The 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team compiled an 11–2 record under first-year head coach Brady Hoke and defeated Virginia Tech in the 2012 Sugar Bowl, 23–20 in overtime.

Safety Josh Furman was arrested February 11, 2012 and faced three misdemeanor charges (illegal entry, assault and battery, and domestic violence) in court.

[23] In addition, Patrick Omameh was nominated for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, which is awarded for community service.

The radio announcers are Frank Beckmann with play-by-play, Jim Brandstatter with color commentary, and Doug Karsch with sideline reports.

[60] To open the season, Michigan traveled to Arlington, Texas to face the defending BCS Champion, the Alabama Crimson Tide, in the Cowboys Classic.

Alabama added ten points in the second quarter as a result of a Jeremy Shelley 22-yard field goal and a C. J. Mosley 16-yard interception return for a touchdown.

In the third quarter, Cade Foster kicked a 51-yard field goal for Alabama, while Michigan responded via a 44-yard touchdown pass from Robinson to Devin Gardner.

Air Force responded with a Getz one-yard run, but Michigan once again increased its lead to 11 points with a Robinson to Devin Gardner seven-yard touchdown pass.

[75] By earning his eighth Big Ten Offensive Player of the week recognition, he tied Drew Brees for second on the all-time career list.

Brendon Levengood kicked a 25-yard field goal for UMass's first points of the game, but Michigan responded with a five-yard touchdown run from Vincent Smith.

UMass responded with a 32-yard field goal from Levengood (its final points of the game), but Michigan closed the scoring in the first half with a Taylor Lewan fumble recovery in the endzone for a touchdown.

[84] After a scoreless first quarter, Notre Dame opened the scoring with a 33-yard field goal from Kyle Brindza and added to its lead before halftime via a two-yard touchdown run from Tommy Rees.

[86] After its trip to South Bend, and its bye week, Michigan traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana to face the Purdue Boilermakers.

Michigan then extended its lead in the second quarter with another one-yard touchdown run from Toussaint and then via 63-yard interception return from Ramon Taylor.

Purdue responded with a 40-yard field goal from Paul Griggs, but Michigan extended its lead on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Denard Robinson to Devin Gardner.

[90] Denard Robinson became the Big Ten's all-time leading rusher as a quarterback with his 235-yard performance, passing Antwaan Randle El in the process.

Michigan State scored its first points of the game and took the lead in the third quarter on a two-yard touchdown pass from Andrew Maxwell to Paul Lang.

[111] After its trip to Lincoln, Michigan traveled to Minneapolis to meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the annual battle for the Little Brown Jug.

Minnesota answered with a 26-yard field goal from Jordan Wettstein, but Michigan expanded its lead with a two-yard touchdown run from Devin Gardner.

[115] Gardner made his first career start at quarterback in place of Denard Robinson, who sustained an injury to his ulnar nerve in the previous week's game against Nebraska.

[127] On Michigan's opening drive, running back Fitzgerald Toussaint sustained a leg injury which required surgery later in the day.

[132] Following its home finale against Iowa, Michigan traveled to Columbus to face arch-rival Ohio State in the 109th meeting of "The Game".

Michigan responded with a 39-yard field goal from Brendan Gibbons, but South Carolina extended its lead to 11 points from an Ace Sanders 63-yard punt return for a touchdown.

South Carolina ended the scoring with 11 seconds left on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Thompson to Ellington, and also saw its two-point conversion attempt fail.

[146] On September 18, Patrick Omameh was named to the Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team.

[175][176] The following players were Academic All-Big Ten: Courtney Avery, Brennen Beyer, Seth Broekhuizen, Joey Burzynski, Jareth Glanda, Jeremy Jackson, Joe Kerridge, Jordan Kovacs, Mike Kwiatkowski, Desmond Morgan, Patrick Omameh, Joe Reynolds, Craig Roh, Matt Wile, Steve Wilson, and Charlie Zeller.

[177] Devin Funchess was a College Football News and FoxSportsNext Freshman All-America Second Team selection (behind Penn State's Kyle Carter).

[186] Brandon Moore was injured during the first game of the season,[187] but was not replaced atop the depth chart until Week 10 against Northwestern, which saw Mike Kwiatkowski become the starting tight end.

Michigan players eligible to be drafted were Denard Robinson, Jordan Kovacs, Roy Roundtree, Kenny Demens, Ricky Barnum, Elliott Mealer, Vincent Smith, Patrick Omameh, Mike Kwiatkowski, Brandon Moore, Brandin Hawthorne, J.T.

Undrafted free agent signees were Kovacs (Dolphins), Roh (Panthers), Roundtree (Bengals), Mealer (Saints), Omameh (49ers), Demens (Texans) and Barnum (Redskins).