Michigan football is back in its first national championship game scenario since 1997, when the Wolverines took down Ryan Leaf and Washington State for all the marbles. On Monday, January 8, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines will take on arguably the best passing attack in college football, led by Michael Penix Jr. and Rome Odunze among others.
The question of whether or not Michigan’s potential NCAA title would be tainted was discussed recently. Michigan football got bulletin board material from rival coaches’ predictions.
Heading into the big game, Michigan’s biggest X-factor is mostly being overlooked. It is a big part of the reason they were able to hold Alabama football to just 116 yards passing, and a big part of the reason why Wolverines fans feel so confident.
Michigan Football X-Factor: Its Secondary
fans have felt over the years watching the team’s secondary.
Players not looking back for the football in mid-air, untimely penalties, injuries including one to Jabrill Peppers vs. Florida State in 2016.
In his time at Michigan, Jim Harbaugh has revamped the secondary’s approach, recruiting faster and more versatile players with better ball skills.
Now, the Michigan football secondary is healthy and playing its best football heading into its showdown with the Huskies.
Nickelback Mike Sainristil is a team captain and a legendary playmaker. A converted wide receiver, Harbaugh considers Sainristil to be ‘like a son’ to him because of how close they are in their detail-oriented and competitive approach to football.
Sainristil has a knack for interceptions and other big plays in clutch moments. He is also dynamic and effective on the blitz.
The Haiti-born, Massachusetts-raised Sainristil is the leader of a secondary that goes five or six deep with playmakers.
Will Johnson: Michigan’s Lockdown Corner
Michigan’s Will Johnson is a lockdown cover corner in the Michigan tradition of Charles Woodson, Ty Law, and Marlin Jackson.
At 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, the Detroit native has the size, speed, and calm demeanor necessary to run stride-for-stride with the nation’s top receivers.
Johnson will likely matchup with Odunze, the 6-foot-3 Huskies superstar who put up over 1,500 yards this season.
The former five-star recruit and sophomore’s early game interception vs. Ohio State football set the tone for ‘The Game.’ If he can take Washington’s top receiver out of the game early, Michigan football could jump out to an early lead.
