The 1941 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1941 Big Ten Conference football season. Under fourth-year head coach Fritz Crisler, Michigan compiled a record of 6–1–1 (3–1–1 Big Ten), outscored opponents 147 to 41 and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll. The team played three ranked opponents, defeating No. 5 Northwestern (14–7), playing to a tie with No. 14 Ohio State (20–20), and losing by a 7–0 score to the 1941 Minnesota team that won the 1941 national championship. With a strong, veteran line, the Wolverines also shut out four of their eight opponents: Pittsburgh (40–0); Columbia (28–0); Illinois (20–0); and Iowa (6–0). Fullback Bob Westfall was selected as a consensus first-team player on both the 1941 College Football All-America Team and the All-Big Ten Conference team. Halfback Tom Kuzma was the team's leading scorer with 48 points, and tackle Reuben Kelto received the team's Most Valuable Player award. Tackle Al Wistert received second-team All-America honors, and center Robert Ingalls was selected as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree. Schedule Season summary Pre-season The 1940 Michigan Wolverines football team had compiled a 7–1 and was ranked No. 3 in the final AP Poll. Michigan's coaching staff remained largely intact in 1941, with head coach Fritz Crisler returning for his fourth season and taking on an added role as athletic director following the retirement of Fielding H. Yost. From the 1940 team, the Wolverines lost five key starters to graduation: halfback Tom Harmon, quarterback Forest Evashevski, end Ed Frutig and guards Ralph Fritz and Milo Sukup. In addition, halfback Cliff Wise was lost to the military draft, and several other players from the 1940 team were lost when they voluntarily enlisted in the military. Michigan's enlistees included halfback Bob Krejsa, fullback Bob Zimmerman, and tackle Jack Butler. Key veterans returning from the 1940 team included fullback and senior team captain, Bob Westfall, who was the nation's fourth leading rusher during the 1940 college football season with 807 net rushing yards. Michigan also returned several veteran linemen, including starting center Robert Ingalls and tackles Al Wistert and Reuben Kelto. In an article published in mid-September, coach Crisler predicted that Michigan's outlook for another superior team was dim. Michigan's biggest task in the pre-season was to find a player to take on the tailback position that had been filled by Tom Harmon from 1938 to 1940.