Mason Graham is finishing his sophomore season at Michigan. The impressive underclassman has posted 55 total tackles, five and a half sacks, and nine tackles for loss so far in his career. Graham has been a part of two Ohio State victories and two playoff runs. Of course, this also means that he was on the losing end of last year’s heartbreaking game against TCU.
Graham thinks this year has a different feel, however. “We’re taking the stuff from last year and kinda just fine-tuning everything,” Graham said. “Knowing the expectation of what it’s like to be here and what it means to play in this game.”
Graham and his fellow teammates who were a part of last year’s loss (or even the year before that as well) are out for blood this time around. The fact that the opponent is Alabama just makes the fruit sweeter as well.
In addition to the heightened stakes, this game strikes home for Graham because, well, it is home. Graham played his high school football for Southern California powerhouse Servite High School, whose campus is located less than 45 minutes away from Rose Bowl Stadium.
“It feels good,” Graham noted. “Just a lot of family, friends reaching out. Just excited to see me play in this game.”
Though Graham is originally from the area, he was not an avid watcher of the game. “I watched this game a few times, but I wasn’t like too tuned into it.”
Graham should finally be fully healthy for the matchup as well. He suffered a hand injury early in the year and has been playing with a cast for much of the season, but that will change against Alabama.