After playing consecutive tie games with unranked Stanford and Baylor teams, Michigan dropped to No.

The Wolverines were invited to play in the 1976 Orange Bowl where they lost a close game against 1975 national champion Oklahoma.

Several key starters returned for the 1975 season, including running backs Gordon Brown (1,048 yards in 1974) and Rob Lytle (802 yards in 1974), defensive back Don Dufek, defensive end Dan Jilek, and middle guard Tim Davis.

Key departures from the 1974 team included defensive back Dave Brown (a consensus All-American), Dennis Franklin (a three-year starter at quarterback), linebacker Steve Strinko (selected as the most valuable player on the 1974 team), center Dennis Franks, fullback Gil Chapman, and wingback Chuck Heater.

Michigan's 1975 recruiting class included quarterback Leach, running backs Russell Davis and Harlan Huckleby, linebacker Jerry Meter, defensive end Tom Seabron, and linemen John Arbeznik, Jon Giesler, and Curtis Greer.

Offensive guard Kirk Lewis and defensive back Don Dufek were selected as the team's co-captains.

Stanford took a 6–0 lead in the first quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Mike Cordova to Tony Hill, but missed the extra point.

At the end of the second quarter, Rick Leach threw a 48-yard bomb to Jim Smith to give Michigan a 7–6 lead at halftime.

[7][8] In the fourth quarter, Stanford tied the game at 13–13 on a four-yard touchdown pass from Cordova to Todd Anderson.

Michigan drove down the field for a touchdown on its first possession of the game, but was unable to score again until the fourth quarter.

In the first three quarters, the scoring was limited to field goals, two by Michigan's Bob Wood and two by the Spartans' Danish kicker, Hans Nielsen.

[14][15] At the end of the third quarter, Jim Smith fielded a punt at midfield and returned it to the Michigan State 39-yard line.

Northwestern, coached by Bo Schembechler's college roommate John Pont, came into the game with a 3–2 record, having defeated Indiana the prior week by a 30–0 score.

[16][17] Michigan tied a Big Ten record with 573 rushing yards as three separate backs had 100-yard games.

First-string tailback Gordon Bell, who did not play after the first quarter, gained 100 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns.

Second-string tailback Rob Lytle, who did not play after halftime, gained 105 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns.

[16][17] The defense held Northwestern to 115 total yards, had five turnovers (four fumble recoveries and an interception), and scored twice – first on a 23-yard interception return by linebacker Dave Devich and later, with less than a minute remaining in the game, freshman defensive end Tom Seabron ripped the ball from the hands of Northwestern's backup quarterback and returned it 40 yards.

The drive that led to Bell's second touchdown began when Dwight Hicks returned a punt 21 yards to Minnesota's 38-yard line.

In addition, split end Jim Smith was ejected from the game for fighting with free safety Doug Beaudoin.

After the game, Bo Schembechler criticized the officiating: "There was incompetence all around us today, and I don't mean either my ball club or the Minnesota team.

[23] Linebacker Calvin O'Neal was selected by the Associated Press as the Big Ten defensive player of the week for his performance against Purdue which included eight solo tackles and six assists.

Illinois scored again on a short run by Jim "Chubby" Phillips and passed for a two-point conversion with 1:19 remaining.

Illinois then attempted an onside kick, but Michigan tight end Mark Schmerge grabbed the ball to secure the victory.

[28] In the first quarter, Ohio State took a 7–0 lead on a 63-yard, 15-play drive ending with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Cornelius Greene to Pete Johnson.

At the end of the second quarter, Michigan drove 80 yards in 11 plays, including a 30-yard pass from Rick Leach to Keith Johnson.

Then, with 24 seconds remaining in the half, tailback Gordon Bell threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jim Smith.

"[28] Ohio State quarterback Cornelius Greene completed seven of 16 passes for 84 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions.

In the second quarter, Rick Leach took a shot to the head from Oklahoma defensive back Jerry Anderson.

Coach Schembechler argued for a penalty, but none was called, and Anderson defended the hit: "I just clotheslined him real good.

[29][30] When the 1975 All-America team selections were announced, four Michigan players were recognized: In addition, ten Michigan players received first- or second-team honors from the AP or UPI on the 1975 All-Big Ten Conference football team: defensive back Don Dufek (AP-1, UPI-1); nose guard Tim Davis (AP-1, UPI-1); running back Gordon Bell (AP-1, UPI-1); wide receiver Jim Davis (AP-1, UPI-1); defensive end Dan Jilek (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Calvin O'Neal (AP-2, UPI-1); defensive tackle Greg Morton (AP-2, UPI-1); center Jim Czirr (UPI-1); offensive guard Mark Donahue (UPI-2); and defensive back Jim Pickens (UPI-2).