams
Michigan gave up 24 points to Iowa, Iowa scored 7 against AZ STATE #34 defense. IOWA LOST
Michigan gave up 14 points to Ohio State, Ohio State scored 14 against FL STATE #3 defense. OHIO STATE LOST
Michigan gave up 7 points to Michigan State, Michigan State scored 23 against WASHINGTON #36 defense. Michigan State LOST.
Michigan gave up 14 points to Notre Dame, Notre Dame scored 9 against LSU #42 defense. Notre Dame lost.
Michigan gave up 16 points to Wisconsin, Wisconsin scored 6 against Georgia #40 defense. Wisconsin lost.
Michigan gave up 8 points to Penn State, Penn State scored 6 against Florida #12 defense. Penn State lost.
In four games a lower rated defense, #12, #34, #40, #42 ranked defenses held the same Michigan opponent to fewer points.
In one game, a lower rated defense #3, held a Michigan opponent to the same points.
In one game, a lower rated defense #36, gave up more points. But that game ended up being 51-23 and Michigan State had the #13 rated defense.
The #1 rated Michigan defense gave up 83 points to bowl opponents. These same bowl opponents scored 65 points against lower rated defenses. Four of those defenses rated #34 or lower.
Nebraska played #4 total defense K State, scored 56. K State won their bowl game.
Nebraska played #19 total defense Texas A&M, scored 54.
Nebraska played #22 total defense Texas Tech, scored 29, final score 29-0.
Nebraska played the #32 total defense Tennessee, scored 42.
Nebraska played #36 total defense Washington, scored 27. Washington won their bowl over Michigan State.
Nebraska opponent Kansas State played #11 total defense Syracuse, won 35-18 in the bowl game.
Nebraska opponent Washington played #13 total defense Michigan State, won 51-23 in the bowl game.
Nebraska's bowl opponents scored 133 total points and won 2 bowl games.
@HuskerinBig10
The 1997 Big Ten was wwwwaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyy over-rated.
How did good running backs do against Michigan in 1997
Tavian Banks from Iowa gained 99 yards on 19 carries against Michigan.
Michigan did not have to face Wisconsin and Ron Dayne because Dayne was hurt.
Penn State Curtis Enis ran for 103 yards on 18 carries.
Michigan STate Sedrick Irvin had 158 total yards, 83 yards rushing
I cannot find any stats on how Notre Dame's Autry Denson did against Michigan
Washington State Michael Black was shut down(24 yards), but Ryan Leaf gashed the vaunted Michigan pass defense for 331 yards.
Six of eight Big Ten teams blown out in Bowl Games, Michigan and Purdue won. Michigan did not face Purdue in 1997.
Michigan barely beat Washington State and that number 1 defense gave up almost 400 yards. Matter of fact, giving up nearly 400 yards or more was a theme for the Big Ten defenses in 1997 bowl games. You know, those games where you go up against other good teams.
The Iowa #7 total defense gave up 377 yards to Arizona State and the Iowa would have been shutout but the offense scored with 49 seconds left in the game to make it 17-7. Tavian Banks only ran for 52 yards against AZ STATE.
The Ohio State #8 total defense played Florida State, Florida State put up 394 yards on Ohio State.
The Michigan State #13 total defense played Washington. A team Nebraska traveled to Seattle and beat in their home stadium. Washington put up 477 yards of offense on that #13 total defense.
I can't any find data on how Wisconsin, and Penn State bowl games because their total defense were ranked in the 60s or worse and I guess they are trying to forget them. I know Georgia lit up Wisconsin from what I read.
Oklahoma State did put up 368 yards on the Purdue defense in the Oklahoma State loss.
I am done.
Michigan's only argument is that Missouri almost beat Nebraska in Missouri. Whereas, Iowa almost beat Michigan in Ann Arbor. Washington State almost beat Michigan at the Rose Bowl.
I'm reporting you for arson. You just lit that boy's paper tiger on fire.@HuskerinBig10 - for those in the back
Michigan had the #1 total defense.
Nebraska had the #5 total defense.
Nebraska had the #1 total offense.
Michigan had the #44 total offense.
When a bunch of bad offensive teams play each other, it makes the defenses look good. When the Michigan Bowl opponents went 0-6 and the average loss was 30-10, four of those teams scoring 9 points or less, you have a hard time convincing me that those are offensive juggernauts. Playing bad offenses tends to skew the defensive numbers.
The Big Ten had four defenses ranked in the top 13, three of those defenses lost their bowl games.
#1 total defense Michigan gave up 398 yards against Washington State.
#7 total defense Iowa gave up 377 yards against Arizona State and 17 points, Iowa was almost shutout.
#8 total defense Ohio State gave up 394 yards and 31 points against Florida State.
#13 total defense Michigan State gave up 477 yards against Washington and 51 points.
Michigan Bowl Opponents offensive Juggernauts?
#46 total offense Michigan State 343 total yards against Washington #36 defense
#28 total offense Ohio State 315 total yards against Florida State #3 defense
#63 total offense Notre Dame gained 243 yards total offense against LSU #42 defense
#65 total offense Wisconsin gained 234 yards total offense against Georgia #40 defense
#17 total offense Iowa gained 209 total yards against Arizona State #34 defense
#19 total offense Penn State gained 139 total yards against Florida #12 defense
Iowa and Wisconsin were both almost shutout.
#5 total Defense Nebraska gave up 315 total yards against the #4 offense Tennessee but the game was 35-9 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
