In its first year under head coach Bennie Oosterbaan, Michigan compiled a 9–0 record, defeated six ranked opponents by a combined score of 122–17,[1] won the Big Nine Conference and repeated as national champions.

After Fritz Crisler led the 1947 team to a perfect 10–0 record, the Wolverines entered the 1948 season with a 14-game winning streak dating back to October 1946.

On offense, Michigan was led by a new backfield that included All-American quarterback Pete Elliott and halfbacks Chuck Ortmann and Leo Koceski.

The 1949 Michiganensian wrote of the 250-pound guard, "Famous for his sharp shattering blocking, Dom tore huge gaps in the opposing lines to pave the way for Michigan's steam roller offense.

The defense was led by tackles Alvin Wistert and Al Wahl, center Dan Dworsky, and fullback Dick Kempthorn.

The team shut out Oregon despite the passing game of College and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Norm Van Brocklin.

[6] The Sporting News had picked Derricotte to be one of the Big Nine's two most valuable players in a pre-season feature story, calling him Michigan's best broken field runner since Tom Harmon.

Peterson scored the winning touchdown for Michigan on a five-yard run in the fourth quarter, but failed to convert the extra point attempt.

The Spartans, under second-year head coach "Biggie" Munn proved to be stronger than expected, finishing the season ranked No.

Michigan's defensive fullback, Dick Kempthorn, was credited with playing a major role in stopping Van Brocklin's passing game.

On the next drive, Charlie Lentz made his season debut for Michigan and threw a 42-yard pass to Pete Elliott who was downed inside the Oregon ten-yard line.

Lentz then threw a short pass to Tom Peterson for the final touchdown, and Allis kicked the extra point.

Early in the fourth quarter, Dick Kempthorn intercepted a DeMoss pass on the Purdue 22-yard line, and Teninga scored on a 10-yard run.

In the third quarter, Michigan drove inside Northwestern's one-yard line, but the Wildcats' defense held and took over on downs.

Northwestern drove deep into Michigan territory late in the fourth quarter, but the drive ended when Charlie Lentz intercepted a Don Burson pass at the seven-yard line.

Two drives later, Michigan finally converted on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Wally Teninga to Tom Peterson.

Less than 90 seconds after Peterson's tying touchdown, Michigan took the lead when Ed McNeill blocked a Minnesota punt, and Quentin Sickels recovered the ball at the one-yard line.

In the fourth quarter, Wally Teninga intercepted a Bill Elliott pass on Michigan's 11-yard line and returned the ball 26 yards.

Michigan held on a goal-line stand in the first quarter (first-and-goal from the five-yard line), and Illinois failed to convert a field goal on fourth down.

After a scoreless first quarter, Michigan went 98 yards on a drive that included a Statue of Liberty play by Leo Koceski and ended with a 15-yard bullet pass from Pete Elliott to Ed McNeill.

On the opening kickoff in the second half, Illinois' Dwight Eddleman returned the kick 95 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the play was nullified due to an offside penalty.

Early in the fourth quarter, Bernie Krueger scored on a quarterback sneak to cut Michigan's lead to 21–20.

The New York Times called the game, witnessed by a homecoming crowd of 85,938, "one of the wildest fights in Big Nine history" and added, "What a battle this was!

In the fourth quarter, Michigan drove 62 yards for a second touchdown led by the passing of Wally Teninga and Pete Elliott.

[27] In the final AP Poll released at the end of November 1948, Michigan was the pick for "the mythical national football championship.

[30] Writing in The New York Times, sports writer Allison Danzig wrote: "Another college football season ends with Michigan and Notre Dame again at the top.

[32] The New York Times wrote that Michigan's victories "made a mockery of the arrangement which prevents a Big Nine team from succeeding itself in the Rose Bowl assignment.

"[34] End Dick Rifenburg and tackle Al Wistert were also honored in the post-season as consensus first-team players on the 1948 College Football All-America Team.

Pete Elliott was also picked by the INS (the Hearst newspaper wire service) as a first-team All-American at defensive quarterback.

Off his 1948 performance, Ortmann already is being rated along with the scintillating Tom Harmon and brilliant Bob Chappuis among Michigan's modern great backs.