Michael Barrett on Michigan's third-straight CFP berth, Rose Bowl vs. Alabama: 'It's definitely a prove-it game'

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Michigan Wolverines football gathered in a large ball room at The Westin Indianapolis Sunday afternoon. The group knew exactly what to do: Grab some breakfast, a drink out of one of the Pepsi fridges, sit down with teammates and watch the selection show, where the Wolverines were announced as the No. 1 team in the country with a Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama.

Michigan has been in this spot before, the last two seasons, but lost in the semis both times, to Georgia in 2021 and TCU in 2022. Now, the Maize and Blue and their veteran roster hope to have a different result.

“We got a lot to prove, man,” Michigan graduate linebacker Michael Barrett said. “All year, we’ve been working on a one-track mind, trying to focus on the present, being where our feet are and taking things one step at a time. I feel like just being here before, knowing that this is nothing new to us right now, we know our goals that we want to accomplish, know where we want to be. So I feel like this time around we’re more prepared, more ready, more comfortable.”

Alabama, Clemson and Oklahoma are the other three teams in CFP history (since 2014) to earn three-straight bids to the four-team event. Clemson and Alabama have won championships, while Oklahoma has not. The Sooners had a nice run from 2017-19, but it’ll be forgotten by the masses as the years go by, since they’re 0-4 in the event (also making an appearance in 2015).

Michigan hopes to pave a different path than Oklahoma. The Wolverines are 38-3 over the last three seasons but haven’t fared as well out of conference. The Big Ten at large hasn’t performed like the SEC or ACC on the national stage, with only one national championship since 2002 (Ohio State in 2014).

“We’ve been here the past two years and didn’t make it past the first round, so a lot of people we’re saying we can’t hang with the SEC or hang with other guys outside of the Big Ten,” Barrett said. “So, yeah, it’s definitely a prove-it game. And it’s definitely … it’s the next game, so it’s the biggest game. We’ve gotta take it one game at a time. The next game is the biggest one, so we gotta go out there and prepare each and every day just like we’ve been all year.”

In preparation for this season, Michigan implemented a ‘Beat Georgia’ period in practice. The Bulldogs just fell to Alabama in the SEC championship game and didn’t make the playoff. The Wolverines will take on the king of the SEC, but while it won’t be Georgia, the drill still serves its purpose.

“We have a Beat Ohio, Beat Georgia drill, and that just kind of comes into play whenever you have those teams who really bring it up front, who you’re going to have a dog fight in the trenches [with],” Barrett said. “And it’s just to prepare us for times like this. Every week, we kinda put that period into practice to kind of get us ready, get our minds right, get our bodies right for when that time comes.”

Last year at this time, Michigan players and coaches said they learned from their experience in the prior playoff. Now, they say the same but understand that they have to execute during the 60-minute game and that nothing else matters.

“We’ve learned that it’s not for the weak,” the Michigan linebacker said. “You can’t come in here thinking that it’s all just lights and glamor and you’re going to just come here and get a win. You have to go in just like you’ve been doing every week up until this point.

“You’ve gotta go in, prepare the same way, watch film the same way, go about your business the same way — because at the end of the day, it’s just another game. We all know our goals and what we want to accomplish at the end of the year. In order for us to to do that, we’ve gotta stay consistent and keep doing what we’re doing.”

Michigan is No. 1 and Alabama is No. 4, but based on track record, the Wolverines have more to prove. Still, Barrett and Co. are happy to be picked as the team to beat.

“I think a lot of guys want to go toe to toe with the big dogs. All I can say is, bring it on,” Barrett said.

Asked which team is actually the big dog, Barrett said: “We’re the big dog, man. We’re the biggest dog around here. But it’s OK … people didn’t want to see us here, but we’re here.”