ATLANTA, Ga. -- Officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. have named University of Michigan J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh as one of five finalists for the 2021 Dodd Trophy presented by PNC.

The finalists award the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, both on and off the field. This is Harbaugh's first time as a finalist for the Dodd Trophy, and he is joined by Baylor's Dave Aranda, Wake Forest's Dave Clawson, Cincinnati's Luke Fickell, and Pitt's Pat Narduzzi. Finalists are selected by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member.

Harbaugh has guided Michigan to the College Football Playoff National Semifinal in the Capital One Orange Bowl against No. 3 Georgia on New Year's Eve (Friday, Dec. 31) at 7:30 p.m. ET. The second-ranked Wolverines (12-1) are making their first appearance in the CFP after winning the 2021 Big Ten Championship with a 42-3 victory over No. 12 Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium on Dec. 4.

U-M has won 12 games for just the third time in school history, equaling the victory totals of the 1905 and 1997 teams. The Wolverines won the Big Ten East Division title with a 42-27 victory over No. 2 Ohio State to finish the regular season with an 8-1 conference mark.

Michigan ranks in the top 15 in scoring defense (fourth) and scoring offense (13th) and in the top 20 in total defense (13th) and total offense (18th). The Wolverines list in the top 25 of 27 NCAA statistical categories, including top-10 rankings in 12 areas, and leads the nation in tackles for loss allowed and kick return defense.

U-M had 22 players (10 offense, nine defense, three special teams) recognized with all-conference accolades, led by six first-team All-Big Ten performers. In addition, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and kicker Jake Moody were named first-team All-Americans. Hutchinson was the Heisman Trophy runner-up and won the Rotary Lombardi Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Chicago Tribune Silver Football and Moody became Michigan's first-ever winner of the Lou Groza Award.

Also The Associated Press Coach of the Year, Harbaugh is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and semifinalist for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year.