On January 1, 2024, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines will face off against Alabama in the Rose Bowl game — Michigan’s third straight College Football Playoff appearance, a streak that dates back to 2021. After the committee announced its top-four, pitting the Big Ten Champion Wolverines against the SEC Champion Crimson Tide, Harbaugh shared his gut reaction to the matchup and some of his initial feelings on facing a blue-blood like Bama.
Michigan football coach excited to face No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl
Nick Saban and his Alabama Crimson Tide just snapped Georgia’s 29-game winning streak and shocked the nation by getting put into the College Football Playoff over the undefeated ACC Champion Florida State Seminoles. While Bama is likely a better opponent, many felt that FSU had earned a berth by winning all 13 of their games and a Power Five conference title. Still, that debate is in the past for Michigan football and Alabama, who will face off in the Rose Bowl for a shot at the national title game.
Jim Harbaugh delighted to be playing in third straight College Football Playoff
For Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh, playing Alabama comes as a delight — he loves the “wonderful feeling of winning” and cannot wait to take the field against a legendary program like the Crimson Tide have in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
“Just as you’d expect, just a great thrill of victory,” Jim Harbaugh said after the CFP rankings were finalized following Michigan’s 26-0 win in the Big Ten title game. “Wonderful, wonderful feeling of winning. It’s what dreamed about, what we hoped for, what we’ve worked for, what our guys prepared for and in position. Get in position, put yourself in position to be in position to win it all.
“So we’ve accomplished many of our goals, and now, winning it all is what we’d also put on the goal sheet, so that’s what we’re our turn our one-track mind to this next opponent and playing Alabama in the final four, and we’ll do what we always do. We’ll plan, we’ll prepare, we’ll practice, and get ready to give it our very best.”
Harbaugh, Michigan football not backing down one bit
Jim Harbaugh also said that his Michigan football program is excited to face Alabama — he isn’t backing down whatsoever.
“No, we’re excited to face them,” Harbaugh stated last Sunday. “It’s iconic. It’s Alabama. It’s Roll Tide. Man, it doesn’t get any better to be playing in the Rose Bowl. Just going to appreciate the tradition of the Rose Bowl, playing a great team like Alabama.
“I mean, it always has meaning, and what we did was special, not only yesterday 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. We’re thrilled to be playing in the Rose Bowl because it’s going to be a competition. That’s what this team lives for.”
Thrilling Rose Bowl set to be played on New Year’s Day
So far, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are 0-2 in the College Football Playoff, even losing last year’s matchup against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl by six points. That said, this year’s Michigan squad feels different — the defense is better, the QB play is better, Blake Corum is (finally) healthy, and more. If any U-M team is equipped to beat Alabama in the Rose Bowl and make a push for the national title, it’s this one.
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