FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Just about everything about this season has been a joyride for No. 2 Michigan, the first team to start unranked in the AP Top 25 and reach the College Football Playoff.

“We’re happy to be here, but not just happy to be here,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Reaching the playoff in 2021 was always the expectation for third-ranked Georgia, and it seemed like a foregone conclusion by November as the Bulldogs rampaged through their schedule.

Not even a resounding loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference title game could keep Georgia out. But instead of bounding into the Orange Bowl semifinal off of huge victories like Michigan, the Bulldogs enter trying to reestablish the air of invincibility they carried much of the season.

“You lose some, and you just go on getting better,” Georgia All-America defensive tackle Jordan Davis said. “Obviously we’re not going to be the same team from last game to this game with Michigan, but we just have to keep moving forward and worry about ourselves and just get ready for the game.”

The Wolverines (12-1) and Bulldogs (12-1), two storied programs that haven’t played in more than half a century, took very different paths to their meeting on Friday night (4:30 p.m. PT, ESPN) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The winningest program in college football history, Michigan doesn’t fit the profile of an upstart, but few could have seen this breakthrough coming in year seven under Harbaugh.

“I feel like the buzz – created some new buzz with this 2021 team,” Harbaugh said. “Yeah, let’s face it, it had died down a little bit, and I do feel like our guys have created some new buzz, and it’s been a good thing.”

Coming off a 2-4 record during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Wolverines used the doubters and critics of their coach as fuel. Center Andrew Vastardis wore a Michigan vs. Everybody T-shirt to his Zoom session with reporters earlier this week.

“I’d say that shirt really begins from fall camp and spring ball when we knew that a lot of people would be counting us out,” offensive tackle Andrew Stueber said. “I saw somewhere there was a .05% chance of making it to the College Football Playoff. A lot of people didn’t believe in us, and it kind of drove us this whole season.”

“Why not us?” has been another Michigan rallying cry.

After blowing a 16-point lead in the second half to Michigan State in their only loss on Halloween weekend, the Wolverines rallied late to win at Penn State, snapped their eight-game losing streak to rival Ohio State and routed Iowa to win the Big Ten title for the first time since 2004.

“Definitely riding that into this game, and just ready to go out there and take advantage of every opportunity we get,” Vastardis said.

There is a different vibe around Georgia.

Nobody doubted the Bulldogs would be a playoff contender this season. Led by a defense stacked with blue-chip recruits and future NFL draft choices, they allowed less than a touchdown per game through a 12-0 start – and then lost, 41-27, to Alabama.

Georgia has not won a national title since 1980. While coaches and players don’t worry about that, those who support the program do, and losing to Alabama brought on the here-we-go-again feelings for Bulldogs fans.

Smart said the key to coming back from a loss is to keep it technical and analyze what went wrong with the players.

“Don’t be judgmental,” Smart said. “Don’t say things: ‘If you do this and if you do that, you’re going to get your butt beat.’”

While Alabama attacked Georgia’s defense with a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback (Bryce Young) and All-America receiver (Jameson Williams), Michigan’s calling card is the running game.

The Wolverines, led by third-team All-America running back Hassan Haskins, average 223 yards rushing per game, 5.31 per carry and have scored 39 touchdowns on the ground. Georgia, led by Davis and All-America linebacker Nakobe Dean, has been an immovable object against the run, allowing only 82 yards per game, 2.61 per attempt and just three rushing touchdowns.

“They’re definitely a physical team, and it’s a tremendous challenge for our front seven,” Davis said.

QB COMBOS?

Michigan has used two quarterbacks all season, sprinkling in J.J. McCarthy to complement starter Cade McNamara. McCarthy’s athleticism is part of how coordinator Josh Gattis brings some diversity and creativity to the offense.

Georgia has had two starting quarterbacks this season, with J.T. Daniels (formerly of Mater Dei High and USC) beginning as QB1 before an injury opened the door for Stetson Bennett to claim the job. Bennett, a former walk-on, will start the Orange Bowl after a rough game against Alabama.

“We just (rallied) around him and let him know he’s not in this alone even though he was receiving a lot of bad talk about him,” receiver Kearis Jackson said.

Daniels’ status seems uncertain after he arrived in Georgia a day later than the rest of the team.

ON EDGE

Heisman runner-up Aidan Hutchinson and outside linebacker David Ojabo combined for 25 sacks, a little more than 75% of Michigan’s total.

It will be on Georgia tackles Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon to keep two of the best pass rushers in the country away from whoever is playing quarterback for the Bulldogs.

“They present different matchups,” Salyer said. “Each of them are very good at different things, but very talented players, and I’m excited for the matchup.”

MICHIGAN DB HILL IS QUESTIONABLE

Harbaugh said Thursday that defensive back Dax Hill was not yet in Miami and was questionable to play Friday night.

Harbaugh did not provide details of what kept Hill from traveling with the team nor what could keep him out of the game. Harbaugh added that Hill might be joining the team in Florida later Thursday.

“He’s working through something right now,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll know more today.”

Hill is second on the team in tackles with 65 and has two interceptions for the second-ranked Wolverines (12-1).

No. 2 MICHIGAN (12-1) vs. No. 3 GEORGIA (12-1)

When: Friday, 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardena, Fla.

TV/radio: ESPN, 830 AM

Line: Georgia by 7½ (FanDuel Sportsbook)

Series history: Tied, 1-1

KEY MATCHUP

Georgia’s interior defensive line vs. Michigan’s interior offensive line. Massive nose guard Jordan Davis (6-foot-6, 340 pounds) anchors the line and gets a lot of help from DTs Devonte Wyatt and Jalen Carter. The Bulldogs allow just 2.61 yards per rush and have given up only three rushing touchdowns, the fewest in the nation. Michigan won the Joe Moore Award, given to the top offensive line in the nation. The group, led by center Andrew Vastardis, has been better than the sum of the parts, paving the way for Michigan to run for 223 yards per game and 39 touchdowns.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Georgia: Tight end Brock Bowers. The freshman has become the Bulldogs’ most dynamic receiver, leading the team in catches (47), yards receiving (791) and touchdowns (11).

Michigan: Defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. The Heisman Trophy runner-up has been a game-wrecker with 14 sacks.

FACTS & FIGURES

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Former walk-on Stetson Bennett is still Georgia’s starting quarterback despite a rough outing in the SEC title game loss to Alabama. Bennett took over early in the season after J.T. Daniels was injured and never relinquished the job, throwing 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. … Michigan has used two quarterbacks all season. Cade McNamara takes the vast majority of the snaps, but highly touted freshman J.J. McCarthy gets used a few times per game, often to take advantage of his mobility. … Georgia is making its second playoff appearance under Coach Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs won a semifinal at the Rose Bowl in overtime before losing the 2017 national title game to Alabama (also in overtime). … Michigan is making its first playoff appearance after winning the Big Ten for the first time since 2004. … Georgia is No. 1 in the country in scoring defense at 9.5 points allowed per game. Michigan is fourth at 16.1.

PREDICTION

These teams appear remarkably similar, so it’s hard to imagine either one being able to build too large a lead on the other. Whoever gets the better quarterback play should have an advantage in a matchup of teams that are both dominant at the line of scrimmage and stingy against the run. Georgia 27, Michigan 20