Under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan football has carried on a long-standing tradition of underwhelming postseason performance.
Following his maize-and-blue team’s victory over Florida in his debut bowl game in 2015, Harbaugh has suffered six straight losses. Granted, the Wolverines have explanations for each of their bowl game losses.
Michigan’s more optimistic expectations for the Orange Bowl and Peach Bowl were dashed in 2016 after a defeat to Ohio State. The team made the decision to skip those games as a result. South Carolina and Michigan played an uneventful 2017 Outback Bowl; the Gamecocks led by 19 points at the half, but Michigan gave up. Nevertheless, it was disappointing because Michigan wasn’t particularly interested in this matchup.
2019 saw Michigan take on an Alabama squad that included Jerry Jeudy, Mac Jones, Najee Harris, and DeVonta Smith. Against Georgia in the inaugural College Football Playoff game in 2021, the eventual national champion simply had too much talent to overcome. Michigan should have defeated TCU in 2022, but the Wolverines lost the game due to two pick-sixes and a fumble on the goal line.
Michigan, who is currently atop the national rankings, will play Alabama once more, this time in the Rose Bowl.
Adam Rittenberg of ESPN made the bowl game predictions, and he believes the Wolverines will struggle to defeat Nick Saban. (Requires subscription)
No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (in Pasadena, CA) on ESPN and the ESPN App at 5:00 p.m.
Alabama is a flawed but improving team, as shown by their dominance over then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC championship game. One of the best quarterbacks in the nation, Calen Milroe, will attack downfield to try to penetrate the Michigan secondary, which is led by standout quarterback Mike Sainristil.
It is impossible to overlook the difference between the two teams’ postseason performances. Nick Saban of Alabama is 9-4 in CFP games and has won seven national championships. Jim Harbaugh of Michigan has performed significantly better in the Big Ten than on the national scene, going 1-6 in bowl games and 0-2 in the CFP, much like his college coach, Bo Schembechler. The Tide advance to the national championship game behind a strong fourth-quarter lead from Milroe.
Alabama 31, Michigan 23 is the prediction.
Not much attention has been paid to the fact that Michigan defeated Penn State and Ohio State without Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines and despite having serious injuries. Many people don’t think much of the Hawkeyes’ 26-0 victory over Iowa, but considering their injury problems and playing philosophy, it’s as impressive a victory as any.
Michigan has a genuine chance to defeat the Tide now that it is healthy. Although it is uncommon for a team led by Nick Saban to lose in the College Football Playoffs, the Wolverines have as good of a chance as any if they execute and play their style of football while containing Jalen Milroe, as many other teams have done.
