The 1949 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1949 Big Nine Conference football season. In their second season under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines compiled a 6–2–1 record (4–1–1 against conference opponents), tied with Ohio State for the Big Ten Conference championship, were ranked No. 7 in the final AP Poll, and outscored all opponents by a combined total of 135 to 85. On October 8, 1949, the Wolverines had their 25-game winning streak broken in 21–7 loss to Army.
On offense, the 1949 team averaged 12.3 points, 176.8 rushing yards, 94.9 passing yards, and 272.3 yards of total offense per game. In rushing yards per carry, the team averaged only 4.3 yards per carry, the lowest season average in team history, reaching a low against Army with only 0.7 yards per rushing attempt against (the second lowest single-game average in team history). Chuck Ortmann led the team with 956 yards of total offense, including 627 passing yards. Ortmann also rushed for 115 yards on 16 carries against Minnesota. Other statistical leaders on offense included Don Dufek with 392 rushing yards and 30 points scored and Harry Allis with 23 receptions for 338 yards.
On defense, the team allowed an average of 9.4 points, 116.4 rushing yards, 98.7 passing yards, and 215.1 yards of total offense per game. Chuck Lentz set a Michigan school record with nine interceptions in 1949. His record was broken by Tom Curtis in 1968. The defense as a whole recorded 25 interceptions, tied for second best in school history. Michigan allowed zero first downs by rushing in its game against Indiana.
Tackles Alvin Wistert and Robert Wahl received first-team All-America honors. Wistert, Lloyd Heneveld, and Chuck Ortmann received first-team All-Big Nine honors. Dick Kempthorn, who contributed at fullback and linebacker, was selected as the team's most valuable player.
The team played its home games at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to the 1949 season, Michigan replaced the stadium's wooden bleachers with permanent steel stands and increased the seating capacity to 97,239. Michigan led the NCAA in 1949 with average home attendance of 93,894 (563,363 in six games).
Schedule
Season summary
Pre-season
The 1948 Michigan team finished undefeated and untied with a 9–0 record and entered the 1949 season with a 23-game winning streak dating back to October 29, 1946. Several key players from the 1948 team were lost to graduation, including All-American end Dick Rifenberg, All-American quarterback Pete Elliott, center Dan Dworsky, guard Dominic Tomasi, and halfback Gene Derricotte. Finding a quarterback to replace Elliott and rebuilding the offensive line were rated as Michigan's biggest challenges in the 1949 pre-season.
Key players returning from the 1948 team were All-American tackle Alvin Wistert, halfback Chuck Ortmann, fullback Don Dufek, linebacker Dick Kempthorn, and tackle Robert Wahl.
Michigan State
On September 24, Michigan opened its season with a 7–3 victory over Michigan State. The game was the first in the newly expanded Michigan Stadium and drew a record crowd of 97,239 persons. Michigan State recovered a Dick Kempthorn fumble early in the first quarter and took a 3–0 lead on a field goal by George Smith from the 18-yard line. Lloyd Heneveld recovered a fumble for Michigan at the end of the first quarter at the Michigan State 25-yard line. Four plays later, early in the second quarter, sophomore Bill Putich came off the bench for his collegiate debut on fourth down; he threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Irv Wisniewski, and Harry Allis kicked the extra point.
The Wolverines held the Spartans to 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards and intercepted as many passes (four) as the Spartans completed. On offense, the Wolverines turned the ball over four times (three times on fumbles, once on an interception) and tallied only 89 rushing yards and 115 passing yards. Michigan State halfback Lynn Chandnois gained acclaim for his efforts on both offense and defense, playing all 60 minutes of the game. Spartan guard Ed Bagdon, winner of the 1949 Outland Trophy, also played more than 55 minutes, as did Don Coleman.