Michigan (13-0) has risen to the top of the College Football Playoff rankings, where it will face No. 4 Alabama (12-1) in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh held a teleconference on Sunday afternoon to share his initial thoughts on the game.
The full news conference transcript is available below, courtesy of ASAP Sports.
HARBAUGH, JIM
HARBAUGH, JIM: We are overjoyed to be playing in the College Football Playoff final at the Rose Bowl Game. Thank you very much.
Q. Dear Coach, I’m not sure if you’ve had a chance to look at Alabama’s journey thus far, but what can you say about Jalen Milroe overcoming adversity and the way he’s playing right now, especially down the stretch?
JIM HARBAUGH: He’s playing at an elite level, and you can see his progress throughout the season. Just seems like he hit an inflection point right before the halfway point. I also have a unique set of athletic abilities.
But in terms of timing, decision-making, and accuracy, he’s doing very well within the system. They’ve made some fantastic items for him.
We have a similar quarterback, so we’ve just noticed the level at which he’s playing. He’s
Q. Speaking of Milroe and his relationship with Isaiah Bond, what have you seen from afar of their recent relationship and what you’ll have to defend?
JIM HARBAUGH: You’re right, I can’t talk about that connection too much. Just what I’ve seen in some of the games I’ve played. Yeah, I don’t want to get too deep into it and pretend to know something I don’t. I’ve only been able to see through the keyhole, but it looks great.
As previously stated, the passing game’s precision has been noticeable. The progression to where it is now is at an elite level.
Q. Many of us witnessed the team’s reaction when they learned they would be playing Alabama. What can you tell us about who you expected to face and what it is about Alabama that your players aren’t so excited about?
JIM HARBAUGH: No, we’re looking forward to meeting them. It’s well-known. It’s the state of Alabama. It’s the Roll Tide. It doesn’t get any better than playing in the Rose Bowl, not to mention the — just going to appreciate the Rose Bowl tradition, playing a great team like Alabama. I mean, it’s always meaningful.
What we did was unique. Not just yesterday, but the entire season, our entire group. We’re overjoyed. We’re overjoyed to be where we are.
Q. I had a question about the “Beat Georgia” drill. How much of that do you believe applies to Alabama? How prepared do you think you are to face a team with this kind of defense and front seven?
JIM HARBAUGH: Yeah, it’s really — in the last maybe five weeks, probably the last four, we’ve played some of the top defenses in the country in Penn State, Iowa, Ohio State, all top five defenses, and Alabama is as good as or better than all of them.
Yes, it will be a significant challenge and task.
Q. I’m curious if you have a month to prepare for Alabama. What difference does having an extra three weeks make?
JIM HARBAUGH: I think the most important part is getting healthy and getting the team back in shape and ready to go.
Q. I know you played Alabama in the Citrus Bowl a few years ago. I’m sure you’ve known Nick Saban for quite some time. Could you talk about your relationship with him, how it’s evolved, and how you got the chance to meet him in a game of such renown as the Rose Bowl?
JIM HARBAUGH: Yeah, the kind of stuff you hope for, work for, and play for. To be in that position, I have nothing but admiration for Coach Saban. He’s always been respectful to us, and I think the first time I met him was when Michigan State was playing in the — Michigan State or Marquette at a Final Four in New Orleans. I believe it was at Marquette when Tom Crean was coaching there, and he was at the game and we had a chance to talk. Also, a couple of Heisman Trophy ceremonies where our players were invited, whether at Stanford or Michigan.
We’re up against the best, so we’re going up against the best. Tradition has it that two true blue bloods of football will square off against Alabama.
Q. Given that this is the final year of the traditional Big Ten and the final year of the four-team playoff era, discuss what it means to be the Big Ten representative heading to the Rose Bowl as the No. 1 overall seed.
JIM HARBAUGH: Exactly as you’d expect. Just a great sense of victory, a wonderful, wonderful sense of victory. It’s what we’ve hoped for, what we’ve worked for, and what our guys have been preparing for.
Get in position; position yourself to be in position to win it all.
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