Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh gives early insight on Minnesota matchup

Yesterday, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the media following the Wolverines’ 45-7 road win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, which was so impressive that some are now pinning Michigan as the No. 1 team in the nation. During Harbaugh’s time with the media, he gave some early insight into Week 6’s matchup on the road against Minnesota.

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh gives early insight on Minnesota matchup

Jim Harbaugh knows that Michigan football needs to respect Minnesota this weekend. PJ Fleck is a solid head coach, the Gophers are coming off of a win, and seeing as the Wolverines are ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten, every team will bring its best game.

Wolverines getting ready for Week 6 in Minneapolis

On Saturday, Michigan gets its second road test of the year — here is what Jim Harbaugh is saying about the Wolverines’ Week 6 bout against Minnesota.

“Another really good defense,” Jim Harbaugh said of Minnesota. “Really stout, the quarterbacks are really coming along, and they have a tremendous ability to run the ball. Physical team, and I love how they play. It’s an emotional fired-up type of team. And PJ (Fleck) does a great job — you can always tell they’re confident no matter what the stakes are, the odds are; you can just see it in the way they play. They play hard. And that’s all you can ever ask for as a coach from your players is that they play hard. Our guys are doing it. Minnesota’s guys are. It’ll be a football fight like it is every Saturday, and we’ve got to play good. Get prepared, practice, and get ready to go execute in another one of those crazy college campus stadiums. But can’t wait.”

The ‘Little Brown Jug’ hangs in the balance this weekend

Michigan football and Minnesota have a history… a lot of history. In fact, the Little Brown Jug is the oldest rivalry trophy in college football history. Harbaugh broke down how the Wolverines have been learning and prepping for the team’s first rivalry game of the 2023 season.

“Trophy game,” Harbaugh continued, talking about the Michigan football-Minnesota rivalry. “Part of our TTG (Teach The Game) was to learn the entire history of the ‘Little Brown Jug,’ and that was great; it was a half-hour session, a 45-minute session in August. And many of the guys who have participated in it know what it’s about, and it’s something that’s a priority for us. Get the best grades, win the most awards and trophies, and excel at football.”

Michigan football is currently a 17-point favorite against Minnesota this weekend. The Wolverines are coming off of a massive road win last week, and one more victory would boost Michigan to bowl eligibility at 6-0. So far, under Jim Harbaugh, the Maize and Blue are 3-0 against the Golden Gophers, picking up wins in 2015, 2017, and 2020.