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Jim Harbaugh happy with how Michigan defense is playing in Rose Bowl

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby: On3 Staff Report01/01/24
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Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has been suspended three games by the Big Ten.

Michigan jumped out to a 13-10 halftime lead on Alabama in the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal, inching closer to a spot in the national championship game.

After a shaky start, the Wolverines settled in nicely and have dominated the Crimson Tide.

Coach Jim Harbaugh had said before the game that he expected the game to be won in the trenches, and Michigan was proving to be the dominant team in that regard by the time halftime rolled around.

“Really good,” Harbaugh said of how things had gone. “I love the three-and-outs we’ve got on defense, putting pressure on the quarterback and we’re covering on the back end pretty darned well.”

Michigan hounded Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe after the shaky start was overcome.

The Wolverines very nearly threw an interception on the first play of the game, saved only by the heel of Alabama star freshman Caleb Downs being out of bounds when he jumped to make the early interception. That kept the ball with Michigan.

But the Wolverines would turn it over again on a muffed punt, allowing Alabama to score a touchdown after getting excellent field position. The rest of the half, though, was all Michigan.

The ground game got rolling as star tailback Blake Corum got into a rhythm. Corum finished the first half with nine carries for 51 yards, while also catching one pass for eight yards and a touchdown.

Meanwhile, Michigan’s defense gave it the chance to stretch the lead out against Alabama, something the Wolverines may end up regretting not taking more full advantage of.

Milroe was sacked five times in the half, while Alabama was limited to just 96 total yards of offense in the first half.

The Alabama quarterback was completely unable to get into a rhythm in the first half, something Michigan will look to keep rolling in the second half.

The Wolverines finished the first half with 197 total yards of offense, including 82 yards on the ground. Quarterback JJ McCarthy went 9-of-14 for 115 yards and two touchdowns in the first half.