Michigan Football Changing Things Up For Rose Bowl

Jim Harbaugh is one of the best coaches in football, and while his 38-3 overall record, three Big Ten titles, and more have all been impressive, there is a key downfall that Harbaugh has suffered time and time again: he cannot win bowl games. Since taking over the Michigan football program ahead of the 2015 season, Harbaugh is a mere 1-6 in bowls; in fact, aside from a 41-7 win over Florida in the Citrus Bowl, getting Michigan to 10-3 during his first year, the Wolverines have been winless in bowls for nearly eight seasons in a row. Still, Sherrone Moore says Michigan is changing things up this season before facing Alabama in the College Football Playoff semi-final.

Michigan football has a bowl game problem

Michigan football has not won a bowl game since January 1, 2016, and remains winless in the College Football Playoff heading into this season’s Rose Bowl (CFP) matchup against Alabama on New Year’s Day in less than two weeks. While the Wolverines are both ranked No. 1 in the nation and favored by Las Vegas, there are questions as to whether or not Michigan will be able to finally get the job done in a bowl game under Jim Harbaugh.

After sixth-straight bowl game loss (second straight College Football Playoff loss), Jim Harbaugh is changing things up

After losing yet another bowl game last year, falling by six points to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl (CFP), it sounds like Michigan football is electing to change things up when it comes to preparation for the Rose Bowl — Sherrone Moore said as much earlier this week.

“Guys are grinding every day; guys are excited to be here. Coach (Harbaugh) has set up a phenomenal schedule for (bowl prep) this year. I know JJ (McCarthy) brought that up a couple of days ago, where we’ve changed the schedule from what it’s been like the past couple of years.

“The guys are fresh; they are playing fast, they’re practicing hard, they’re practicing, they’re practicing violent, they’re practicing physical, precise, executing at a high level. We had a walk-through a couple of days back; I was like, ‘Man, it feels like we’re in Pasadena already!’ But the guys are — they’re ready to go, they’re excited, and they just keep chipping away.”

Sherrone Moore and the Wolverines are all-in on Rose Bowl prep for Alabama

Of course, Sherrone Moore was not the only Wolverine to note Michigan’s updated practice schedule this fall; in fact, a number of players and coaches have touched on the adjusted schedule ahead of the Rose Bowl, all of them praising the adjustments being made by Jim Harbaugh.

If Michigan football finally wants to win a College Football Playoff game and overcome Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, perhaps this new practice schedule will play a major role and give the Wolverines the edge that they need.

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