By Zain Bando
Michigan finished the regular season a perfect 13-0, capped off by a dominant win against Iowa in the Big Ten championship game. It was the Wolverine’s third-straight Big Ten championship and helped them maintain the No. 1 ranking in the final edition of the CFP, released Sunday morning.
While Jim Harbaugh may have his best team ever assembled with the likes of J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Donovan Edwards leading the offense, plus a defense ranked No. 2 in the nation, it may not be enough to get the Wolverines to their first national title appearance of the CFP era.
Michigan remained dominant amidst the sign-stealing scandal
When my astute colleague, Kyle Golik, jumped all over the Michigan sign-stealing scandal in mid-November, he made one point abundantly clear: Michigan is not “America’s Team.” It’s a team many love to hate because, simply put, they can.
Michigan’s journey to a national title won’t be easy. Alabama snuck into the final spot, thanks to an upset of previously-ranked No. 1 Georgia and avoiding an injury-riddled Florida State team without its trusted leader and once-promising Heisman candidate quarterback, Jordan Travis.
The Wolverines draw the Crimson Tide in the CFP semifinal (Rose Bowl) on New Year’s Day (5 p.m. ET, ESPN). At press time, the Crimson Tide is a two-point underdog and leads the all-time series 3-2.
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The case for Alabama to upset Michigan + a deeper dive
Plain and simple – Alabama deserves to be in. Full stop. So does Michigan. When Harbaugh was suspended, many doubted the program’s future without its head coach. Michigan won four straight, including key victories against Penn State and Ohio State, to win a division title. That’s no easy task.
Alabama also had to overcome its adversity, which included rallying around Jalen Milroe after a slow start. A loss to No. 3 Texas was spearheaded by 10-straight wins to close the regular-season.
This run of dominance included a fourth-and-31 conversion to Isaiah Bond to upend Auburn’s Thanksgiving weekend at Jordan Hare Stadium. Of course, it all culminated the following week in Atlanta, Ga., snapping the Bulldogs’ 29-game win streak and killing their chances at a three-peat.
Quite literally, it’s a perfect storm. Two excellent coaches. Two rabid fanbases and two teams with great history and tradition.
However, Nick Saban is better than Harbaugh, and the numbers don’t lie.
After winning his first SEC title as Alabama’s coach in 2009, the Crimson Tide won six national title games, as its most recent came in 2020 with a 52-24 drubbing against the Buckeyes.
The Tide dominated the SEC in that span, while the Wolverines struggled to knock off their kryptonite until 2021. Before then, Harbaugh couldn’t do it, and some may argue his seat was warm just a few seasons ago.
It isn’t a knock on Michigan, but it has failed to reach the national title game in each CFP appearance. Playing a team where this is second nature to them is, quite frankly, easier said than done.
While the Wolverines have looked next to unbeatable over the last month, Milroe’s efficiency has also continued to improve. The Crimson Tide offense averages 6.4 yards per play and 400+ yards a game. For a Michigan team that likes playing smashmouth football and anchors a defense that ranks second in passing yards allowed, keeping pace with the Crimson Tide’s offense will be easier said than done.
For Harbaugh, this is a legacy-type game. This stage is what he came to Ann Arbor for a decade ago. If he loses to college football’s glamour team, with a berth in the national title game at stake, he will have failed his program. The hype will die, and the game’s kingpin conference, the SEC, will return to the biggest game.
This is the worst-case scenario for the Wolverines, while Alabama could have the appetizer before the main course.
Whoever has the ball last is gonna win the game. Book it. Write it down. Savor it.
Zain’s pick: Alabama 35, Michigan 31
