A Key Player Michigan Football Must Stop Today

The Michigan Wolverines are about the play in the Rose Bowl game — something that has not happened in nearly 30 years. Four years ago, on the first day of the decade, Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban faced off in the Citrus Bowl, with Alabama cruising to a 35-16 victory. This time around, these two iconic programs are in very different places, though Bama is still among the country’s elite teams. If Michigan football wants to down the Crimson Tide, it must slow down a key player: wide receiver Isaiah Bond.

Michigan football must stop Alabama star wideout Isaiah Bond in the Rose Bowl Game

When Michigan football and Alabama faced off four years ago, Alabama scored a touchdown on its first play of the game by way of a long touchdown pass. Today, the Wolverines want to finally get over the College Football Playoff woes, keeping Bama from scoring in that manner will be essential.

Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban both know that games like this are won on the defensive side of the football — see last year’s Fiesta Bowl performance, where one team scored two defensive touchdowns, while the other gave up 37 offensive points.

Isaiah Bond, one of Bama’s top receiving targets, has a special connection with quarterback Jalen Milroe — that much is clear heading into the Rose Bowl. That said, Michigan football has the nation’s No. 1 defense, and keeping Bond at bay will be essential if the Wolverines are to earn their first-ever playoff win.

“Yeah, (Isaiah Bond) creates separation, increases separation, snatch the ball out of the air, good with the ball security,” Jim Harbaugh said yesterday. “It’s like Coach (Nick Saban) said: it’s a dangerous offense to defend. You have to defend the play, and then you have to — the next play, which is in the same play because they do such a good job of extending the play.”

I also spoke with Isaiah Bond earlier this week, where he explained to me that he and Alabama are feeling confident heading into this matchup. Sure, Michigan has the top-ranked defense, but Bond (and Jalen Milroe) feel they are more than ready for the challenge this afternoon, largely due to their immense SEC experience.

Isaiah Bond post CFP hype video leading up to the Rose Bowl.

🎥 via: @isaiahbond_ pic.twitter.com/4fmOTUWpKf

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) December 26, 2023

Only time will tell how Michigan will do this afternoon, though this much is clear: Isaiah Bond must be a priority for the Michigan football defense if Jesse Minter and his Wolverines are to come away with a victory and advance to the national championship game.

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