ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nick Saban has seen Michigan football under Jim Harbaugh before, four years ago in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl in Orlando.
That Wolverines team underachieved, going 9-3 in the regular season despite having been voted in the Cleveland.com poll that year as the favorite to win the Big Ten. Michigan drew the Tide in the postseason. Despite having a halftime lead, the maize and blue succumbed to an extremely talented Alabama team that had also underachieved.
Though many in the national media don’t think Michigan stands much of a chance against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the two storied programs will battle for the right to play in the national championship game. Saban is giving the Wolverines utmost respect.
Wolverines Wire asked Saban about how this Michigan team is similar and how it’s different from the one he saw on New Year’s Day in 2020. While he sees some similarities, he expects a much bigger challenge this time around.
“They were a team that was growing at that time. And they developed into a significantly different defense — a different coordinator, different scheme,” Saban said. “Really good players on defense, a lot of turnovers. And offensively, there’s some similarities to what they did in the past, but this is a pro-style offense — a lot of personnel groups, a lot of motions, a lot of formations.
“And great balance on offense with really great players. The quarterback does a great job, the running back’s really good. They’ve got great balance — they’ve got great receivers, got really good tight ends. There’s a lot of really good things about this team. I can understand why they’re undefeated.”
Jim Harbaugh noted on Wednesday that anything could happen in the upcoming matchup, though he personally expects it to be close.
“They could clear run us out of the stadium,” Harbaugh said. “And we’re good, too. We’ve got the ability to really do the same to them or the other possibility is it could be one heck of a football game. And I kind of think that’s the way it’s gonna go.”
Michigan and Alabama will kick off at 2 p.m. PST in the Rose Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff semifinal.