Michigan players and coaches are embracing their new role as villains of the college football world as they head into a Rose Bowl showdown with Alabama for a spot in the national championship. The Wolverines path to the playoff was littered with controversy, but they have had the last laugh by securing the #1 overall seed.
Sign Stealing Allegations Fail to Slow Michigan’s Roll
Accusations arose late in the season that Michigan was stealing opponents’ signals and signs during games to gain an unfair advantage. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh brushed off the allegations, even leaning into the villain persona by joking that the Wolverines would use “Jedi mind tricks” in their playoff run.
“We know it’s there. We hear the noise. It’s comical,” said Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. “It fuels us. It makes us wake up in the morning and work even harder.” [1]
The external noise has done nothing to slow Michigan’s on-field dominance. They crushed opponents by an average margin of 29 points during their 13-0 season behind McCarthy’s precision passing and running back Blake Corum’s relentless rushing.
“All year nobody thought we would be here. We believed in ourselves, kept our heads down and went to work,” McCarthy said. [2]
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| Colorado State | W 51-7 |
| Hawaii | W 56-10 |
| UConn | W 59-0 |
| Maryland | W 34-27 |
| Iowa | W 27-14 |
| Indiana | W 31-10 |
| Penn State | W 41-17 |
| Michigan State | W 29-7 |
| Rutgers | W 52-17 |
| Nebraska | W 34-3 |
| Illinois | W 19-17 |
| Ohio State | W 45-23 |
| Average Margin of Victory | 29 points |
The Wolverines displayed total dominance at nearly every position group en route to their undefeated season.
“They have been the most complete team all year in college football,” said analyst Joel Klatt. [3]
With the allegations failing to impact Michigan’s on-field play, some question whether the increased scrutiny could actually help the team.
“I think it’ll pull our group even tighter,” McCarthy said.
New Playoff Format Adds Intrigue to Michigan’s CFP Hopes
This is the first year of an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff format. Michigan locked up the #1 overall seed after beating rival Ohio State in their regular season finale.
The new playoff featuresautomatic bids for the 6 highest-ranked conference champions, plus 6 at-large spots. With more teams involved, the path to a championship promises to feature tougher tests along the way.
“The best teams often benefit from going through some adversity in these long playoff runs,” McCarthy said. “It prepares you for the later rounds.” [4]
As the top seed, Michigan faces #4 Alabama in one CFP semifinal (the other pairs #2 Ohio State and #3 TCU). Michigan’s playoff road likely goes through top-ranked Crimson Tide QB Bryce Young.
| CFP Seed | Team | Record |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Michigan | 13-0 |
| #2 | Ohio State | 11-1 |
| #3 | TCU | 12-1 |
| #4 | Alabama | 11-2 |
“Alabama always has 5-star talent across the board,” McCarthy said. “It’s going to be a bloodbath and that’s what we want.” [5]
Storied Rose Bowl Site of Latest Michigan Playoff Push
Michigan faces Alabama in the Rose Bowl semifinal on New Year’s Eve. It’s a fitting venue for Michigan’s latest playoff push, as the legendary stadium has hosted so much Michigan football history.
This marks Michigan’s third straight CFP appearance. They lost in the 2021 Orange Bowl semifinal but reached the 2022 championship game, falling just short against SEC power Georgia.
| Season | Result |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Lost CFP Semifinal |
| 2022 | Lost CFP Championship |
A win over Alabama would give Michigan a chance to capture the program’s first national title since 1997. After multiple close calls, the Wolverines feel poised to finally get over the hump this year behind an unusually resilient group.
“This team embraces chaos and is unfazed by anything,” said coach Jim Harbaugh. [6]
Dating back to the early 1900s, Michigan has an extensive Rose Bowl history including 8 wins. Hope abounds that this year’s vintage can add to the lore.
“To win the Rose Bowl and compete for a national championship, that would be legendary,” said McCarthy. [7]
Michigan Primed for Rose Bowl Showdown
Despite the controversial finish to their regular season, Michigan seems loose and confident heading into the playoff. Players reported diving into the Southern California surf and taking Disneyland trips upon arrival. [8]
The Wolverines are 9.5 point favorites over Alabama in a matchup of college football blue bloods. The Crimson Tide feature significantly less star power than usual, while Michigan’s roster is stacked with future NFL talent.
Corum and McCarthy highlight the offense, while defensive end Mike Morris anchors a punishing defense.
“We have the most complete roster in the country,” Harbaugh said. “It’s just up to us to get it done now.” [9]
If Michigan captures the Rose Bowl win as expected, they’ll likely face a rematch with rival Ohio State for the national championship on January 9th. Ohio State handed Michigan its last defeat in 2021, providing extra motivation.
“We owe them one,” McCarthy said.
After years of playoff frustration, something feels different about this supremely confident Michigan squad.
“It just seems like our time,” added McCarthy. [10]
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