Heisman Trophy finalist Aidan Hutchinson: 'College football is more fun when Michigan is at the top'

Michigan football won its first Big Ten championship since 2004, advanced to the College Football Playoff and has a chance to win the national title for the first time since 1997.

Led by fourth-year junior defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, a Heisman Trophy finalist the the projected No. 1 NFL Draft pick, the Wolverines have enjoyed their most successful season in nearly two decades.

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Hutchinson said he and his teammates aren’t responsible for the struggles that occurred before they were in the program, but there was still a strained feeling around the building due to the lack of championships and wins over Ohio State. They could all feel it.

It’s been a different story for Michigan in 2021.

“This year has been filled with special moments — all the way back to the Nebraska game, the Wisconsin game,” Hutchinson told reporters at his pre-Heisman Trophy ceremony media session. “It’s always fun when you’re winning, in any program. It’s always easy to be lighthearted.

“It’s been a little bit tense at Michigan in the previous years — especially last year, being 2-4, facing a lot of those pressures and expectations to get back to where we used to be. Now that we’re back, everyone’s relaxed a little bit. We took down the monster in Ohio State, won the Big Ten championship and now we’re looking forward to bigger and better things.

“I feel like college football is more fun when Michigan is winning and up there at the top. Now we’re competing for playoffs, Coach Harbaugh is the coach of the year, we’re Big Ten champions. I think it’s just good for college football, and it’s good to see a different color in the playoffs.”

One of those special moments is being able to enjoy the experience in New York. Saturday night, the Heisman winner will be revealed, and either he, Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud, Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett will take home college football’s most prestigious honor.

“I hoped to be here; I definitely didn’t expect to be here,” Hutchinson said. “It was something that was on my list of goals, and I’m super glad to have accomplished it.”

The Michigan star knows just how challenging it is for a defensive player to be named a finalist, with just 10 others throughout history having accomplished the feat.

“Yeah, it’s tough because quarterbacks and running backs are put in more game-changing scenarios, where you put the ball in their hands and they can make a play,” Hutchinson noted. “Whereas defensively, you really gotta do a lot. The play has to come your way. There are a lot of factors that go into it, in order to change the game.

“I just think the roots of football and how the game was made — even with the trophy — it’s difficult for defensive guys to be finalists, because you’ve got to play great in the big games and you’ve got to perform when it matters the most.

“I think I’ve done that, and I think that’s why I’ve earned my ticket here.”

Hutchinson’s signature performance came in a 42-27 beatdown of Ohio State Nov. 27, when he matched his career-high with three sacks. His 14.0 sacks for the season are a new Michigan record, and he’s added 58 tackles, 15.5 stops for loss, two forced fumbles, 12 quarterback hurries and three pass breakups.

He’s Pro Football Focus’ highest-ranked player and has accumulated 73 pressures, including 15 against the Buckeyes, which stands as the most by any player in the sport in a single game since the analytics site began tracking the stat in 2014.

Hutchinson gives first-year defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald a share of the credit in his success. In the new 3-4 defense, Hutchinson is playing wider and in a stand-up stance, which has allowed him to terrorize opposing quarterbacks.

“We got Coach Macdonald from the Ravens, and he brought a scheme that I think fit me perfectly, and it has allowed me to flourish as a player and allowed me to produce with the numbers that I have,” Hutchinson explained. :He gives me a lot of freedom in the defense, as well, just to play my game and unleash the beast.”

Hutchinson said he feels he’s carrying the mantle for other defensive players across the country, adding that he hopes they’re rooting for him to take home the hardward.

The son of former Michigan All-American defensive lineman Chris Hutchinson, Aidan Hutchinson grew up rooting for the Wolverines and their players in the pros. In fact, his favorite player growing up didn’t play defense at all.

“I really didn’t watch too many D-ends growing up,” Hutchinson said. “I really just watched Tom Brady growing up. That guy was my favorite. I really wasn’t too tuned in with the D-ends. I wanted to be a quarterback, just like Tom Brady.”

After Saturday, all focus will turn to Georgia, the Wolverines’ Orange Bowl opponent.

“There’s a little bit more on the line, playing for a national championship,” Hutchinson admitted. “But to me, it just feels like we’re playing another team. When you get so deep in the season, things feel so rinse, wash, repeat, whatever you want to say.

“It’s just another team in our path, and I know we’re going to prepare our asses off and really give this thing everything we’ve got. If we come up short, it is what it is, but we’re all trying to win this game.”