Two other selectors, the National Championship Foundation and the Poling System, recognize Michigan as a co-national champion for the 1973 season.

When the game ended in a tie, the Big Ten Conference athletic directors voted to send Ohio State to the Rose Bowl.

Michigan athletic officials and fans were outraged, with even the Vice President of the United States speaking out against the decision.

Four Michigan running backs, Ed Shuttlesworth, Chuck Heater, Gil Chapman, and Gordon Bell, combined for 2,417 rushing yards.

Shuttlesworth, Franklin, wing back Clint Haslerig, and offensive guard Mike Hoban were all selected as All-Big Ten Conference players.

The 1972 Michigan team had compiled a 10–1 record and were ranked sixth in the final Coaches and AP Polls.

[1] Important players from the 1972 team who were lost to graduation included offensive guard Tom Coyle, center Bill Hart, tight end Paul Seymour, defensive tackle Fred Grambau, and defensive back Randy Logan.

The class of 24 recruits included running back Rob Lytle and wide receiver Jim Smith.

[3] Also in April, Michigan held its annual spring football game matching the "blue" and "white" squads against each other.

[4] Before the start of the season, head coach Bo Schembechler told the media that he was "very, very high" on Dennis Franklin and that he planned on using a "balanced attack" with two-thirds running plays and one-third passing.

With Dennis Franklin out of action due to a broken finger, Larry Cipa made his first career start at quarterback for Michigan.

In the fourth quarter, Michigan padded its lead on an 83-yard punt return by Gil Chapman and a Mike Lantry field goal.

Joe Falls, sports editor of the Detroit Free Press, wrote of the team: "It is sluggish on offense.

[15] Michigan added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter on a six-yard pass from Dennis Franklin to Paul Seal and a two-yard run by Ed Shuttlesworth.

Dennis Franklin played with a broken finger, leading coach Schembechler to praise his one-handed quarterback for "a helluva job.

On the second play from scrimmage, a Minnesota fumble was recovered by Michigan (Doug Troszak) to set up Lantry's first field goal.

On Minnesota's next play from scrimmage, the Gophers fumbled again with Dave Brown recovering to set up a six-yard touchdown run by Shuttlesworth.

[18] After the game, Indiana coach Lee Corso praised both Michigan and Ohio State and predicted that the showdown between the two would be decided by a kicking mistake in the fourth quarter.

Late in the first quarter, Michigan moved the ball to near midfield on a 25-yard run by Chuck Heater when an Irish setter ran onto the field and delayed the game for several minutes.

[20] On the opening drive of the second half, Gil Chapman scored on a 33-yard touchdown run off an option pitch from Dennis Franklin.

In a low-scoring first half, Michigan took the lead in the second quarter on a 41-yard touchdown pass from Dennis Franklin to Clint Haslerig, but Mike Lantry missed the extra point kick after the snap from center was bobbled.

[21] On the same afternoon, Ohio State defeated Iowa, 55–13, as Archie Griffin broke the Buckeyes' single game record with 246 rushing yards.

[22] The victories by Michigan and Ohio State left both teams undefeated with the winner of the following week's rivalry match advancing to the Rose Bowl.

Ohio State scored 10 points in the second quarter on a 31-yard field goal by Blair Conway and a five-yard touchdown run by fullback Pete Johnson.

Michigan scored 10 point in the fourth quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Mike Lantry and a 10-yard touchdown run by Dennis Franklin.

The injury to Michigan's starting quarterback Dennis Franklin was reported to be a significant factor in the vote of several athletic directors.

[34] At six feet, six inches, Seal caught only 14 passes for 253 yards, but he was described by Michigan coaches as "the best blocking tight end ever to wear the maize and blue.

They were: Fifteen Michigan players received honors from either the AP or UPI on their 1973 All-Big Ten Conference football teams.

They Michigan honorees were: Dave Brown (AP-1, UPI-1), Dennis Franklin (AP-1, UPI-1), Dave Gallagher (AP-1, UPI-1), Mike Hoban (AP-1, UPI-1), Ed Shuttlesworth (AP-1, UPI-1), Clint Haslerig (UPI-1), Jim Coode (AP-2, UPI-2), Paul Seal (AP-2, UPI-2), Gil Chapman (UPI-2), Don Coleman (UPI-2), Gary Hainrihar (UPI-2), Chuck Heater (AP-2), Steve Strinko (AP-2), Donald R. Warner (UPI-2), Walt Williamson (AP-2)[44][45] Two days after the Ohio State game, Michigan assistant coach Frank Maloney was hired as the head coach at Syracuse.

[48] Two other selectors, the National Championship Foundation and the Poling System, recognize Michigan as a co-national champion for the 1973 season.