Michigan Football Star Debunks Pre-CFP Narrative

The stage is officially set: the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (13-0, Big Ten Champions) and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1, SEC Champions) are set to square off in the Rose Bowl Game (College Football Playoff semi-final). When Bama was picked at No. 4, a video of Michigan’s watch party went viral, with a false narrative spreading that the Maize and Blue are afraid of facing the Tide on January 1st. Well, Michigan football star Blake Corum made quick work of that narrative, debunking it shortly after Michigan’s 26-0 win over Iowa in the Big Ten title game.

Michigan football star thrilled about College Football Playoff matchup

The 2023 season marks Michigan’s third straight Big Ten title and trip to the College Football Playoff, though the simple fact of the matter is that the Wolverines must take the next step this year and finally win a CFP game.

That said, the Rose Bowl pits the top-ranked Wolverines against perhaps the best team in the playoff this year: Alabama, who just upset Georgia to get into the playoffs. While narratives have been started that Michigan wants nothing to do with Alabama, it has been reported that the Wolverines’ shocked reaction to the CFP selection was more directed toward the fact that Florida State (13-0, ACC Champions) got left out in favor of the Crimson Tide.

Michigan reacts to Alabama being selected at No. 4. Wolverines and Crimson Tide in the CFP semi. pic.twitter.com/V2mrgLQA3W

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 3, 2023

Blake Corum wants Alabama

Still, stating that the reaction was not about Alabama was not enough for Michigan football star Blake Corum, who just tied the program’s all-time rushing touchdown record with a two-TD performance in the Big Ten title game. He wants Bama and made it perfectly clear.

“We’re that team. We’ve been winning. We deserve to be the No. 1 team. That’s how my mindset works,” Corum said. “The (College Football Playoff) committee chose us to be the No. 1 team. So I’m not going to act like we’re not. Alabama is a great team, you know, so we treat them like a great team. So I’m super excited to play Alabama.”

On Florida State: “It sucks”

Blake Corum is thrilled to be facing the SEC Champs this fall, though he did make note of Florida State being snubbed from CFP contention.

“I would hate to be Florida State,” he said. “Go undefeated all season and not get in — it sucks.”

Wolverines get their shot at national title game, starting with next month’s Rose Bowl matchup

It sounds like Jim Harbaugh is going to give his team a week off from a physical standpoint, though they will still be watching film and doing other prep. Regardless, in just under a month, Michigan football and Blake Corum will take the field in search of a Rose Bowl win against Alabama. While the Wolverines’ CFP luck has not been great to this point, the Maize and Blue are due for a win, and this year’s roster is the team to do it.

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