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Fans, media react to Michigan’s disastrous first half in Fiesta Bowl

Sydney Hunte

By Sydney Hunte

Published:

Michigan was looking to chase away the bad memories of its poor showing in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal at the Orange Bowl against Georgia. The Bulldogs opened up a 27-3 lead 1st half lead en route to a 34-11 win and an eventual national championship since 1980.

Saturday’s semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale against TCU hasn’t gone much better. Jim Harbaugh, J.J. McCarthy, and the Wolverines find themselves down 21-6 at the break at State Farm Stadium.

McCarthy had thrown 3 interceptions in 2022 entering the game. But his pick-6 with just over 5-and-a-half minutes played in the 1st quarter put the Horned Frogs up 7-0. Max Duggan later engineered a 12-play, 76-yard scoring drive as TCU opened up a 14-0 lead with under 2-and-a-half to go in the 1st.

Michigan appeared poised to get into the end zone after a Jake Moody field goal, but after Roman Wilson’s touchdown catch was controversially overturned, the Wolverines inexplicably fumbled it at the 1-yard line. TCU would eventually see its lead extended to 21-3 with less than 5 minutes to go until halftime as Duggan somehow avoided a sack to find Taye Barber for a score.

While Jake Moody did hit a school-record 59-yard field goal with no time remaining on the clock, the Wolverines need to pick up the pace with 2 quarters remaining. Social media reaction was about as harsh as you’d expect:

Sydney Hunte