The Michigan Wolverines comprise 24 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan which compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which competes in the NCAA inter-divisional Collegiate Water Polo Association. Team colors are maize and blue—which are different shades of "maize" and "blue" than the university at large. The Winged Helmet is a recognized icon of Michigan Athletics.
In seven of the past 10 years, Michigan has finished in the top six of the NACDA Director's Cup, a list compiled by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics that charts institutions' overall success in college sports. UM has finished in the top eleven of the Directors' Cup standings in each of the award's twelve seasons and has placed in the top six in each of the last eight seasons.
The Michigan Wolverines football program represents the University of Michigan. They have the most all-time wins and highest all-time winning percentage in NCAA Division I-A history. The team is also known for its distinctive helmet design, fight song, record-breaking attendance figures, and for its rivalry with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Michigan began competing in intercollegiate football in 1879, and its program is credited with popularizing the game at the collegiate level west of the Appalachians . In 1887 its team introduced the game to students at Notre Dame who began their own storied football tradition and became one of the Wolverines' fiercest rivals. Since 1935, Michigan has almost always concluded its regular season schedule with a game against Ohio State. The Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is widely regarded among the greatest rivalries in American sports.
The Wolverines compete in the Big Ten Conference and have won or shared 42 league titles, more than any other football program in any conference. Their current head coach is Rich Rodriguez, formerly of West Virginia University.
