Michigan Football Coach Not Backing Down From Alabama In CFP

We are about 24 hours removed from the Wolverines’ gritty 26-0 win over No. 16 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game, though the buzz surrounding the now-No. 1 Wolverines is not dying at all. This morning, the College Football Playoff rankings were finalized, pinning Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and his team as the top program in the sport and slating them to face No. 4 Alabama (12-1, 9-1 SEC) in the Rose Bowl following the Tide’s upset win over Georgia on Saturday. On Sunday, Harbaugh had a chance to share his thoughts on the semi-final matchup, and he seems thrilled for the challenge.

Michigan football coach excited for matchup with No. 4 Alabama following Big Ten Championship win

Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban have faced off at their respective schools once before: the 2020 Citrus Bowl. While Bama won that game handily, Michigan football has a chance to avenge the loss and more on January 1st when No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama face off in the Rose Bowl Game.

While Alabama remains one of the top teams in college football and likely will until Nick Saban eventually decides to retire, Michigan football is the top team in the sport right now, according to the latest College Football Playoff rankings.

Las Vegas has the Wolverines pinned as a two-point favorite right now, and despite what social media is saying, the Maize and Blue are not backing down from this test. After all, if Michigan can beat the Crimson Tide, they are good enough to win it all.

“No, we’re excited to face them,” Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh said after the bowl matchups were announced. “It’s iconic. It’s Alabama. It’s ‘Roll Tide!’ It doesn’t get any better to be playing in the Rose Bowl — (Michigan is) just going to appreciate the tradition of the Rose Bowl, playing a great team like Alabama.

“… What we did was special,” Harbaugh added. “Not only yesterday (in the Big Ten Championship Game) but the entire season. The whole group that we have. We’re thrilled — we’re thrilled to be where we’re at, we’re thrilled to be playing Alabama, thrilled to be playing in the Rose Bowl because it’s going to be competition. That is what (Michigan) lives for.”

Jim Harbaugh has a shot at the national title this year

Of course, if Michigan football can manage to knock off the Tide, winning its first bowl game since the 2016 Citrus Bowl against Florida, Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines will advance to the program’s first-ever national title game.

Corum: “We’ve changed the narrative — how people look at Michigan.

“Like Kobe Bryant said: job’s not finished.” pic.twitter.com/41GLt7B6Nt

— CJ Mangum (@CJ_BB90) December 3, 2023

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