[1][2] Late in the season, Schembechler passed Fielding H. Yost as the winningest coach in Michigan football history.

Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

[5] Sixteen starters returned from the 1985 team, including quarterback Jim Harbaugh, running backs Jamie Morris and Gerald White, offensive guard Mark Hammerstein, left tackle Jumbo Elliott, defensive tackle Mark Messner, linebacker Andy Moeller, and cornerback Garland Rivers.

[7] Cam Cameron and Bill Harris were hired to coach tight ends and wide receivers.

[8] Michigan's 1986 recruiting class included running backs Tony Boles, Jarrod Bunch, Leroy Hoard, and David Key (later converted to defensive back), wide receivers Greg McMurtry and Chris Calloway, tight end Tom Dohring (later converted to offensive tackle), fullback Mike Teeter (later converted to linebacker), defensive tackle Warde Manuel, and free safety Vada Murray.

On the game's opening possession, Michigan mounted a six-and-a-half-minute drive to the Notre Dame 25-yard line, but Pat Moons missed a 42-yard field goal.

On its second possession, Michigan followed with an 80-yard, eight-play drive, fueled by a 34-yard catch by John Kolesar, and capped by an eight-yard touchdown run by Jamie Morris.

After Green's touchdown, Jim Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a seven-minute, 75-yard, 13-play drive, and Pat Moons kicked a 23-yard field goal.

John Carney's extra point kick failed, and Michigan led, 24-20, at the end of the third quarter.

[10][11] In the fourth quarter, Notre Dame drove 62 yards in 10 plays, and a 25-yard field goal by John Carney brought the Irish within one point with 4:26 remaining in the game.

Michigan forced four turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by Doug Mallory and a fourth-quarter interception by David Arnold in the end zone.

In the second quarter, Michigan extended the lead to 14-6 on a 72-yard, 13-play drive capped by Gerald White's one-yard touchdown run.

Oregon State then narrowed the lead to 14-12 with eight second left in the half on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Erik Wilhelm to Damon Medlock.

Oregon State's offense was all in the air, as Michigan's defense held the Beavers to minus 19 rushing yards on 16 attempts.

Michigan's defense held the Badgers to 49 rushing yards and came up with four turnovers, including three interceptions by Andy Moeller and a fumble recovery by J.J.

The crowd of 106,141 was the second largest up to that date in college football history – only 14 spectators shy of the all-time record set at the 1979 Michigan–Ohio State game.

One year earlier, Iowa placekicker Rob Houghtlin kicked a field goal as time expired to beat the Wolverines.

In the 1986 match, the tables were turned as Michigan placekicker Mike Gillette kicked a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired.

Late in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines drove down the field and tied the game with 2:26 remaining on a touchdown run by Gerald White.

Quarterback Jim Karsatos led the Buckeyes on a touchdown drive culminating with a four-yard pass to Cris Carter.

Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the Ohio State 15-yard line, and Mike Gillette kicked a 32-yard field goal.

[28][32] Midway through the second quarter, Harbaugh led the Wolverines on a 62-yard drive to the 18-yard line, Gillette kicked a line-drive field goal.

On its next possession, Ohio State drove 65 yards on nine plays, and Frantz kicked a 27-yard field goal.

Michigan attempted a two-point conversion, but Harbaugh's pass fell incomplete in the end zone.

[28][32] Early in the fourth quarter, Michigan scored again on a seven-yard run by Thomas Wilcher, capping an 85-yard, eight-play drive.

[28][32] With 3:17 remaining in the game, Wilcher fumbled at the Ohio State 37-yard line, and Sonny Gordon recovered for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State advanced to Michigan's 28-yard line, and on fourth-and-two, with 1:01 remaining, placekicker Matt Frantz missed a 45-yard field goal that would have put the Buckeyes in the lead.

During the 1986 season, quarterback Jim Harbaugh set Michigan's single-game, single-season, and career records for passing yardage.

He finished third (behind Miami quarterback Vinny Testaverde and Temple running back Paul Palmer) in voting for the 1986 Heisman Trophy and was selected as both Michigan's most valuable player and the winner of the Chicago Tribune Silver Football award as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.

[1][37][38] Three Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-America college football team: Seven Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Harbaugh at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-1); Jamie Morris at running back (AP-2, UPI-1); Mark Hammerstein at offensive guard (AP-1, UPI-1); Elliott at offensive tackle (AP-1, UPI-1); Mark Messner at defensive line (AP-1, UPI-2); Andy Moeller at linebacker (AP-1, UPI-1); and Rivers at defensive back (AP-2, UPI-1).