Everything Jim Harbaugh said after Michigan’s College Football Playoff loss to TCU

Jim Harbaugh congratulated TCU for their opportunistic play while crediting his team for their fight despite the loss in the CFP semifinal.

Michigan couldn’t wrangle TCU in the Fiesta Bowl, losing 51-54 and ending the season in playoff disappointment for the second year in a row.

The Wolverines were favored, so the loss is a tough pill for fans to swallow. The Horned Frogs jumped out to an early lead and held off multiple comeback attempts by Michigan.

After the game, Jim Harbaugh addressed the media and tried to keep things positive.

Jim Harbaugh postgame press conference: What Michigan’s HC said after loss

“Congratulations to TCU, they played a great game. They’re an opportunistic team, they’re a resilient team, and they’re a great team,” Harbaugh said, per Zach Shaw of 247Sports. “The real winner today was football. Great game.”

When it came down to it, Michigan couldn’t find enough big plays while committing too many mistakes. Harbaugh essentially acknowledged that.

“One less big play by them. One more by us. One more opportunistic play by us. One less by them. Really proud of the effort,” Harbaugh said. “Great season that ends one week early.”

Harbaugh’s message to his team in the locker room after the game credited them for not giving up.

“Really proud of them, really proud of the fight. They’ve been locker-room heroes the entire season, and that’s what they are,” Harbaugh said.

There was plenty of criticism to go around for Harbaugh’s game management. He addressed one of them specifically, the failed fourth-down “Philly Special” play call in the first quarter.

“They had us wired in. I wish we had called a different play,” Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh may want a bunch of choices back from that game but what’s done is done. The Wolverines have to go home, lick their wounds and try again next year…if Harbaugh comes back.