The 110th Rose Bowl Game kicked off the 2024 College Football Playoff with a bang. The game featuring the two programs with the most wins in college football history ended in a 27-20 overtime thriller.
Michigan and Alabama both made mistakes, but the Wolverines were able to overcome their miscues. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was sacked five times in the first half alone and had trouble handling snaps the entire game. Michigan recorded six sacks for the game.
“There were a couple of times when we could have redirected the protection, which we largely put on the o-line, and we didn’t do it. A couple of times, the shot clock was running down, and a couple of times, we didn’t fan and get the right guys blocked, so it was a combination of things,” said Nick Saban.
Michigan’s struggles were on special teams. The Wolverines missed a field goal and PAT while also muffing the first punt of the game.
“I think the special team did a good job tonight. We did a good job of controlling the field position,” said Saban. “If you really analyze the game, one of the biggest things is we didn’t play well enough on defense when we needed to, and the second thing is we had too many drive-stopping plays on offense.”
Alabama capitalized early on the botched punt as Jase McClellan took a 34-yard run to the house to make the score 7-0. The Wolverines got the ground game going on their second possession and were able to bounce back with a long drive capped off by a J.J. McCarthy touchdown pass to Blake Corum.
Michigan largely dominated the first half, but Nick Saban’s defensive and special teams units kept the game close going into the break at 13-10.
Alabama had the momentum to start the second half and took control of the game. They built a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Wolverines again fought back.
Michigan pulled out several trick plays in desperate search of a big play at times and was able to rally and tie the game to force overtime.
“Credit to their great defense; they were tremendous and had a great game plan for us. It is all about focusing on the next play, one play at a time, and just staying in the present moment and focusing on the assignment that you have to go out there and execute,” said McCarthy. “We weren’t really getting things going, but that never bothered us because that is all in the past, and it is about staying in the present and controlling the future.”
Michigan would not be denied in overtime as Corum powered his way to the endzone on two carries. Alabama’s answer came up three yards short when Jalen Milroe was stuffed on a fourth-down quarterback draw.
As the Wolverines stormed the field to celebrate, J.J. McCarthy had put the doubters to rest. The junior quarterback threw three touchdowns and zero interceptions after throwing for only one touchdown over his previous five games.
“This is the greatest quarterback in the University of Michigan college football history. He has a long way to go to get to where Tom Brady eventually got to, but in a college career, there has been nobody better than J.J.,” said Jim Harbaugh.
Michigan will now advance to Houston for the national championship game against another undefeated team, Washington. The Wolverines are now about as battle-tested as they get after the gusty win. They have proven they can win under pressure as well as when they are not playing their best football.
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.