1955 Michigan Wolverines football team


The 1955 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1955 Big Ten Conference football season. In their eighth season under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, the Wolverines finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference with a record of 7–2. The team was ranked No. 12 and No. 13 in the final AP and UPI Polls. Left end Ron Kramer was selected as a first-team All-American. Kramer and right end Tom Maentz were nicknamed the "touchdown twins," became the first Michigan football players to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and were both first-team selections for the All-Big Ten team. Left halfback Terry Barr was selected as the team's most valuable player.
In the second week of the season, the Wolverines defeated Michigan State, 14–7. The game was the only loss of the season for Michigan State which was ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls. The Wolverines were ranked No. 2 in the country after defeating the Spartans and rose to No. 1 after defeating the No. 6 ranked Army football team by a 26–2 score the following week. In late October 1955, quarterback Jim Maddock led a come-from-behind victory in a nationally televised game that included a 65-yard touchdown pass to Ron Kramer and a 60-yard touchdown pass to Tom Maentz. After starting the season 6-0, the team lost to Illinois on November 5, 1955. In the final game of the season, the Wolverines were favored but lost to Ohio State by a 17–0 score.

Schedule

Players

Varsity letter winners

Rushing

Passing

Receiving

Kickoff returns

Punt returns

Awards and honors