U-M’s McCarthy: CFP loss to Georgia still fuels us
INDIANAPOLIS– Michigan is headed back to the College Football Playoff, equipped with the experience of failure and the self-confidence that much better outcomes lie ahead.The second-ranked Wolverines retreated from Purdue early in the 2nd half Saturday to win the Huge 10 championship game 43-22 and capture back-to-back outright league titles for the very first time because 1991 and 1992. Michigan stayed ideal on the season and continued
to control, outscoring opponents by 347 points, its best regular-season points differential given that 1905, when Michigan held a scoring edge of 495-2. However after raising the Big Ten championship trophy, singing “Mr. Brightside”and celebrating on the Lucas Oil Stadium field, the Wolverines immediately turned their attention to the CFP. All offseason, they were driven not by beating Ohio State and winning the Big 10 in 2021, but by a 34-11 loss to Georgia in a CFP semifinal that was never ever competitive.2 Related “I love our opportunities,”quarterback J.J. McCarthy stated.”In 2015, it was sort of bright lights, whatever’s brand-new, Big 10 championship, College Football Playoff. But going into the offseason, it provided us a lot momentum. We understood we could arrive and we could return. This entire offseason, it was everything about winning it. “Whatever’s terrific that happened today, but the task’s not completed. We’ve got a lot bigger plans.
“McCarthy, who passed for 161 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win over Purdue, was Michigan’s backup in
last year’s CFP semifinal. That day, he finished seven of 17 passes for 131 yards and the team’s only touchdown.But the loss motivated him and his teammates to go back to college football’s biggest stage. “It drove me so much that this victory tonight
does not truly feel like anything,”McCarthy said.” That’s something that’s really difficult to come by
. I indicate, back-to-back Huge 10 champions is amazing, but that sensation that we had in 2015, this is simply making sure that feeling never occurs again. “It was just a drive and a fire inside of us that was just ignited, and it’s still burning.”Michigan will discover later Sunday its CFP place and challenger, however the Wolverines likely will require to win their semifinal for another shot at Georgia, the defending national champion. If Michigan stays the No. 2 seed, it likely will deal with TCU or possibly archrival Ohio State, which the Wolverines beat 45-23 on Nov. 26 in Columbus.”Please, please, bring it on, “McCarthy stated. “That would be really a true blessing if we get a shot to play those boys again.” Tight end Luke Schoonmaker, who had 56 receiving lawns and
a goal against Purdue, said a CFP rematch with Ohio State would” most likely go down as one of the very best ever.”
However Michigan is ready for any challenger, even Georgia, after a loss that left”a sour taste”throughout the offseason. “We’re a various group this year,”Schoonmaker stated.” We have a lot of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Even better, we can all play together, utilize all that great skill.
“Michigan has had to develop late in the season after a knee injury to star running back Blake Corum, who went through surgery Friday and did not participate in the Huge Ten title game. Without Corum, the Wolverines have actually leaned on Donovan Edwards, who constructed on his 216-yard hurrying performance against Ohio State with 185 yards and a goal versus Purdue.Edwards earned national championship MVP honors. He ended up being the first Michigan running back to record 400 hurrying backyards in a two-game span because Mike Hart, the team’s running backs coach, in 2004.
The last Michigan player to do so was quarterback Denard Robinson in 2010. Edwards said he’s” produced the huge minutes.””This person comes alive in the huge games,”coach Jim Harbaugh said.”His entire profession, whether it was high school, college, he simply strikes another gear. He removes to another level.”
Harbaugh, whose task remained in jeopardy entering the 2021 season, said he didn’t change his approach, which players said they valued during Michigan’s turn-around. The group’s objective is now to change its performance and push for its first national title since 1997. “We want revenge. We want to offset our run last year, “Schoonmaker said.”I know everybody’s got that in their mind. This is amazing, I have no words for tonight, I’m so proud of everybody. However in the back of everybody’s heads, we know what we need to do.”