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Gut reactions: Michigan Football will rue missed opportunity vs TCU

By Chris Peterson

Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh on the sidelines against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan football saw its season end in heartbreaking fashion on Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl after a tough loss to TCU. Here are the gut reactions. 

This one is going to hurt Michigan football fans for a long time.

After a 13-0 season and a second straight Big Ten championship, Michigan football fell short of the ultimate goal and the ultimate game for the second consecutive year after a 51-45 loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff.

Give TCU credit — the Horned Frogs came to play. Max Duggan was excellent and more than answered the bell. However, two empty trips inside the five-yard line and a blown call reversing a Roman Wilson touchdown will haunt Michigan football fans forever.

The Wolverines shouldn’t have fumbled on the one-yard line, just like they probably wish they didn’t call that Philly special. The two interceptions returned for touchdowns also hurt as did the first three field goals.

Point is, this game was there for the taking.

Yet, TCU scored touchdowns in the red zone and was able to run the ball when it mattered. Michigan was its own worst enemy and it cost it a shot at the national title.

Here are my gut reactions from the Fiesta Bowl:

Gut reactions to Fiesta Bowl loss

  • J.J. McCarthy was spectacular in the second half. He nearly brought Michigan back from the end. However, his two interceptions were killers.
  • The play-calling and execution near the goal-line cost Michigan a shot at a national title.
  • TCU played better in the trenches. That decided the outcome. One team ran the ball in the red zone well and one team didn’t. It was better when JJ got involved but too late.
  • Why McCarthy didn’t run the ball near the goal line in the first half, I’ll never know.
  • You can’t get three points out of three goal-to-go situations and win a game like this.
  • Talk about speed all you want, TCU won the rushing battle, and in the College Football Playoff, that usually means you win the game.
  • I’ll always feel the same about Blake Corum as I did Isaiah Livers in 2020 — if he had been healthy, Michigan’s season wouldn’t have ended how it did.
  • Corum gets touchdowns on those drives.
  • The refs blew the Roman Wilson call and it will be right there will JT was short and Trey Burke’s block called a foul against Louisville.
  • Numerous times I thought it would be a blowout and the Wolverines rallied every time. That was impressive.
  • I didn’t think the Wolverines would have the ball with a chance to win. They did and came up short, but that fight should make Michigan football fans proud.
  • The window isn’t closed, yet this will always feel like a missed opportunity.
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