After doing everything right during the regular season, Michigan football did everything wrong in the College Football Playoff semifinal against TCU.
– Michigan football’s magical football season ended with a disappearing act.
The worst kind.
TCU made all of Michigan’s strengths disappear in a wild, stunning, 51-45 upset on Saturday afternoon in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.
Suddenly, Michigan couldn’t run the ball.
Suddenly, the Wolverines couldn’t stop the run.
Suddenly, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy was throwing interceptions — a pair of pick-sixes that put Michigan in a devastating hole.
THE GAME:Michigan football’s perfect season ruined, knocked out by TCU, 51-45, in Fiesta Bowl
REPLAY WOES:Michigan has TD taken off board, fumbles it away on next play
Suddenly, this dominant team was getting dominated, outplayed and overwhelmed.
Every time, Michigan had a chance — every time the Wolverines cut the deficit or started to get something going — they made another mistake.
A missed tackle here.
A bad punt return coverage there.
Or a dropped ball.
And the so-called smash fest turned into a mistake fest.
Which was stunning.
Was it the long layoff after the Big Ten championship game at the start of December? Clearly, whatever mojo Michigan had built after 13 games disappeared.
Was it overconfidence, considering TCU was the overwhelming underdog?
Was it another example of Jim Harbaugh’s struggles in bowl games — this was Michigan’s sixth straight bowl loss.
