FINAL: TCU 51, Michigan 45
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Undefeated in 2022, Michigan’s perfect season came to an end on the final day of the year.
The Wolverines lost 51-45 to TCU in Saturday’s Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium.
Michigan (13-1), the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoffs, loses in the semifinals for the second straight season. Last year was a blowout loss to Georgia. This time, Michigan fell behind early and could never get over the hump.
TCU advances to the national championship to face the winner of the Peach Bowl matchup between top-seed Georgia and Ohio State.
FOURTH QUARTER
0:52-0:00
A booming punt is caught by A.J. Henning. He’s drilled right away, at the Michigan 25. Wolverines need to go 75 yards in under a minute; neither team has any timeouts left. McCarthy runs for five and gets out of bounds. McCarthy’s second-down pass was nearly intercepted by a Horned Frog, but he slipped as the pass came his way. A false-start penalty pushes Michigan right back to where it started the drive. A third-down pass towards Donovan Edwards on the sideline is knocked away. On fourth-and-10, McCarthy fumbles the snap. A couple of Wolverines -- offensive lineman Ryan Hayes and Edwards -- end up with the ball, but they can’t move forward. That will do it, barring a TCU turnover on a kneel-down. Except -- wait, wait -- the play is under review. The officials say there’s no targeting, however. TCU takes a knee and wins it.
TCU 51, Michigan 44
3:14-0:52
TCU feared an onside kick, but Jake Moody kicked it deep -- but not into the end zone. It resulted in TCU starting its drive on its own 10. After two runs, TCU faced a third-and-1. Duggan kept it on a sneak and made it. Michigan didn’t take its first timeout, so TCU could milk the clock before its next play. Jim Harbaugh calls one after that. With 1:08 left before the second-down play, Duggan carries for four. Another timeout before the third-and-4 play, with 1:04 left. It’s a pass, short of the sticks. Michigan calls its final timeout. TCU lines up but doesn’t snap it, and takes the penalty. Interesting.
TCU 51, Michigan 44
6:46-3:18
The first two plays go Michigan’s way and get the ball to the TCU 26: McCarthy, after bouncing around in the pocket, rolls left and throws across his body to a diving Cornelius Johnson. Then McCarthy again scrambles and improvises; Ronnie Bell draws a pass interference flag. As the clock works against Michigan, Edwards picks up a first down on the ground. With the clock still running, Michigan let the play clock reach 11 seconds before snapping the ball on a third-and-5. McCarthy picked up the first with his legs and got out of bounds. After a loss of one on the ground, the play clock again went down to 11 before the snap. But Michigan scored, with McCarthy finding a wide-open Roman Wilson for a touchdown. Michigan is still alive, and has all three of its timeouts.
TCU 51, Michigan 44
8:50-6:46
On third-and-2, Duggan takes the shotgun snap and throws a screen pass. Michael Barrett with a great open-field tackle for a loss of two. That’s just what Michigan needed. A punt sets up Michigan near midfield. Now the offense needs to score, and fast.
TCU 51, Michigan 38
10:02-8:50
Michigan picks up just one yard on the first three plays. Go for it? Punt? Run a fake punt? Brad Robbins, the punter, took the snap and rolled right, but in the end decided to punt. It was booming, and a huge bounce moved the ball to the TCU 10. Michigan’s defense needs a quick stop here.
TCU 51, Michigan 38
12:09-10:02
Michigan’s defense holds, and forces a field goal. It’s good from 33 yards out. Still a two-score game.
TCU 51, Michigan 38
13:07-12:09
An illegal block below the waist on the kickoff return forces the Wolverines to start their drive on their own 13. An intentional grounding call pushes them back even farther, to their own 7, on third-and-16. Under pressure, his pass sails high, and Michigan is forced to punt out of its own end zone. It sets up a big return, before Mason Graham levels the ball carrier at the Michigan 16.
TCU 48, Michigan 38
14:13-13:07
Both teams throwing haymakers here at State Farm Stadium. On third-and-7, Michigan brings the blitz. Duggan got rid of the ball just in time, finds Quentin Johnston on a crossing route. He makes a fingertip grab, slips a diving tackle attempt, and races down the TCU sideline for a 76-yard touchdown.
TCU 48, Michigan 38
15:00-14:13
This game. This gosh darn game. Roman Wilson gets the ball in the backfield and shows off his speed, then takes a hit and goes airborne -- the flyin’ Hawaiian! -- to cross the goal. Michigan goes for two and gets it.
TCU 41, Michigan 38
THIRD QUARTER
0:03-0:00
After a touchback, the final play of the third quarter is ruled a fumble, recovered by Michigan. Will it stand? It does. Holy cow. This game has had it all. Michigan still very much alive.
TCU 41, Michigan 30
0:49-0:03
Michigan continues to fight. In a game with a lot of big plays, we’ve got another. McCarthy to Bell for 44 yards and a touchdown, except another review once again took it off the board. This time, though, Kalel Mullings held on to the ball and scored from a yard out. And this time, McCarthy’s QB keeper works.
TCU 41, Michigan 30
1:41-0:49
Demercado runs for eight yards, then 69 yards, tackled just shy of the goal line. Duggan punches it in on the next play. How many back-breaking plays can Michigan withstand?
TCU 41, Michigan 22
2:45-1:47
McCarthy, seeing a giant opening, runs 39 yards down the sideline to the TCU 20. He finished it off on the next play with another impressive burst through a clearing. Michigan goes for two, and tries a QB draw, but this time McCarthy is stuffed.
TCU 34, Michigan 22
4:17-2:52
A.J. Henning decided to return the kickoff from five yards deep in the end zone. He made it to the 21. Three plays later, on third-and-3, McCarthy’s pass is picked off by linebacker Dee Winters, who snatched it before it was even close to its intended target. He returned it for a touchdown, the second pick-six for the Horned Frogs today. TCU had trouble with the snap on the extra point, but it would be surprising if that was consequential.
TCU 34, Michigan 16
6:32-4:25
On TCU’s first snap after Michigan’s first touchdown, Max Duggan climbs in the pocket, bides time for his receivers, and hits Quentin Johnston in stride for a 46-yard gain. Emari Demercado does the rest on the ground, getting five straight carries. Demercado, filling in for Kendre Miller, who got hurt earlier in this game, punched it in from one yard out on first down. A great response from TCU.
TCU 28, Michigan 16
7:44-6:32
Donovan Edwards runs the ball twice for a first down. He gets the ball again, but pitches back to McCarthy, who throws to a wide-open Ronnie Bell. Bell caught the pass at the 8 and took it the rest of the way for a touchdown. Just like that, Michigan is fully back in this game.
TCU 21, Michigan 16
9:29-7:44
Duggan’s pass over the middle looked like it might be caught, but it was bobbled and picked off by Mike Sainristil. The former wide receiver finds the ball in his hands. It’s Michigan’s second interception of the game. Michigan has the ball in TCU territory.
TCU 21, Michigan 9
13:38-9:29
Roman Wilson with a catch, makes a man miss, and gets Michigan a 20-yard gain. McCarthy then connects with Bell on a deep ball, 43 yards, down to the TCU 6. The next three plays: Donovan Edwards gains three yards, Kalel Mullings is stuffed, and a screen to Ronnie Bell results in a one-yard loss (and a huge hit to Bell). Michigan settles for three from Jake Moody. That’s three red-zone trips and no touchdowns for Michigan so far.
TCU 21, Michigan 9
15:00-13:38
Max Duggan runs for 14 yards on the first play of the second half, but Michigan’s defense holds from there. A critical stop to open the half. And a kick-catch interference gives Michigan better field position, at its own 33.
TCU 21, Michigan 6
SECOND QUARTER
0:47-0:00
A 15-yard pass to Cornelius Johnson gets Michigan near midfield. McCarthy fumbles on the next play, but fortunately for Michigan the ball bounces out of bounds. After a short completion on second down, Michigan calls its final timeout. McCarthy’s bomb to Johnson draws a pass interference flag near the goal line. Of course this is college, not the NFL, so it’s only a 15-yard gain. It allows Michigan to try a field goal, and Jake Moody sets a program record with a 59-yarder. Wow. TCU gets the ball to start the second half. One would think the Wolverines need a stop on that drive to allow them to return to their run game.
HALFTIME: TCU 21, Michigan 6
1:33-0:47
Safety Makari Paige explodes through the line of scrimmage and sacks Duggan on third down. TCU punts. Michigan will take over with 47 seconds left on its own 33. The Wolverines have one timeout left in the half.
TCU 21, Michigan 3
4:56-1:33
Michigan takes a shot on second-and-short near midfield. McCarthy can’t fully step into the throw due to pressure, and it falls well short of Roman Wilson. A controversial roughing the passer penalty, however, gives Michigan 15 yards and a fresh set of downs. A false start sets up second-and-13, and the pocket collapses on McCarthy. TCU’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, voted the best defensive back in college football, breaks up the ensuing third-down pass and Michigan punts again.
TCU 21, Michigan 3
9:20-4:56
Max Duggan picks up a first down with his arm and another with his legs. He’s looked as poised as you’d expect the Heisman Trophy runner-up to be. Then TCU’s top receiver, Quentin Johnston, is somehow left wide open down the sideline. Michigan’s similarly named Quinten Johnson made the tackle, but not before a 32-yard gain. Four plays later, Duggan finds Taye Barber in space. Touchdown.
TCU 21, Michigan 3
11:35-9:20
Michigan does what TCU just did, picking up one first down but not another. After Brad Robbins’ punt, TCU will start on its own 17.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
13:08-11:35
TCU picks up a first down on the first play but can’t get another and punts.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
13:35-13:08
Michigan takes a shot down the field after the turnover and J.J. McCarthy hits a streaking Roman Wilson for what is initially called a touchdown. In a controversial decision, the referees overturn the score, saying Wilson was down before the goal line. On the very next play, Kalel Mullings fumbles into the end zone, and TCU recovers.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
13:41-13:35
After getting the board, Michigan maintains momentum with an interception on TCU’s first snap of the drive. Max Duggan’s pass got deflected as it reached its intended target, and hung in the air long enough for Rood Moore to snatch it. Michigan takes over at midfield.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
15:00-13:46
Michigan can’t pick up a first down on either of its first two plays of the second quarter and settles for a field goal. Jake Moody, reliable all season, is good from 42 yards away. Michigan is on the board.
TCU 14, Michigan 3
FIRST QUARTER
2:27-0:00
The Wolverines are driving at the end of the quarter, thanks to two dimes from J.J. McCarthy. His first was a 32-yard pickup to TE Luke Schoonmaker. Two plays later, he somehow found a window near the Michigan sideline to TE Colston Loveland for a 16-yard gain. Two TCU defenders appeared to be right there to make a play on the ball.
TCU 14, Michigan 0
7:46-2:27
TCU extends its lead with a 12-play, 76-yard TD drive. Max Duggan showed why he was a Heisman Trophy finalist, capping the drive with a 1-yard TD run. He also scrambled for a 12-yard gain on a third-and-7 earlier in the drive and followed with a 21-yard completion. The Wolverines haven’t generated much pressure when he’s dropped back, and they also had some costly missed tackles on the drive. Michigan sacks leader Mike Morris still doesn’t look close to 100% with his ankle injury. The Wolverines now face their largest deficit of the season.
TCU 14, Michigan 0
9:22-7:46
A quick three-and-out for Michigan after TCU’s touchdown. The Wolverines went back to the ground with Donovan Edwards on first and second down, totaling 6 yards. On third down, Cornelius Johnson slipped and fell on his route, which nearly resulted in another interception. Remember, this is the first time Michigan has played on real grass all season.
TCU 7, Michigan 0
9:31-9:22
TCU strikes first with a pick-six on the first play of Michigan’s drive. Safety Bud Clark read J.J. McCarthy’s progression and jumped Ronnie Bell’s route, returning the interception 41 yards for the score.
TCU 7, Michigan 0
10:30-9:31
Not surprisingly, Max Duggan aired it out on first down but his pass was incomplete. After an 8-yard run, Michigan CB Will Johnson had an impressive pass breakup against TCU No. 1 receiver Quentin Johnston on third-and-2, forcing a punt.
Michigan 0, TCU 0
15:00-10:30
TCU won the ton and deferred. Michigan opens at its own 25-yard line. Running back Donovan Edwards, who has 401 rushing yards the past two games, picked up right where he left off, bursting through the line of scrimmage and scampering for a 54-yard gain on the first play of the game. Three players later, J.J. McCarthy hit Roman Wilson on a crossing route for a 9-yard gain on third-and-7. McCarthy had a highlight-reel play on third down, scrambling all the way back to the 30-yard line to avoid pressure before turning up field again and getting down to the TCU 2.
Michigan opted to go for it on fourth-and-goal and tried to catch the Horned Frogs with a trick play. The “Philly Special” did not work as tight end Colston Loveland was tackled for an 8-yard loss on a reverse.
Michigan 0, TCU 0
*****
PREGAME
UPDATE: Michigan receivers, sack leader in uniform vs. TCU
Game day is finally here.
After nearly a month since the Big Ten and Big 12 championship games, No. 2 Michigan (13-0) and No. 3 TCU (12-1) will square off in the Fiesta Bowl national semifinal on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 4 p.m. at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and MLive will be there providing live updates throughout.
Michigan is in the playoff for the second straight season and hasn’t lost since falling to Georgia 34-11 in last year’s Orange Bowl. It ranks top-seven nationally in both scoring offense and defense. It has been the best second-half team in the country, outscoring opponents by 206 points.
The Horned Frogs also have been a strong second-half team under first-year coach Sonny Dykes. They have seven comeback victories in 2022 and rely heavily on chunk plays. They lead the nation with 19 plays of 50-plus yards and is tied for second with 10 plays of at least 60 yards. Containing Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Max Duggan and receiver Quentin Johnston, a projected first-round pick, will be a challenge for Michigan’s defense.
Health-wise, though, Michigan is close to full strength outside of missing running back Blake Corum. Sacks leader Mike Morris, who missed the Big Ten championship, said this week he’s ‘probably 95 to 100 (percent) right now.’”
Saturday’s matchup is the first meeting between the two programs, with the winner advancing to face either No. 1 Georgia or No. 4 Ohio State.
PREGAME READING
- Former star QB turns heartbreak into inspirational story for Michigan football
- Michigan QB Alan Bowman will try to win a national title, then transfer
- The Don: Edwards thriving as Michigan’s big-play guy
- Junior Colson: From an orphanage in Haiti to Michigan’s top tackler
- Michigan EDGE Mike Morris ‘feeling great,’ plans to play in Fiesta Bowl
- In Fiesta Bowl, Michigan can go from great to college football’s pinnacle