Blake Corum shares insight into Michigan football’s Rose Bowl prep, national championship aspirations…..

Blake Corum returned to Michigan with the expectation that he’d lead the Wolverines back to a Big Ten championship and back to the College Football Playoff.
So far, he has helped U-M achieve all its goals this season. But the one that remains is the assertion that made all those headlines over the summer: “Natty or bust.”
Speaking on Thursday ahead of the Rose Bowl, Corum — a captain and the nation’s leader in rushing touchdowns — said he stands by his expectation for the Wolverines.
“I stand on that. I said at the beginning of the year: For me, it’s natty or bust. And we’re that close,” Corum said. “We have to find a way to get over that hump — and I think we will. I think we have the recipe.”
Here’s what else the star running back said as the Rose Bowl and the College Football Playoffs near:
On if he feels people consider Alabama the top team:
Yeah. They flipped from the jump. As soon as they announced we’d be playing Alabama, I feel like they flipped it from the job. Which is fine, it’s all people’s opinions and what they think. We’re going into it, like I said last time, as the top dog. We are in the No. 1 team in the nation, and we’re gonna treat it as such.
Alabama is a great team. After watching film, they’re coached really well. Defense flies around So it’s definitely gonna be a challenge that we’re super excited for We love a good challenge. But we’re still the top dog. And that’s how we’re going in.
On the benefits from a lighter practice schedule before the CFP compared to previous years:
Our bodies feel really well. Before, we were kind of going at it a little bit — where now Coach Harbaugh changed it a little bit. So we practice really hard and we’ll have a walkthrough, but still full speed — just not hitting. Execution is still top notch, still precise, every detail matters, but our bodies are feeling really good. I would say that’s a different approach. And just mentally, more guys are buying into the film. Given this much time to the game, when we go in the game, making sure we know each and everything that they could possibly do.
On if he stands on his national championship or bust mantra from the preseason:
Most definitely. I stand on that. I said at the beginning of the year: For me, it’s natty or bust. And we’re that close. We have to find a way to get over that hump — and I think we will. I think we have the recipe.
Now it’s just about being where our feet are these next couple of days, until we leave for Cali. And when we get into Cali, still being where our feet are until January 1, and making sure we’re just precise. We can’t make any mistakes. But yeah, I still stand on what I said.
On if he can compare the Alabama defense to any Michigan has played:
We’ve played some great defenses. I feel like the last three out of four games. probably played top-five defenses: Penn State, Ohio State and Iowa. Alabama is up there. They’re a team that is coached really well, a team full of athletes, they just fly around, trying to race each other to the ball. They’re disciplined. Their D-ends are really good, corners are really good. They’re right there up there with the Penn States, Ohio States and Iowas — great defenses that we faced this year, especially the last four weeks. They’re right there, hand in hand. Great players that love the game of football. That’s what I see in the film.
On his memory of the 2022 College Football Playoff:
It sucked. It sucked. I was there for my teammates, I was trying to tell them what I saw on the field. I wanted to be out there. I wanted to be out there trying to make a play, trying to make a play for Michigan. Finally, 365 days later, we’re here almost. Super excited to be back in the College Football Playoffs, playing a great team. And being on the field with my teammates instead of on the sideline on crutches.
On if Alabama’s defense reminds him of Penn State’s with great defensive ends:
Their defense is kind of like our defense — but we’re the number one defense in the nation. They definitely have players like Chop: Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell. Great D-ends, guys that get off the ball really fast, big and strong, can run sideline to sideline. I would say they do resemble Penn State with Chop, and the linebackers that they had. Athletes that love the game of football, stick to the game plan that the coaches put in. Great defense, great defense that we’ll have to play against come January 1, but we’ll be ready. We’ll be ready.
On the run game with Zak Zinter out:
I wish Zak was playing, but super confident. And I know Karsen at guard and Trente at tackle will be perfectly fine. They’re ready. They’re looking really good out there. I’m excited to run behind them.