As a junior, Downing was the starting center in all 12 games played by the 1976 Michigan team that won the Big Ten Conference championship, advanced to the 1977 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 3 in both the AP and UPI Polls.
1977 | Super Bowl | Orange Bowl | Rose | Rose Bowl Game | Rose Bowl | Pete Rose | Pro Bowl | 1977 in music | Orange Bowl (game) | Sugar Bowl | rose | Axl Rose | The Name of the Rose | Charlie Rose | Bowl Championship Series | Hollywood Bowl | Gypsy Rose Lee | Fiesta Bowl | Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy | Super Bowl XLVIII | Super Bowl XLII | Mary Rose | Leonard Rose | Gator Bowl | 1977 in television | White Rose | Super Bowl XLV | Rose-ringed Parakeet | Cotton Bowl Classic |