Top 3 items on Christmas wishlist for Michigan football

1. Win a national title

Michigan football hasn't won a national championship since 1997. That was a shared national championship with Nebraska. The Wolverines haven't won an outright national championship since 1949.

First off, Michigan needs to get it done in a bowl game. Harbaugh and the Wolverines are 0-2 in College Football Playoff games, as well as 0-4 in New Year's Six Bowls total. There were some changes in the preparation this time around -- mostly less hitting.

And while many would have rather faced Florida State, I'm glad that Michigan has Alabama. It was up to task against Penn State and Ohio State and there won't be any overlooking the Tide.

McCarthy should be healthy and he'll need to be at his best. McCarthy is going to have run the ball and throw it as well as he has all season. This is the game we always said Michigan needed an elite quarterback to win and there's a good shot they have the advantage in the Rose Bowl.

It's not going to be easy, but this is Michigan's best shot at a national title in a quarter-century and here's to hoping -- nay praying -- that the Wolverines get it done.