Rose Bowl Review: Michigan Overcome Alabama in Overtime Thriller
Rose Bowl - Pasadena, California
Alabama 20 – 27 Michigan (OT)
Michigan and Alabama met under the setting sun in Pasadena for the 110th edition of the historic Rose Bowl. Undefeated Big 10 champions Michigan, led by head coach Jim Harbaugh, were hoping to put a sign-stealing scandal behind them and progress to their first national championship game after being eliminated at the semi-final stage the previous two years. SEC champions Alabama, who were elected to the playoffs in a controversial manner over undefeated ACC champions Florida State, made back-to-back appearances in the title game in 2020 and 2021 and were looking for a seventh national title under head coach Nick Saban. In a Rose Bowl stadium that was half Alabama crimson and half Michigan Maize, fans were treated to an instant classic.
It was a tough night for the quarterbacks. Under pressure for the duration of the game, Jalen Milroe finished with just 116 passing yards and zero TDs. JJ McCarthy fared better with 221-yards and three TDs however, Michigan got off to a rough start when McCarthy was intercepted on the first play of the game by DB Caleb Downs. Fortunately for the Wolverines, after a review of the play it was adjudged that Downs made his play on the ball from an out of bounds position and the call was overturned. Despite their fortune, the Michigan offense sputtered, going three and out.
However, the Wolverines’ pass rush was firing on all cylinders as their blitzes easily penetrated the Alabama O line. Milroe was sacked twice in the first three plays by Braiden McGregor and Josaiah Stewart. Michigan’s defensive front looked all but unstoppable in the first half, recording five sacks from six blitzes, smothering the Crimson Tide’s offense and controlling the game.
Alabama found some luck on the ensuing punt which was muffed by freshman Semaj Morgan and recovered by LB Quandarrius Robinson. Michigan looked shaky on special teams throughout the game, making things harder for the Wolverines than they should have been. The botched special teams play afforded Alabama great field position from which Jase McClellan broke the line and peeled off a 34-yard TD run to give them the lead in the first quarter.
Michigan leaned on RB Blake Corum to propel them down the field on drive that included a conversion on fourth and one. McCarthy was able to find Corum on an underneath pass for an eight-yard walk in touchdown to draw things level. Michigan managed to keep a scoring drive alive with a trick play that saw Donovan Edwards receive a pitch and then pass the ball backwards to McCarthy who, whilst falling backwards and subsequently being hit by Dallas Turner, managed to complete the pass to a wide-open Roman Wilson.
Tyler Morris completed the drive as he ran in a 38-yard underneath route, tight roping the sideline on his way into the endzone. Michigan’s special teams woes came back to bite them again as William Wagner delivered a bad snap leading to a missed PAT. Bama were able to draw closer with a Will Reichard field goal to bring the score to 13-10 entering the half.
Beginning the second half, Alabama had snapping issues of their own as two low snaps saw them backed up on third and 29 as the third quarter, which remained scoreless, became a war of attrition and field position. Michigan struggled to make any progress, with no first downs and only 23 yards in the quarter. Alabama’s Aussie punter James Burnip consistently pushed Michigan back, averaging 50.3 yards per punt with a long of 62-yards. The field position afforded to the Crimson Tide allowed them to drive to the redzone as the third quarter closed.
The fourth quarter started with bang as a bruising run from Milroe brought Bama inside the five-yard line. McCllelan punched it in from three yards out, restoring Bama’s lead. It looked like the tide had turned as Michigan went three and out but the ball was knocked from Milroe’s hands by Quinten Johnson as he tried to run for first down. The fumble was picked up by Josh Wallace and Michigan were back in business. Michigan got within field goal range but James Turner hooked his 49-yard attempt wide left as a high snap affected his rhythm. Reichard was able to convert a 52-yard attempt to extend Alabama’s lead to 20-13.
With just over three minutes remaining, Michigan fought back on a drive that included a fourth and two conversion to Corum and a 29-yard gain from Wilson to bring the Wolverines to first and goal. McCarthy found Wilson again on four-yard pitch pass for the score, tying things up. Michigan subsequently stopped Bama on third down and decided to kneel to run out the remaining seconds and head to overtime after being backed up at the one yard following a miscue by the punt returner.
Michigan started with the ball for the third ever overtime in the College Football Playoff. It only took two plays for Michigan to find pay dirt. Corum’s nifty jump cut saw him run in from 17-yards to become the all-time Michigan rushing touchdown record holder. Alabama tried to answer back. A Milroe run up the middle brought them inside the ten but after McLellan was stopped by Mason Graham in the backfield, they found themselves facing third and fourteen. A pass to Burton Jermain Burton left Bama facing fourth and three for the game. On a play that looked like it was supposed to be an RPO swing pass to the open RB, a low snap to Milroe saw the QB try to take it up the middle but get swallowed up way short of the goal line.
The field flooded with blue and maize as the Michigan bench rushed out in celebration. As the players collected their roses fans will look forward to Monday 8th January when Michigan will have the chance to win their first national title in twenty-six years when they face Washington in at NRG Stadium in Houston.