The mark of a great head coach is winning games his team isn't supposed to win and for the second game in a row, Sherrone Moore's Michigan football team did just that.
The Wolverines were 20-point underdogs heading into Columbus to end the regular season and left with a 13-10 win.
Michigan football has been a different team since a late bye week. The Wolverines crushed Northwestern and flummoxed Ohio State. Most people thought it would be a one-off, especially since the Wolverines were without Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, Will Johnson, Colston Loveland, Kalel Mullings, Myles Hinton, Donovan Edwards, and Makari Paige.
It still didn't matter. Derrick Moore and T.J. Guy dominated. Wink Martindale confused Jalen Milroe and the constant pressure, which forced three turnovers (leading to 13 Michigan points), as well as a turnover on downs on the final drive, overwhelmed Alabama in what ended up as a 19-13 win for the Wolverines.
Michigan's offense wasn't good. But, before Davis Warren was knocked out, he threw a touchdown pass to Fred Moore. Jordan Marshall also ran for over 100 yards and laid claim to RB1 -- even with Justice Haynes coming to town.
Alabama, the same team that beat Georgia earlier this season and that many said should have been in the playoff, averaged 422 yards per game on offense and 36.5 points. Michigan football held the Tide to 260 total yards, 68 rushing yards, and just 13 points.
It was a masterclass from Wink Martindale and the defensive line, which owned the line of scrimmage (just like the Rose Bowl). There were two seniors on the field for Michigan football (on defense). None were on the defensive line (Ike Iwunnah is a redshirt junior). Moore and Guy led the way but Rayshaun Benny, Enow Etta, and Trey Pierce showed that this defensive line can be stout, even without three projected first-round picks.
If everyone comes back as expected, Michigan football should have one of the best defenses in college football (again), and over the next two weeks, it could get even better.
Get a quarterback (Bryce Underwood) and get him some more playmakers and offensive line help from the portal and this team could be more than a playoff contender.
That's my biggest takeaway from the 19-13 win in the ReliaqQuest Bowl. Here are the rest of my gut reactions.
Gut reactions to Michigan football win in ReliaQuest Bowl
- Wink Martindale is worth every penny. He's made a lot of us look stupid and I'm all for it. Hopefully, some NFL team doesn't try to poach him.
- Just imagine what Sherrone Moore will do with a quarterback?
- Sherrone Moore proved himself as Michigan's head coach. Remember when some wanted him fired? Counting his two wins as interim head coach, he's got four wins against top-11 teams (three away from home).
- Michigan football got even more attractive in the portal.
- This showed the Ohio State win wasn't a fluke.
- Regardless of the poor QB play, if the season started over, Michigan would make the 12-team playoff. It just didn't handle the transition well.
- The Wolverines ran for 115 yards against Alabama, without their top two backs, and a starting left tackle. So Michigan can still smash.
- Michigan doesn't win this game without Jordan Marshall (100 yards on 23 carries).
- Brandyn Hillman needs to start next season. He was an absolute stud.
- Derrick Moore looked like a first-round pick.
- The pass rush should be lethal next season.
- Michigan football isn't going anywhere. The future is BRIGHT!
- Go Blue!