Alabama vs. Michigan: Wolverines' Loss to Crimson Tide Proves They Aren't Elite

The Alabama Crimson Tide steam-rolled the Michigan Wolverines, 41-14, proving that Michigan has a long way to go before they can be considered an elite team in college football.

The reigning NCAA champs were simply better than their opponents from Ann Arbor on both sides of the ball.

Offensively, Michigan couldn't get anything going.

Alabama wasn't even going all out for Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson. It seemed sacking the Wolverines' quarterback wasn't top priority in this game, but rather containing him was the key.

'Bama cut off Robinson's running lanes to the outside, forcing him to stay in the pocket and thus taking away a huge part of his game. Instead of having multiple options on any given play, Robinson was forced to play a one-dimensional game as evidenced by the disappointing 27 yards he picked up on the ground.

The pressure on Robinson was nonstop no matter where he went, and while he did have 200 yards total through the air, he was just 11-for-26 with only one touchdown and two picks.

This style of play also shut down the Wolverines' rushing attack, which was held to an abysmal 68 yards on 23 carries in total.

Defensively, the Wolverines didn't do much to stop 'Bama in the least bit.

Michigan allowed 199 yards through the air to 'Bama quarterback AJ McCarron. On the ground, the Crimson Tide ran over the Wolverines defense to the tune of 231 yards.

In total, Alabama racked up 430 yards between the passing and running games.

This was a litmus test for the Wolverines, and they failed miserably. Even if they had put up more of a fight and lost, Michigan could have taken some positives from such a result.

But that wasn't the case, and the 41-14 rout made it perfectly clear that not only is Michigan not on Alabama's level, but very few teams, if any, are.

'Bama was faster, stronger and flat out more skilled in every facet of the game than Michigan. There's no question where the best players in the country are at, and it isn't in Michigan.

Clearly, the Wolverines have many improvements to make from now until the end of the season. And while they might be able to adjust and come back stronger in the games to come, there's no question they don't belong on the same field as Alabama.