Jim Harbaugh proud of how Michigan responded to pressure moments vs. Alabama

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan responded well to pressure moments against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. But the job isn’t done yet.

Harbaugh and the Wolverines have to take on undefeated Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship to cap off a special year. Sure, Michigan got over the hump with a win in the semifinals, after losing the last two.

Harbaugh noted Michigan celebrated but there’s more work to do as the team switched its attention the Huskies and a date in Houston.

“Just so proud of our players and our team,” Harbaugh said. “Things that jump out are just how we responded in the pressure moments and the pressure times. Offense, defense, special teams. They rose to the occasion. Tremendous play there in pressure moments of the game. 

“Yeah, happy flying home. We really focused the last 24 hours on rest for the players. I figured that’s gonna be very important for this week, especially traveling back from the West Coast and spend today, tomorrow, the next day Friday we’ll fly to Houston and we’ll continue our preparations there.”

Harbaugh just wants to see his players and staff become champions and then see the response from all their loved ones.

“It’s what it means to these guys, to our players the most. To them to be champions,” Harbaugh said. “For their parents to have their son be a champion. Their brothers and sisters, their grandparents. For our coaches, for my kids to have a dad be a champion. My parents. Just those people to get to feel what that’s like.”

Michigan played like champs during their game against the Crimson Tide with a ton of pressure on them and the outcome hanging in the balance.

After holding the lead through most of the first three quarters, Alabama managed to take control with a seven-point lead with five to go. That’s when the maize and blue answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive in the clutch. That featured a pair of crucial catches from Roman Wilson, including the tying touchdown, with less than two to go.

Then, in overtime, RB Blake Corum went ahead put the program on his back. He pulled them 25 yards into the endzone in just two plays to open the extra period. That capped off the performance for Michigan after one more stop, one of several throughout the night, sealed it.

Michigan takes on Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.