‘Happy’ Harbaugh savors Huge Ten title in return

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterDec 3, 2023, 12:17 AM ET

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• College football reporter.
• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.INDIANAPOLIS– Jim Harbaugh hugged his better half

and kids near midfield late Saturday night, positioned for pictures with them and later shook hands on a podium with Huge Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, who last month bied far a three-game suspension for the Michigan coach.For the very first time given that Nov. 4, Harbaugh strolled the Wolverines sideline as No. 2 Michigan overwhelmed No. 16 Iowa 26-0 at Lucas Oil Arena to catch its 3rd consecutive outright Huge 10 title, a very first in group history. Michigan became the 5th team in FBS history to begin successive seasons at 13-0 and published just the 2nd shutout in Huge Ten championship game history, after the 2014 Ohio State group that blanked Wisconsin 59-0 and went on to a national championship.The Wolverines are set to get their third straight College Football Playoff berth Sunday.Editor’s Picks 2 Related After Harbaugh praised defensive back Mike Sainristil on winning championship game MVP honors, Sainristil, who forced 2 of 3 Iowa fumbles in the win, turned toward Harbaugh and stated

,”Congratulations to you, coach. Invite back.””I never ever left! “Harbaugh replied.Harbaugh had actually served the suspension from the Big 10, troubled Michigan for a forbidden off-campus signal-stealing operation led by previous employee Connor Stalions, who resigned Nov. 3.

After enjoying Michigan’s Nov. 11 win at Penn State from the group hotel, Harbaugh joined his brother, John, the Baltimore Ravens coach, for a Nov. 18 win at Maryland. He then stayed home to watch recently’s win versus archrival Ohio State, which put the Wolverines in the league championship.Although Harbaugh could lead practices and game-planning, he had no participation with Michigan on game days, as offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore worked as acting head coach. Harbaugh explained his mood after Saturday’s win as”10 out of 10, delighted “and wanted to get as

lots of players on stage for the trophy discussion as it might safety hold.” It’s not about me, I have actually had a lot of success, “Harbaugh said.”However you know that your players can feel what it resembles to be a champ, their households can understand what it’s like to be a champion, for my other half and my kids to have their dad be a champ, for my moms and dads to have their kid be a champ, that’s the fantastic adventure.” It’s a stunning, terrific thing. “Sainristil pointed out a favorite Harbaugh phrase,”The worm has actually turned, “to describe Michigan’s success since the 2020 season, when it went 2-4 and restructured Harbaugh’s agreement with a lower guaranteed wage. Harbaugh added that his players”put the hook in … the worm. “He also referenced his line from Huge

Ten preseason media days in July 2021. Asked then what it would require to lastly beat Ohio State, Harbaugh said, “We’re going to do it or die trying.””We have actually altered the narrative, how people look at Michigan,”stated running back Blake Corum, who had 2 rushing touchdowns to connect Anthony Thomas’ profession record of 55 while contributing to his single-season team record of 24. “Back-to-back-to-back, it feels excellent. We hold ourselves to such a high standard that we must achieve those objectives.”

Michigan dedicated its win to offensive lineman and captain Zak Zinter, who suffered a damaged leg against Ohio State and went through surgery Nov. 25. Zinter took a trip to accompany his teammates for the Big 10 champion, went to midfield with Michigan’s captains for the pregame coin toss and was presented the Huge Ten champion prize by Petitti. “Being a leader on this team just enlivens everyone to go out there and do our best and bet him,”quarterback J.J. McCarthy said of Zinter.” When [Harbaugh] made this game for him, we were doing it for him, it simply brought another level of seriousness and inspiration to head out there and do it for him.”Defense and special teams propelled Michigan versus Iowa, which limited the Wolverines to 213 yards and only one

scoring drive of longer than 28 lawns. Semaj Morgan’s 87-yard punt return– the longest ever in a Huge Ten championship game– set up Michigan’s first touchdown.The Wolverines held Iowa to 2.8 lawns per play, 4-of-15 on third down and 0-for-3 on 4th down while enabling only 3 Hawkeyes drives to cross midfield.”The number of turnovers were there, three? Plus the 4 fourth-down stops

,”Harbaugh said.”That resembles seven turnovers. Essential to give the ball to the offense and in great position. So simply spectacular play.” Michigan will discover its CFP placement and challenger Sunday. The Wolverines have lost successive semifinal games to TCU and Georgia, and Harbaugh is just 1-6 in postseason play at the school.”Guys like me and Blake, this is what we came back for, to have the success with this group,” Sainristil said.”The brotherhood that this team has, I

would not give it up for anything worldwide. This team is going down in history. “The method we tackle our objectives is you put whatever into the next objective. There’s more work to put in.”