CFP - Orange Bowl

 I stated on our podcast that I thought Michigan would win this game, it was not based on any statistic or match up. If anything, match up wise an objective person would call it in favor of Georgia easily. But I had hope and confidence. And why wouldn't I? We had just beaten the terrors of the Big Ten Ohio State 42-27, then followed it up with a 42-3 beat down of Iowa in the Big Ten title game. Georgia meanwhile was coming off of an embarrassing loss to their own version of Ohio State, Alabama in the SEC title game. And while Georgia had been dominate, especially on the defensive side of the ball, their schedule was far from the toughest in the country. Yeah, none of that mattered as Georgia put an absolute whopping on Michigan.

This was more than a 34-11 beat down in the college football semi-finals. It was a display of the moment being too big for one program, and another program being pissed off and on a mission. Michigan made all of the mistakes that they avoided in the regular season on their way to a 12-1 record. Stupid penalties, dropped passes, missed throws and three very costly turnovers including Blake Corum's first fumble of the season. Murphy's law was on full display for the Wolverines, and if it wasn't for Kirby Smart's compassion, then the score line could have been a lot worse. A 27-3 halftime lead is the best illustration of how bad it could have been for Michigan. Or, you know, the absolute dimes that Bennett threw to Burton and Cook for 50+ yard touchdown passes, those would do it as well. 

Michigan was out matched, they were out played, and they were out coached on both sides of the ball. More importantly, they didn't come out and match the intensity of a Georgia team who was already more talented. The "want to" that was there for Ohio State and Iowa was replaced by a deer in the headlights look that was more indicative of the 2020 Michigan football team than what we had seen from the 2021 team. 

Michigan was out gained by the Bulldogs 521 yards to 328, many of those yards for Michigan came in the 4th quarter when the Georgia backups were in the game, and Harbaugh finally gave over the reigns to 5 star freshman quarterback JJ McCarthy. The Wolverines only mustered 91 rushing yards, the bread and butter of the program all season long. And Cade McNamara, who had not flinched all season in the face of pressure and having the talented youngster fighting him for playing time, ended up laying in the corner in the fetal position. It was pure dominance by the Georgia Bulldogs, and Michigan wasn't ready for this stage.

Not all was lost though, this game showed the younger Wolverines, many of whom stayed on the field to watch the trophy celebration by Georgia, what it takes to compete at that level. Michigan overcame some large hurdles in 2021, beating Ohio State, winning the Big Ten, the playoffs have now become the new hurdle that this program faces. Also from a program standpoint, this game should have shown those in charge what it takes to compete at this level. Michigan generally has solid recruiting classes, top 10 classes filled with talented potential. Three star guys turned stars in the likes of Haskins and Andrel Anthony. To compete at the highest level however, Michigan is going to have to take of those academic superiority goggles that they've worn since their establishment. Michigan has often lost recruits to not being admitted into the university, in the wake of MSU's success in the transfer portal, Michigan is going to have to take a look at their transfer process when it comes to athletes. NIL has to become a large priority for the athletic department as a whole. A phrase I've said about Michigan a lot in the last decade, Michigan is going to have to adapt to modern times, or die off as another once upon a time great program now turned also ran. 

This game should have been a wake up moment for the program as a whole. Georgia was the better team, a team filled with future NFL stars. Michigan had a great season, something this one game won't take away from. But this game is all about overcoming the next obstacle. And in Michigan's case, the next obstacle is their own identity. If Michigan can overcome that, and start playing with the big boys on the recruiting trail, then maybe, just maybe we can play with the big boys in the college football playoff as well.