Insight into why Michigan would utilize 'Beat Georgia' practice period

Michigan has one goal for the upcoming season: win a national championship. To accomplish this objective, the Wolverines will likely have to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs. Michigan is planning accordingly.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh implemented a new period in practice this season. The period is appropriately named the “Beat Georgia” period. On3’s own JD PicKell broke down the peculiar practice decision on Thursday.

“I absolutely love this from Jim Harbaugh. I absolutely love this because, what it is to me, is Jim Harbaugh very, very clearly laying out for his football team, that they are embracing all the pressure and everything that the mission is going to require for them in 2023.

“They’re not tiptoeing around their goals. What does it take to win the national title? Probably beating someone from the SEC. Who’s the big dog in college football right now? The last two years, Georgia. Okay, what’s our goal? Win a national title? Sounds like we got to go through Georgia to get there. I love that, man,” PicKell said.

Michigan didn’t get to compete for a national title last season, but it came unbearably close. For the second-straight year, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff. And for the second-straight year, the Wolverines got bounced in the first game.

Most recently, the Michigan fell 45-42 to the TCU Horned Frogs, who suffered a blowout defeat to Georgia in the championship game. In 2021, Michigan lost to UGA in the national semifinal. Now, the Wolverines are employing a proven method to overcome this difficult barrier.

That’s right. Michigan’s odd practice method has worked in the past. In 2021, Harbaugh named a period of Wolverines practice the “Beat Ohio State” period. As we all know, Michigan promptly defeated the Buckeyes that year and in 2022. Perhaps Michigan can once again speak success into existence.

“Now, here’s one thing that’s just so childish, but you’ll hear from the peanut gallery. People are gonna say, ‘Well, you should have had a beat TCU. Period.’ Give me a break. Dude. Give me a break.

“It’s no secret who the big dog is, it’s Georgia. So, if we’re putting our focus on one thing and it’s winning a national title, then the byproduct would be that we beat TCU or whoever the TCU would be for the 2023 season. The goal is to beat Georgia,” PicKell said.

See if Michigan’s unconventional methods pay off as it kicks off the season against the East Carolina Pirates at noon on Sept. 2.