<P> Michigan began competing in intercollegiate football in 1879 . The Wolverines joined the Big Ten Conference at its inception in 1896 , and other than a hiatus from 1907 to 1916 , have been members since . Michigan has won or shared 42 league titles , and , since the inception of the AP Poll in 1936 , has finished in the top 10 a total of 38 times . The Wolverines claim 11 national championships , most recently that of the 1997 squad voted atop the final AP Poll . </P>
when was the last time university of michigan won a national championship
1997