TLDR: Despite a series of bowl game losses under Jim Harbaugh, Michigan’s football team has shown potential, including in games won against Penn State and Ohio State without their head coach on the sidelines. The upcoming Rose Bowl presents another challenge as they face Alabama, but with the Wolverines fully healthy and capable of limiting Alabama’s offensive threats, optimism remains high for a possible upset.

Oh, Michigan football—you tug at my heartstrings with all the might of a fourth-quarter comeback. There’s no doubt that Jim Harbaugh has revived some of the glorious Michigan traditions, but our postseason record? Well, that’s been a bit of a tender subject since before I could even legally enjoy a cold one at the Big House.

Let’s jog down memory lane, shall we? Harbaugh kicked off his tenure with a resounding victory over Florida in the 2015 bowl game. But since then? Let’s just say it’s been a string of six frustratingly consecutive bowl losses for the maize and blue faithful, with every single game holding its own frustrating “what if” narrative.

You all remember those Orange and Peach Bowl outings in ‘16 and ‘18—games that seemed like afterthoughts after our Big Ten title hopes got squashed. Then there was the head-shaker against South Carolina at the 2017 Outback Bowl, where we managed to fumble away a solid lead. Fast-forward to 2019, and we’re blowing toe-to-toe with an Alabama team stacked with the likes of Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith. Our first playoff appearance in 2021 delivered us right into the hands of an absolute juggernaut Georgia team—who went on to claim the whole shebang. And who could forget this past year’s clunker against TCU?

But the winds of change are a-blowin’. Here we stand, the nation’s top team, squaring off against Alabama in the Rose Bowl. Analysts like ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg are already writing us off, pointing to Nick Saban’s almost mythical record in the postseason. But what these pundits might not be giving enough credit is our resilience.

ESPN’s hot take: Michigan 23, Alabama 31.

I’m not a fan of that score though.

You see, we brought down both Penn State and Ohio State, and we did it with key folks out—including our fearless leader, Coach Harbaugh, standing on the sidelines. And what about our clean sheet against Iowa? That wasn’t just a win, it was a statement—delivered with style, despite our bruised and battered roster.

Then there’s the elephant in the room—or should I say the Crimson Tide? They’re formidable, no question about it. Jalen Milroe’s improvements can’t be overlooked. But we’ve got our Wolverines back in fighting shape, raring to go for the Rose Bowl. It’s a rare day when Saban’s team stumbles in the postseason, sure. Yet, if we stick to our game plan—solid defense, control on the ground, relentless pressure—and keep Milroe in check, I say we’ve got more than just a fighting chance.

So, as sweet as Rittenberg’s vision of a Tide triumph may be for some, I’m banking on a different story. A story where Michigan, with its grit, its heart, and that unmistakable hunger, turns the tide on the Tide. Here’s my bold, chest puffed out, pure Michigan prediction: Wolverines claim the roses, and we do it with undeniable Wolverine might.

Michigan 27, Alabama 24. Go Blue!