Kris Jenkins, Jim Harbaugh Open Up About 'Beat Georgia' Drill At Big Ten Media Days

In order to be the best, you have to beat the best, and that's what Michigan football is striving to do.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Back in 2021, Jim Harbaugh stood at the podium during Big Ten Media Days and told the crowd that Michigan's goal was to 'beat Ohio State or die trying'. 

It was a captivating quote that sent a message to the rest of the Big Ten: Michigan was getting serious. It was later reported that off-season that Michigan incorporated a 'beat Ohio' drill into each of its practices in order to get ready for the Buckeyes. 

For two years in a row, after putting that drill into place, the Wolverines have taken down Ohio State. But Michigan has faltered both of those years during the College Football Playoff semifinals. 

Back in 2021, Michigan got obliterated by Georgia, and last season, the Wolverines lost to TCU. 

Kris Jenkins, the 307-pound defensive tackle, explained the players try to learn a new lesson from each loss -- especially in the big games. They want to learn from their mistakes in order to not repeat them again. 

"With each loss and every loss we face, we try to take every lesson we can," said Jenkins. "Especially in big games like TCU and Georgia we definitely look at those games and learn from them, learn from our mistakes, and learn from we could’ve done better. Try to embody that every day and into the upcoming season.”

Like Harbaugh implementing the 'Beat Ohio' drill to focus on beating the Buckeyes, Michigan has now added the 'Beat Georgia' drill. Reports came out about that drill being run by Michigan in June, and during Big Ten Media Days, it was confirmed. 

Jenkins says it's a "gritty" drill where the trenches collide. As the old saying goes, 'if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best'.

“Beat Georgia is a gritty drill where we try to get in and prove ourselves physically – a trench battle we call it," Jenkins explained. "Really, we put that in to keep up with that mentality of ‘to be the guy you have to beat the guy’. Right now, that guy is Georgia. Georgia has proven themselves to be a dominating football team. In order for us to walk the walk, talk the talk, we got to improve that emphasis every single day during practice.”

Coach Harbaugh was also asked about the drill. The Bulldogs have won two-straight national championships, and Harbaugh believes a lot of it has to do with how strong they are in the trenches. They can run the ball and stop the run -- even when the opposing team knows it's coming. 

“Emphasis is stopping the run and being able to run the ball when the other team knows you’re running the ball," said Harbaugh. "That’s what I really respect about Georgia is their ability to run the ball when the other team knows they’re running the ball, and their ability to stop the run.”

“Like our good friend Ric Flair, if you want to be the man, you got to beat the man," Harbaugh said. "Wanted to emphasize it.”

Michigan opens fall camp on August 2 and opens the season on Sept 2 against East Carolina.