Michigan escapes Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl in CFP semifinals
Michigan stops Alabama in OT, wins Rose Bowl
No. 1 Michigan outlasted No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in the Rose Bowl thanks to a fourth-down stop in overtime. With the win, the Wolverines win their first ever College Football Playoff game and advance to the CFP title game.
Michigan's defense and the front-seven stepped up in the game's final moment stalling Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on a quarterback power run. The Wolverine defense finished with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss while keeping Milroe out of the endzone all game long.
Michgan overcame special teams miscues throughout the night, whether it was a two muffed punts at the start and end of regulation and missed kicks. Michigan Quarterback J.J. McCarthy earned Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game honors after completing 63 percent of his passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.
It's the first time there's been three straight seasons in Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama without a championship. This is just the 2nd time since 2005 that the national title game will not feature an SEC team. Click or tap here for stats from the game.
Corum runs angry! Michigan 27, Alabama 20 | OT1
Blake Corum broke the Michigan all-time rushing touchdown record with the first score of overtime. Corum used a jump cut before breaking through multiple arm tackles on his way to the end zone. Alabama will have a chance to match Michigan's score in the first overtime.
BLAKE CORUM IS PHENOMENAL
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
Overtime: Alabama 20, Michigan 20
Wolverines tie! Alabama 20, Michigan 20 | 4Q - 1:34
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson for the game-tying touchdown, with the extra point — important since the Wolverine kicking game has struggled all night — being good. The eight-play, 75-yard drive was bolstered by two chunk passes from J.J. McCarthy of 35 yards to Blake Corum and 29 yards to Roman Wilson.
#1 comes through clutch! | 📺 ESPN
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball)
Alabama will take over possession with 1:34 on the clock, one timeout and a kicker that is capable of making field goals of over 50 yards.
Tide push the lead! Alabama 20, Michigan 13 | 4Q - 4:41
Alabama kicker Will Reichard made his fifth 50-plus-yard field goal of the season and second of the Rose Bowl, drilling a 52-yard attempt to push Alabama's lead to seven points in the fourth quarter. The Tide lead 20-13 with less than five minutes to play.
Will Reichard is as true as the day is long
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
Fumble! 4Q - 12:47
Michigan defensive back Quentin Johnson stripped Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on a scramble, forcing the first takeaway for the Wolverine defense. Michigan takes possession with great field position at its own 49-yard line.
However, Michigan couldn't capitalize off the turnover, missing a 49-yard field goal attempt.
JALEN MILROE FUMBLES AND MICHIGAN RECOVERS 😳
— ESPN (@espn)
📺: ESPN |
Tide Touchdown! Alabama 17, Michigan 13 | 4Q - 14:30
It took Alabama two plays to bounce back from a scoreless third quarter as running back Jase McClellan scored his second touchdown of the day, this time from three yards out. The Crimson Tide leads 17-13 after the impressive eight-play drive.
Championship type DRIVE 🔥
— College Football Report (@CFBRep)
Its getting tight in the Rose Bowl
Third quarter: Michigan 13, Alabama 10
The third quarter of the Rose Bowl was scoreless. Michigan and Alabama had two drives each, with every drive ending in a punt and one drive per team ending in a three-and-out.
Alabama did find success on its final drive of the third quarter and will return to start the fourth quarter in the middle of a drive that's gone six plays and 39 yards to the Michigan 16-yard line before a false start. When play resumes, Alabama will face a second-and-15 at the Michigan 21-yard line down three points.
Jalen Milroe with a MASSIVE gain
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
Halftime: Michigan 13, Alabama 10
No. 1 Michigan leads No. 4 Alabama 13-10 at halftime. Just before the break Alabama kicker Will Reichard kicked a 50-yard field goal — his fourth 50-plus yard make of the year — to cut the deficit to three points.
WILL REICHARD FROM 50 YARDS
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow)
WHAT A DAWG
Michigan dominated the first half, limiting Alabama to just 96 offensive yards while sacking Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe five times, pressuring him another three times on 15 total drop backs.
BIG TEN PHYSICALITY 💪
— College Football Report (@CFBRep)
Michigan already has 4 sacks on Jalen Milroe
While Michigan's offense has found success with 197 total yards, it's special teams miscues from the Wolverines that has the Rose Bowl at a three-point margin at half. Alabama's only touchdown drive came after a muffed punt and Michigan left one point on the board by botching the snap on an extra point attempt. Click or tap here for stats from the game.
Wolverines take the lead! Michigan 13, Alabama 7 | 2Q - 3:49
Michigan wide receiver Tyler Morris scored his first touchdown of the year, beating Alabama's man-to-man coverage on a crossing route before out-racing the Tide defense up the sideline into the endzone. While Michigan failed to convert the extra point, the Wolverines still have their first lead ever in their three College Football Playoff appearances.
TYLER MORRIS💨
— PFF College (@PFF_College)
The highlight of the drive came when a double-pass from Michigan nearly broke big as quarterback J.J. McCarthy found wide receiver Roman Wilson for a 20-yard gain. Check out the trick play below.
What a crazy play by Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Catches the bad pass with one hand, throws the ball as he's about to get rocked, and connects with his receiver.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate)
First quarter: Alabama 7, Michigan 7
Touchdowns by each team's running back have us all tied at seven after a competitive first quarter. It is Michigan ball to begin the second quarter.
End of the 1st Quarter!
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL)
Michigan responds! Alabama 7, Michigan 7 | 1Q - 4:23
Michigan's offense finds some success with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to even the score at seven. Superstar running back Blake Corum had five touches on the drive, including the touchdown, where he caught a eight-yard pass and waltzed into the end zone for the score.
Wide open for six!
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball)
Tide strike first! Alabama 7, Michigan 0 | 1Q - 09:41
Alabama running back Jase McClellan scored the first points of the college football playoff, running 34 yards — and juking a Michigan safety out of his cleats — for a touchdown. McClellan's scored followed a fourth-down conversion from Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe that kept the Alabama drive alive.
JASE MCCLELLAN AND BAMA STRIKE FIRST IN PASADENA‼️
— ESPN (@espn)
Muffed Punt! Alabama 0, Michigan 0 | 1Q - 11:52
Michigan freshman punt returner Semaj Morgan muffed Alabama's first punt for the first turnover of the 2023 College Football Playoffs. Alabama recovered the ball at the Michigan 44-yard line.
BAMA RECOVERS THE MUFFED PUNT 😳
— ESPN (@espn)
Rose Bowl has begins with an interception
The 2023 Rose Bowl has begun. Alabama won the coin toss, deferred and Michigan received the opening kickoff.