In their first year under head coach Bo Schembechler, the Wolverines compiled an 8–3 record (6–1 Big Ten), played in the 1970 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No.

Bo Schembechler suffered a heart attack the night before the 1970 Rose Bowl game against an undefeated (but once tied) USC team.

Six members of the team received first-team honors on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Mandich at tight end; Curtis at defensive back; Dan Dierdorf at tackle; Guy Murdock at center; Billy Taylor at running back; and Marty Huff at linebacker.

On December 25, the Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan was searching for a new head coach and that Bump Elliott's resignation was imminent.

[3] Schembechler brought the core of his coaching staff with him from Miami, including Jim Young, Gary Moeller, Larry Smith, Jerry Hanlon, Chuck Stobart, and Dick Hunter.

[4] Schembechler also retained three assistants from Bump Elliott's coaching staff: George Mans, Frank Maloney, and Bob Shaw.

[5] One of the principal challenges facing the new coaching staff was finding a replacement for 1968 All-American running back Ron Johnson.

The leading candidates were Glenn Doughty and Billy Taylor, two sophomores with zero minutes of game experience at the college level.

[6] Another change in 1969 was the removal of Michigan Stadium's natural grass and the installation of 3M's "Tartan Turf" playing surface, purchased at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars.

[7][8] Veterans from the 1968 team who returned in 1969 included end Jim Mandich, defensive back Tom Curtis, offensive tackle Dan Dierdorf, middle guard Henry Hill, and fullback Garvie Craw.

In the fourth quarter, Mike Keller blocked a Vanderbilt punt, and Marty Huff returned the ball 31 yards for a touchdown.

On the next Vanderbilt drive, Tom Curtis intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards to set up quarterback Don Moorhead's second rushing touchdown.

In the first quarter, Jim Mandich scored on a six-yard pass from Don Moorhead, but the kick for extra point failed.

[19] On offense, Michigan struggled on the ground, gaining a season low 123 net rushing yards (50 by Billy Taylor, 41 by Glenn Doughty).

Doughty re-injured his right ankle in the third quarter, opening the door for Billy Taylor to take over as Michigan's No 1 running back in the second half of the season.

Purdue quarterback Mike Phipps came into the game as the national leader in total offense and a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

Glenn Doughty rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, but he also fumbled for an 11-yard loss, missed a block leading to a quarterback sack, and was tagged with a safety after he caught a kickoff at the one-yard line, stepped back into the end zone, and downed the ball for what he thought was a touchback.

In the fourth quarter, Spartan punter Pat Miller took an intentional safety rather than punting from the end zone.

[22][24] On October 25, 1969, Michigan defeated Minnesota, 35–9, in the annual Little Brown Jug game, played before a crowd of 44,028 in Minneapolis.

Michigan's offense sputtered in the first half, as Ted Killian missed two field goal attempts, and the Wolverines trailed, 9–7, at halftime.

With Glenn Doughty sidelined due to ankle and thigh injuries, Billy Taylor started his first game as Michigan's tailback.

The Michigan Daily reported that the 57-point margin "the worst drubbing either school has received in this long and fabled rivalry that dates to 1898.

[31][32] Despite the impressive win, coach Schembechler was characteristically guarded in his post-game press conference: "We didn't play well.

12 in the AP Poll, upset Woody Hayes' Ohio State Buckeyes, 24–12, before a crowd of 103,588 at Michigan Stadium.

Fullback Garvie Craw scored two touchdowns, and tight end Jim Mandich caught six passes for 78 yards.

[36] The teams traded field goals in the first half, and USC took the lead with three minutes remaining in the third quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Jimmy Jones to Bobby Chandler.

On the first drive, Michigan took the ball to USC's 13-yard line, but Moorhead's pass on fourth down slipped through Garvie Craw's hands.

[39] Two Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1969 All-America team: Nine Michigan players received recognition from the AP and/or UPI on the 1969 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Jim Mandich at tight end (AP-1, UPI-1), Tom Curtis at defensive back (AP-1, UPI-1), Dan Dierdorf at offensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1), Guy Murdock at center (UPI-1), Billy Taylor at running back (AP-2, UPI-1), Marty Huff at linebacker (AP-1, UPI-2), Cecil Taylor at defensive end (AP-2, UPI-2), Henry Hill at middle guard (AP-2, UPI-2), and Barry Pierson at defensive back (UPI-2).

They are: Tom Beckman (St.Louis Cardinals, 1972, Memphis Grizzlies, 1974–1975), Tom Curtis (Baltimore Colts, 1970–1971), Thom Darden (Cleveland Browns, 1972–1981), Dan Dierdorf (St. Louis Cardinals, 1971–1983), Glenn Doughty (Baltimore Colts, 1972–1979), Fred Grambau (Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes);[58][59] Marty Huff (San Francisco 49ers, 1972; Edmonton Eskimos, 1973; Charlotte Hornets, 1974–1975), Mike Keller (Dallas Cowboys, 1972), Jim Mandich (Miami Dolphins, 1970–1977; Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978), Reggie McKenzie (Buffalo Bills, 1972–1982; Seattle Seahawks, 1983–1984), Guy Murdock (Houston Oilers, 1974; Chicago Fire/Winds, 1974–1975), Pete Newell (BC Lions, 1971);[60] Cecil Pryor (Memphis Southmen),[61] Fritz Seyferth (Calgary Stampeders, 1972); Paul Seymour (Buffalo Bills, 1973–1977), Paul Staroba (Cleveland Browns, 1972; Green Bay Packers, 1973), Billy Taylor (Calgary Stampeders, 1972), and Mike Taylor (New York Jets, 1972–73).

Mandich was the starting tight end for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins who won Super Bowl VII.