Blake Corum: Playing in College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl is a dream come true

Thanks to the Michigan Wolverines‘ status as a Big Ten member, they’ve become one of the programs that has deep ties to the Rose Bowl. This year, the Wolverines are getting to play in the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoff all in one game, which is a dream come true for players like Blake Corum.

For Corum, this comes a year after he missed the College Football Playoff entirely because of an injury he suffered late in the season.

“I never really thought about it until it actually happened,” Blake Corum said. “When I knew we were going to the College Football Playoffs, I wanted to play in the Rose Bowl. That’s the game everyone dreams of.”

For Michigan, this is the Wolverines’ 21st trip to the Rose Bowl. However, it’s the program’s first time going to the game since 2007 and Michigan hasn’t actually won the Rose Bowl since 1998. It’s also Michigan’s third straight trip to the College Football Playoff, where the Wolverines have yet to win a game.

“The Rose Bowl itself is a great game, but the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoffs, that’s a whole other level,” Blake Corum said. “I’m really excited to play in the Rose Bowl, especially against a great team like Alabama coached by a great coach. It’s something you dream of.”

For Blake Corum, it’s made this year’s Rose Bowl almost like a two-for-one event.

“Two-for-one special, you can’t beat it. You’re in the College Football Playoffs, and you’re in the granddaddy of them all. I’m just blessed to be here,” Corum concluded.

Heading into the Rose Bowl, Michigan is a 1.5-point favorite over Alabama. The total is set at 45 points.

Blake Corum reflects on Michigan career ahead of Rose Bowl

Blake Corum took the time to reflect on his exceptional college career at Michigan ahead of playing in the Rose Bowl.

“I’ve grown as a man [and] I’ve grown spiritually. I’ve learned a lot just throughout the journey, throughout the trials and the tribulations, you could call it. What I’ve learned is that I’m a happy guy, man. I’m always trying to make someone else smile. If someone’s down, I’m always picking them up,” Corum said.

“It’s trying to see the best in the world. Every time I wake up, it’s a blessing. Every time I get to wake up and breathe and smell and stand, I just thank God for everything. But what I realized around along my journey was that I didn’t practice what I preached.”