3 Michigan scapegoats most to blame for CFP upset loss to TCU

DC Jesse Minter

Michigan’s defense simply couldn’t stop TCU when they needed it most and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter bears the blame for that.

The Wolverines hadn’t given up more than 27 points in a game all season. They held Ohio State’s explosive offense to 23 points. When all was said and done, TCU’s offense put up 37.

It was particularly frustrating in the third quarter when Michigan pulled within five points of TCU after being thoroughly outplayed in the first half. They finally got things going and TCU promptly scored on the next drive. When McCarthy broke off a 20-yard touchdown run, the Horned Frogs responded. When Roman Wilson scored on an 18-yard run, Quentin Johnston broke away for a 76-yard score to answer.

Michigan needed stops. They didn’t get them.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh

Let’s say it plainly: Jim Harbaugh did not have his team ready to play in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Wolverines botched snaps and handoffs. They had nothing going in the red zone. The offensive line was overrun. The quarterback was overwhelmed. The defense missed key tackles and got pushed around. The gameplan on both sides of the ball looked insufficient.

Through it all, the head coach made questionable decisions that made it harder for his team to win. An early fourth-down attempt handed momentum to TCU. His clock management late had his own father looking perplexed.

Harbaugh has now lost his last six bowl games, including two CFP semifinals. That record looks like a trend of bad coaching in big games. The lastest loss did nothing to help that perception.

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