GLENDALE, Ariz. — With the confetti still falling from the ceiling as Michigan watched TCU celebrate a 51-45 College Football Playoff semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl, one Michigan assistant sized up the Horned Frogs’ upset win in a game in which the underdog ran for 263 yards on the Big Ten’s No. 1 run defense.
Advertisement
“This is what happens when everyone in your building, and all of your fans, think you’re just gonna beat the (heck) out of the other team,” that coach told The Athletic.
What was even more impressive for TCU: running all over Michigan despite losing star running back Kendre Miller to an injury in the first half. His backup, Emari Demercado, stepped up to run for 150 yards against a defense that hadn’t allowed more than 148 yards to any team this year, or more than 196 to any team last year.
Saturday’s CFP semifinal was in stark contrast to Michigan’s huge win in Columbus, where the Wolverines were the big underdog. In that game, almost everyone except the players on the Michigan sideline believed host Ohio State was going to whip Michigan. But the Wolverines were convinced they were the tougher team with the big chip on their shoulders and blew out their rival 45-23. This was, after all, the same team that won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards, honoring the nation’s top offensive line, and here they were getting “out-Michiganed” by the Big 12 runners-up.
GO DEEPER From all-time low to championship contenders: How Michigan righted itself so fast
“Look, I heard it,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes said of all the chatter predicting his team would be mauled. “It frustrated me. Again, I believe in our players. Look, I think we’re a physical, tough-minded football team. It bothered me that we heard all week about how we were going to get lined up and run through and all that stuff. And I’m sure these guys were extra motivated.”
TCU linebacker Dee Winters was a big part of a defense that slowed down the Michigan run game. He said all the talk about the Wolverines having some advantage in physicality definitely gave the Horned Frogs added motivation.
GO DEEPER The recruiting successes behind how TCU built a College Football Playoff-worthy roster
“We heard all week that they were going to out-physical us,” he said. “I think the guys handled it well during practicing and were very physical, and it showed tonight.”
Advertisement
TCU’s offense, which is from the air raid tree, has had a potent running attack all season, averaging 5.23 yards per carry — No. 2 in the Big 12 and No. 18 in the country. The added factor of TCU’s dual-threat quarterback Max Duggan gave a Michigan defense that struggled with a stout TCU offensive line even more problems.
“It was a lot of guys out of position and not executing,” senior linebacker Michael Barrett said. “They just had the upper hand on us today. They mixed in different runs, and adding the QB to the extra run fits makes it harder to defend with a running quarterback like that. They didn’t do anything we weren’t expecting.”
Michigan nose guard Mazi Smith credited the Horned Frogs for their scheme and how they were able to take advantage of space.
“Up front we played a physical game but it wasn’t physical enough,” he said. “The linebackers came and filled the gap. Sometimes things don’t go your way. It’s a game of football — a will versus a will, and they wanted it too.
“I look at TCU like they play good football. They got big guards. Big tackles. They’ve got a good center. They’ve got a real good back who runs like Derrick Henry. These boys can play. It’s a College Football Playoff game. You don’t get there by sucking.”
(Photo of Emari Demercado: Lance King / Getty)
TCU ‘out-Michiganed’ Michigan by running all over the Big Ten’s best run defense
