The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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10 THE WOLVERINE ❱ JANUARY 2024 ❱ INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS ❱ Sitting Down With Michigan Senior Edge Jaylen Harrell Michigan senior edge rusher Jaylen Harrell has been a force on the outside for years now at Michigan. He was a huge part of the win-sealing play in a 30-24 victory over Ohio State, hitting quarterback Kyle McCord as he threw, which enabled junior safety Rod Moore to make the interception on the last drive. Harrell talked about that play and more in this Q & A. The Wolverine: Take us through the game-winning play against Ohio State and your emotions. Jaylen Harrell: "[Sophomore tackle] Mason Graham and I had a little stunt going on. I came inside to open up so he could wrap around. I came in and it wasn't really open, so I bulldozed my way through, ran [the lineman] over, and then hit the quarterback. "I was really excited — too excited. I got a flag [for taking the helmet off]. If Rod didn't catch that, it would have been bad. So … I thank God he did." The Wolverine: What was the message after the game knowing you still had the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa and possible College Football Playoff ahead of you? Harrell: "It was a fun, eventful day. We got the win, but the goals we have are still ahead of us. … Ohio State was a big win, but there's more to do, more to come. Just hone in our details, lock in on our next opponent. O-State is over with. … We've got to focus on the next set of games." The Wolverine: What was the message from the coaches heading into the Iowa game [a 26-0 win]? Harrell: "Coach [Jim] Harbaugh said, 'We've got a chance to do something special.' That was the mindset all week. Not making it bigger than what it is, but honing in on our training, falling back on our details, stuff we started on in training camp. We were just able to come together and play with great continuity — team defense, team of- fense, special teams. We just came together and got it done." The Wolverine: How much does it say about how far you've come the last three years that the Big Ten title isn't enough? Harrell: "We've come a long way. We have a certain standard here now; it's been built on for three years straight. We've got to keep going. We want to get it all this year. We want to get it all." The Wolverine: What's the mindset now to break through and finally win a playoff game in Year 3? Harrell: "Prepare a little better, just come together, prepare like we need to — like national champions — and let's get it done." — Chris Balas Harrell led the Michigan defense with 8 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks through 13 games this season. PHOTO BY DOMINICK SOKOTOFF No. 1-ranked Michigan will take on No. 4 Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, looking to even up its all-time series with the Crimson Tide. The Maize and Blue are currently 2-3 versus the opponent from Tuscaloosa, having lost the last two meetings — the season opener in 2012 (41-14) and the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1, 2020 (35-16). Michigan won the first matchup, 28-24 in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, before falling to the Tide in the 1997 Outback Bowl, 17-14. The third meeting — the 2000 Orange Bowl — is the most memorable of the bunch, with quarterback Tom Brady and Michigan coming back from 14-0 and 28-14 deficits to force overtime and eventually win after Alabama missed what would've been a game-tying extra point. Historically, Michigan has fared well against the SEC, with a 26-15-1 record against programs that are currently in that conference. In bowl games, however, the Wolverines are 8-9 versus the league. The Maize and Blue have also lost their last four tilts against SEC oppo- nents — 34-11 to Georgia in the 2021 Orange Bowl, the aforementioned 2020 Citrus Bowl loss to Alabama, 41-15 to Florida in the 2018 Peach Bowl and 26-19 to South Carolina in the Jan. 1, 2018, Outback Bowl. Michigan's last victory against the SEC was a 33-17 win over Florida to open the 2017 campaign. Head coach Jim Harbaugh is 2-4 against the SEC, and if there's one knock on the Wolverines over the past three seasons, in which they've won 38 games, it's that they haven't beaten teams from the South, losing to the Bulldogs to cap the 2021 season and TCU in the CFP semifinal in 2022, 51-45. — Clayton Sayfie MICHIGAN'S LAST 10 GAMES AGAINST THE SEC Date Location Opponent Result Dec. 31, 2021 Orange Bowl Georgia L, 34-11 Jan. 1, 2020 Citrus Bowl Alabama L, 35-16 Dec. 29, 2018 Peach Bowl Florida L, 41-15 Jan. 1, 2018 Outback Bowl South Carolina L, 26-19 Sept. 2, 2017 Arlington, Texas Florida W, 33-17 Jan. 1, 2016 Citrus Bowl Florida W, 41-7 Jan. 1, 2013 Outback Bowl South Carolina L, 33-28 Sept. 1, 2012 Arlington, Texas Alabama L, 41-14 Jan. 1, 2011 Gator Bowl Mississippi State L, 52-14 Jan. 1, 2008 Capital One Bowl Florida W, 41-35 MICHIGAN'S HISTORY AGAINST ALABAMA, THE SEC