Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff Writer January 7, 2024, 12:20 p.m. ET
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- Covers the Pac-12.
- Joined ESPN in 2014.
- Attended Washington State University.
HOUSTON – For Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, a win against Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday would be an “overwhelming” experience because it would affect so many people.
“It would mean a lot to our players if they knew what it was like to be champions,” Harbaugh said. “Just let them call themselves state champions.
“And that her parents will ensure that their son becomes a champion, a national champion; that their grandparents have a grandson; that their brothers and sisters have a brother who is a champion.” [national champion].”
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Harbaugh downplayed the idea that he cared about how the win would impact his own legacy, but admitted he cared deeply about how his family could enjoy a Wolverines title.
“What it would mean for me, for my children to know that their father is a national champion, and for my parents, my brother and my sister,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the overwhelming thing, just that so many people could enjoy this and be a part of it.”
“For my wife and her husband to become national champions. Not so much for me, but for everyone else that would be huge.”
Harbaugh, in his ninth season as Michigan coach, has already been named NFL Coach of the Year and AP College Football Coach of the Year. However, in four stints as a head coach (FCS San Diego, Stanford, San Francisco 49ers and Michigan), he has yet to coach a team beyond a conference or division title.
Harbaugh and Washington coach Kalen DeBoer took turns exchanging compliments about each other's programs during Sunday's coaches' press conference in what became an exercise in politeness.
When asked what his message would be to his players if he were to move on to an NFL job, Harbaugh paid no attention to that premise, choosing instead to address the message that goes into the game.
“I can’t wait to watch them compete and do their best,” he said. “That will be my overwhelming feeling, let’s just let it rip.”
Without batting an eyelid, he launched into a quick overview of Washington, calling the teams “mirror images” of each other in terms of thoroughness.
“I really feel like those are the two best teams,” Harbaugh said. “They’re the last two left.”
While questions remain about Harbaugh's future at Michigan, DeBoer's tenure in Washington is still in its infancy. After taking over a team that went 4-8 in 2021, DeBoer posted a 25-2 record in his two seasons with the Huskies.
“I think the team was celebrated at some level every time they won, because I make sure they do that because it's really hard to win a college football game,” DeBoer said. “But it was a really balanced mentality and just knowing that the job isn’t done – the job isn’t done – and we’re going to celebrate the win. But the next game is the most important.”