In the midst of a very long month – waiting for college football season to begin – here’s something to think about besides how the next CNNSI reporter blows a Rich Rodriguez comment into something way bigger than it really is on how he’ll play quarterbacks this season. I’ve put together Michigan’s best season from 2000 through 2008 starting with the opening game for the past nine years. So it’s Michigan’s best season by considering each set of Week 1 games, Week 2 games, etc. Don’t forget to comment on how you’d change it up…

Week 1 – Washington at Michigan – VIDEO
Michigan beats the Washington Huskies on opening day at the Big House. I can remember walking back to the car assuming sure defeat – then the horns. People were dancin’ on their horns because Michigan puts an improbable field goal through as time expires for the victory.

Week 2 – Houston at Michigan – INFO
This wasn’t exactly a great game – although now I’m sure every Michigan fan would take ANY blowout. But if you look at Week 2 games – there are lots of losses and ugly wins sprinkled in throughout – two to ND, two to Pac 10 teams, bad wins against MAC teams, etc.

Week 3 – Michigan at Notre Dame – VIDEO
This was a game where just about everything went right for Michigan and it was a great day all around. Henne to Manningham three times in the first half alone. Brady Quinn couldn’t keep his face mask clear of grass. This gave that 2006 team so much confidence and some swagger.

Week 4 – Wisconsin at Michigan – HD VIDEO
The lone bright spot of the Rich Rod’s first season at Michigan. The greatest comeback in the history of Michigan Stadium. The first half was just a waste of everyone’s time – the offense blew, and I mean real bad. But things got going late in the third quarter with some help from Wisconsin and before you knew – Michigan is winning 27-19 and pulls out the W 27-25.

See below the tables for the rest of the game descriptions…

	Week 1	2	3	4	5	6	7
2000	Bowling Green 42-7	Rice 28-7	UCLA 20-23	Illinois 35-31	Wisconsin 13-10	Purdue 31-32	Indiana 50-0
2001	Miami(oh) 31-13	Washington 18-23	bye	Western Michigan 38-21	Illinois 45-20	Penn State 20-0	Purdue 24-10
2002	Washington 31-29	Western Michigan 35-12	Notre Dame 23-25	Utah 10-7	Illinois 45-28	Penn State 27-24	Purdue 23-21
2003	Central Michigan 45-7	Houston 50-3	Notre Dame 38-0	Oregon 27-31	Indiana 31-17	Iowa 27-30	Minnesota 38-35
2004	Miami(oh) 43-10	Notre Dame 20-28	San Diego St. 24-21	Iowa 30-17	Indiana 35-14	Minnesota 27-24	Illinois 30-19
2005	Northern Illinois 33-17	Notre Dame 10-17	Eastern Michigan 55-0	Wisconsin 20-23	Michigan State 34-31	Minnesota 20-23	Penn State 27-25
2006	Vanderbilt 27-7	Central Michigan 41-17	Notre Dame 47-21	Wisconsin 20-23	Minnesota 20-23	Michigan State 31-13	Penn State 17-10
2007	App St 32-34	Oregon 7-39	Notre Dame 38-0	Penn State 14-9	Northwestern 28-16	Eastern Michigan 33-22	Purdue 48-21
2008	Utah 23-25	Miami(oh) 16-6	Notre Dame 17-35	Wisconsin 27-25	Illinois 20-45	Toledo 10-13	Penn State 17-46

	8	9	10	11	12	B
2000	Michigan State 14-0	bye	Northwestern 51-54	Penn State 33-11	Ohio State 38-26	Auburn 31-28
2001	Iowa 32-26	Michigan State 24-26	Minnesota 31-10	Wisconsin 20-17	Ohio State 20-26	Tennessee 17-45
2002	Iowa 24-26	Michigan State 31-10	Minnesota 20-17	Wisconsin 20-26	Ohio State 17-45	Florida 38-30
2003	Illinois 56-14	Purdue 31-3	Michigan State 27-20	Northwestern 41-10	Ohio State 35-21	USC 14-28
2004	Purdue 16-14	Michigan State 45-37	bye	Northwestern 27-20	Ohio State 21-37	Texas 37-38
2005	Iowa 23-20	Northwestern 33-17	bye	Indiana 41-14	Ohio State 21-25	Nebraska 28-32
2006	Iowa 20-6	Northwestern 17-3	Ball State 34-26	Indiana 34-3	Ohio State 39-42	USC 28-32
2007	Illinois 21-17	Minnesota 34-10	Michigan State 28-24	Wisconsin 21-37	Ohio State 3-14	Florida 41-35
2008	Michigan State 21-35	Purdue 42-48	Minnesota 29-6	Northwestern 14-21	Ohio State 7-42

Week 5 – Michigan at Michigan State – VIDEO
MSU came into the game 4-0 and favored in the game for the first time since 1968. Michigan winds up getting a 21-7 lead before MSU came back to tie the game. Michigan then gets up 31-24 and midway through the 4th quarter a Henne fumble gets picked up and taken to the house. Rivas ends up hitting a field goal in OT to win the game.

Week 6 – Michigan at Penn State – VIDEO
The first overtime game ever at Michigan Stadium. If you watch the video, you’ll see that there are a number of plays where the refs miss some calls that did not help Michigan in any way. Michigan winds up down 13-7 at the end of the third quarter. Michigan then gets jobbed out of what was clearly a pass interference on Braylon Edwards. Nevertheless, Navarre ends up hitting Edwards on a fade pattern in the left side of the end zone. PSU gets up again 21-14 and Michigan ties and and gets the W in OT.

Week 7 – Penn State at Michigan – VIDEO
One second. Need I say more? In a season where Michigan had injuries and losses. They spoil Penn State’s season by beating them on the last play with only one second remaining on the clock. What a sweet moment it was.

Week 8 – Michigan at Iowa – VIDEO
A gutsy comeback in Kinnick Stadium against the Hawkeyes of Iowa. The boys in blue were down 13 in the second half and things were looking rather ugly. The offense couldn’t get anything going all day until late in the 2nd half. Marquise Walker makes one of the most spectacular catches I’ve ever witnessed. Great win on the road.

Week 9 – Michigan State at Michigan – VIDEO
Halloween weekend + MSU up by 17 with 7 minutes to go in the forth quarter = hammered me. Who knew Braylon would have the greatest game of his college and professional career that afternoon. A late game in OT make for an epic scene with darkness setting in on Michigan Stadium. Michigan had problems stopping MSU all day, but in the end Henne threw up enough flyballs to Edwards to get a classic overtime victory.

Week 10 – Michigan at Michigan State – VIDEO
Michigan comes out of the gates playing well, but eventually finds themselves down 24-14 midway through the forth quarter. Henne throws one of the best passes of his career to Greg Matthews in the corner of the end zone to put the Wolverines down 3. A quick stop from Michigan’s defense and Henne takes the boys back down field for an eventual beauty to Mario Manningham for the win.

Week 11 – Penn State at Michigan – VIDEO
Not a whole lot to choose from when considering Week 11 games. This was a solid victory led by Drew Henson, Anthony Thomas and BJ Askew. The 4th straight win in a row over Penn State – who would have thought that streak was going to last all the way up to 2008.

Week 12 – Michigan at Ohio State – VIDEO
Let’s see. One opponent fills Week 12. The win in 2003 was great at home. Gotta go with Michigan’s last road win in Columbus. Enough said.

Bowl Game – Michigan vs. Florida – HD VIDEO
A great way to send off Lloyd Carr in his final game on the sidelines. A back and forth game that saw Mike Hart fumble twice, Chad Henne make some unbelievable throws, Adrian Arrington make some sick catches, Mario Manningham come up big, and Jamar Adams LIGHT up Tim Tebow a couple times. Michigan has owned the SEC in recent years, unlike ugly down in Ohio.

Related Posts:

• Michigan’s 2010 Win Predictions
• Michigan’s 2010 Season: If it’s a Dream…
• Michigan’s 2010 Season: If it’s a Nightmare…
• PSU Injury Report & Bad Coaching Decisions
• No More Pro-Combat Uni’s for THE GAME