Michigan record in championship games: How Wolverines rewrote history with second national title

Michigan record in championship games: How Wolverines rewrote history with second national title originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Michigan has done plenty of winning on the national stage in its history, from the "Fab Five" to deep tournament runs in 2013 and 2018.

Winning the final game has proven to be a monumental challenge. The Wolverines have struggled in national championship games over the years, losing all but one in a major contrast with their 2026 opponent: the UConn Huskies . UConn entered 6-0 all-time in national title games, which set the stage for a fascinating dynamic on Monday night because Michigan was such a decisive favorite.

In the end, the favorite won and spoiled both historic trends. Here's a look at Michigan's dismal record in championship games and how history was rewritten against UConn. MORE: Why Yaxel Lendeborg turned down more money from Kentucky Michigan record in championship games Michigan is just 1-6 in the national championship game in its history, including 0-4 over its last four appearances.

Year Championship game result Coach 1965 UCLA 91, Michigan 80 Dave Strack 1976 Indiana 86, Michigan 68 Johnny Orr 1989 Michigan 80, Seton Hall 79 (OT) Steve Fisher 1992 Duke 71, Michigan 51 Steve Fisher 1993 North Carolina 77, Michigan 71 Steve Fisher 2013 Louisville 82, Michigan 76 John Beilein 2018 Villanova 79, Michigan 62 John Beilein 2026 Michigan 69, UConn 63 Dusty May 1965 Led by All-Americans Cazzie Russell and Bill Buntin, Michigan couldn't contain John Wooden's UCLA team, falling 91-80 in the championship game as Gail Goodrich erupted for 42 points. It was the second of nine titles in a span of 10 years for the Bruins. 1976 1976 was a great year for Michigan, which narrowly won its first two NCAA Tournament games before making a run all the way to the national championship game, but that season will forever be known as Indiana's.