Fiesta Bowl preview: TCU vs. Michigan

Sonny Dykes and Jim Harbaugh's fathers were coaches. Dyke's dad was Texas Tech coach Spike Dyks. Michigan and TCU are playing in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday. TCU is the most unlikely team to reach the CFP semifinals. The team is coached by Gary Patterson. Michigan is a 7½-point favorite. It's the first time the teams have met in a college football championship game. They both won their respective conferences. Texas A&M and Michigan are in town for the game, too. Their teams are coached differently. This is Michigan's first game since the end of the previous season.

Michigan's offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the second straight season. TCU's defensive players and coordinator mention Kansas State's previous opponents. Michigan doesn't have much experience to draw upon when it comes to facing a defense that uses three down linemen and three safeties. The 3-3-5 defense TCU plays was born as a counter-measure to spread offenses. Michigan loves its big personnel packages. It is an offense Harbaugh’s mentor, Bo Schembechler, would be proud of. Sherrone Moore is co-offensive coordinator with Matt Weiss.

Dykes is one of many successful proteges of Mike Leach. Leaches died earlier this month of a heart condition at age 61. TCU will honor Leache with pirate flag helmet stickers.

Michigan is the Big Ten champion. TCU is in the playoff for the first time. The Horned Frogs would be the the first Big 12 team to win a CFP game.

Michigan's offensive line is anchored by Outland Trophy winner Olu Owaiteimi. Michigan averages 5.64 yards per carry, third best in the nation. TCU's defense is built for speed and ranks 65th in run defense.

Max Duggan is the quarterback of TCU. Donovan Edwards is a second-year tailback who has become the team's main ball carrier since Blake Corum went down with a knee injury in Game 11.

TCU is the first school from the state of Texas to reach the CFP. Michigan's last appearance in the Fiesta Bowl was in 1986, when Jim Harbaugh was the Wolverines' quarterback. Harbaugh is 1-5 in bowl games as Michigan coach. TCU became the the team to win seven straight games by 10 points or fewer.