For 30 minutes, it looked like Michigan football might actually be able to beat Alabama. But, in a very predictable finish, the Wolverines lost by double digits, 35-16.
And the truth is, they never really had a chance. Why? Because Shea Patterson was playing quarterback.
Those are harsh words. But they reflect a harsh reality.
The biggest issue facing Michigan football isn’t a defense that can’t seem to stop elite offenses (who can?), it’s the fact that five years into the Jim Harbaugh era, the quarterback play has been no better than average.
Patterson’s performance in the Citrus Bowl was just another example.