Michigan is the undefeated No. 1 team in the country, but the Wolverines are only slightly favored over No. 4 Alabama in the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl.
While there may be many people questioning Michigan’s ability to handle the Tide, Wolverine running back Blake Corum downplayed the doubters during a media session this week.
“Yeah, they flipped (the narrative) from the jump as soon as they announced we’d be playing Alabama. They flipped it from the jump which is, you know, it’s fine it’s all people’s opinions. We’re going into it like I said last time as the top dog,” Corum said, via Saturday Down South . “We are the No. 1 team in the nation, and we’re going to treat it as such.
“Alabama’s a great team. After watching film, they’re coached really well, the defense flies around, and it will definitely be a challenge that we’re super excited for. We love a good challenge, but we’re still the top dog. That’s how we’re going in.”
Corum, who leads Michigan with 1,028 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns, added that the program’s third-straight trip to the College Football Playoff is “all the motivation we need.”
“We’re already motivated to get over the hump after being there,” Corum said.
Michigan has lost in the semifinals each of the last two years, to TCU last year and Georgia in 2021.
The Wolverines and Crimson Tide will kick off at 5 p.m. ET from the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 on ESPN.