Three weeks ago, one could arguably say the world stood still for the University of Michigan.
It defeated Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, punching its ticket as the top-seeded program in the College Football Playoff. In the Sunday following conference championship week, Jim Harbaugh, his staff, and student-athletes of the Wolverines watched the big screen to see who Michigan would face in the CFP Semifinal matchup at the Rose Bowl.
When the scripted A appeared on Selection Sunday via ESPN as the No. 4 seed, a quietness took over the room. The narrative was fear or disappointment had entered Michigan’s heart.
It was the Wolverines wanted to see Florida State over Alabama.
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Since then, both teams practiced at their respective institutions before flying to California.
Everyone’s had fun taking in the festivities, but Michigan’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy had an opportunity to address the reaction from Sunday, Dec. 3. He said to reporters on Friday that Michigan was not disappointed to play Alabama.
“It is not a joke at all,” McCarthy said about seeing a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team in the playoff.
“They have been here before and have been successful here before. When that came out, all of us where shocked the committee kept Florida State out. You could understand where they were coming from, especially with how Alabama was playing toward the end of the year and beating Georgia, and just the team they are … it makes sense and watching film, you see why they are in the playoff. They are a tremendous team. Everything about them, offense, defense, special teams, they are clicking on all cylinders.”
McCarthy looks at Alabama as a ‘great matchup’ and a ‘great challenge’ for Michigan.
Monday can’t get here fast enough as Rose Bowl Stadium will be treated to a classic to open 2024.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
