Jim Harbaugh shares what reaching College Football Playoff means to him

This 2021 season has had a lot of first for Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh. It is his first time beating the Ohio State Buckeyes. His first appearance and win in the Big Ten championship game. And it is his first and the program’s first time ever making it to the College Football Playoff. After being selected to the College Football Playoff on Sunday, Harbaugh revealed just what it means to lead the Wolverines to the playoffs.

“For me, just watching our guys give it their very best every day. Whether we were in offseason winter conditioning, whether we’re in spring practice, weight room, fall practice, just a bunch of guys that wanted to give it their very best, and then feel good about what they accomplished. And they’ve accomplished a lot. There’s a lot of work, guys, just working and not worrying is what I would say. It’s a great feeling, “said Harbaugh on the ESPN selection show.

The Wolverines remained in second place in the final College Football Playoff ranking; despite a 42-3 victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game.

Up next for Michigan is a matchup against the third-ranked team the Georgia Bulldogs, in the semifinals at the Orange Bowl. The game is set to kickoff on Dec 31, New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m EDT.

Jim Harbaugh dedicates Big Ten championship win

It was a great Saturday night for the Michigan Wolverines, as they put together a dominating performance and rolled to a 42-3 win over Iowa in the Big 10 championship game. The Wolverines controlled the contest from start to finish and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff top-four as a result.

Following Michigan’s big win, which moved the Wolverines to 12-1 on the season, head coach Jim Harbaugh – who has put together his best year yet in Ann Arbor – shared plenty of emotions. He was obviously extremely happy for his team, but he also dedicated the win to someone.

During his postgame interview with the Big Noon Kickoff crew on FOX, Harbaugh explained how proud he was of his guys and said that Michigan was honoring Tate Myre – the Oxford High School standout football player who was killed in the recent school shooting – in the win.

“It feels great,” Harbaugh said. “I didn’t know how much more we could pile on our guys for this game. Big Ten championship to put that banner up in our practice facility. Those guys get to stay in Scheinbechler Hall from now on, join the team pictures of the other 40-some Big Ten champions at Michigan. Chance to go to the playoffs, first time we’ve ever done that. We put that on em in this game. So many things. I think to be one of the best teams ever in Michigan history.

“We got a chance to do that and also we wanted to honor Tate Myre in this game – dedicated the game to him for his courage and what he did in the shootings in Oxford. He’s a hero. There was a lot on our guys and they rose to the challenge. We got our 42 points up there and my patch fell off. I think God was with us.”

Tate Myre’s jersey was number 42, so it was very fitting that the Wolverines put up 42 points against Iowa.