Patanelli enrolled at the
University of Michigan in the fall of 1933 and played for the
Michigan Wolverines football, baseball and basketball teams. and received the Chicago alumni award, also known as the Meyer Morton Award, during spring practice in 1934 as the most promising freshman prospect. As a sophomore in 1934, Patanelli played at both the
end and
halfback positions as a teammate of
Gerald R. Ford. He was a starter for Michigan at the end position in 1935 and 1936. In October 1935, Patanelli recovered an
Indiana fumble in the
end zone for the game's only touchdown, giving Michigan its first
Big Ten Conference victory since 1933. At the end of the 1935 season, Patanelli was selected as a first-team All-
Big Ten Conference player. He was also elected by his teammates to serve as captain of the
1936 Michigan Wolverines football team. In 1936, Patanelli started all 8 games at the left end position for Michigan despite suffering from a strained ankle. The team finished with a record of 1–7, achieving its only victory against
Columbia University. At the time of his selection as the 1936 Most Valuable Player, Michigan head coach
Harry Kipke said, "He's a grand person and a great leader. He had courage and this year had to play under a handicap -- a bad ankle. I'm sorry for one thing and it is that Matt never had the privilege of playing on a winning football team. Had he had this chance he certainly would have been picked on some all star eleven." Michigan's ends coach (and future
College Football Hall of Fame inductee)
Bennie Oosterbaan called Patanelli "the best blocking end he has coached." Patanelli was voted by fans as a member of the
Chicago Tribune College Football All-American team that defeated the
Green Bay Packers 6–0 in the
College All-Star Game in August 1937. He was also selected as a third-team All-American by the
Associated Press. Patanelli was selected by the
Pittsburgh Pirates in the 9th round (85th overall pick) of the
1937 NFL draft, making him the first University of Michigan football player selected in the NFL Draft. However, he announced in late January 1937 that he would not play professional football under any circumstances. ==Coaching career==