Michigan Football Starter Says National Title Game Will Be his Last

PASADENA — The Wolverines are Rose Bowl Champions for the first time in almost 30 years and are 14-0 for the first time in program history. With the national championship game approaching fast, Michigan football starter Karsen Barnhart, an offensive lineman who has started all over Michigan’s elite O-line, will be leaving for the NFL Draft after the 2023-24 season. Win or lose, next weekend’s matchup against Washington will be his last as a Wolverine.

Michigan football starter will play final game with Wolverines in the national title game

Michigan football is about to play in the national title game for the first time in program history, and while the Wolverines are thrilled with their narrow Rose Bowl win over Alabama on Monday night, they know that the job is far from finished.

We talked to Donovan Edwards after #Michigan won the Rose Bowl this evening.

"Job's not finished, we got one more to go. We can celebrate now, but 24-hours from now, we gotta focus on the national championship." #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/M64DNwvFsL

— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) January 2, 2024

After the game, I caught up with Michigan football starter Karsen Barnhart, a veteran offensive tackle/offensive guard.

“It really hasn’t hit me (that the national title game will be his last at Michigan) yet,” Barnhart told me Monday evening. “I’m enjoying this win right now, and I just want to go win that one — be a national champion and go out on top here at Michigan.”

A historic win for Michigan in the Rose Bowl, Karsen Barnhart almost NFL bound

Karsen Barnhart has seen action in over 40 games with Michigan football, earning All-Big Ten honors twice and starting along a Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line in 2022. On top of that, the battle-tested offensive line starter has started all 14 games for the Wolverines this fall and will be making his final start for Michigan (before testing the NFL waters) next weekend against Washington for all the marbles.

A win would boost Michigan football to 15-0 on the year, earning the program its first national title since the 1997 season.

The moment #Michigan won the Rose Bowl. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/DGWNAXsFfb

— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) January 2, 2024

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