Alabama Falls To Michigan in Rose Bowl, Wolverines Advance to National Championship Game
PASADENA, Calif. — Remember the Rose Bowl, they say.
No. 4 Alabama came up three-yards short against the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff semifinals as the Big 10 Champions emerged victorious 27-20 in overtime.
The game was a defensive battle in all senses of the term, but after 30 minutes of football it seemed like Michigan had been the dominant team. Alabama’s offense looked anemic for much of the game, and trailed 13-10 at the end of the third quarter.
But in the final period, the offense found its rhythm, and got Alabama the points it needed to regain the lead and seize control of the game. The Wolverines, however, fought back, scoring a touchdown with 1:34 to tie the contest back up.
Michigan’s offensive period took just two plays as Blake Corum took two carries into the endzone to put the Maize and Blue ahead by a touchdown.
The Crimson Tide’s offense was able to work its way to the doorstep of the endzone but ultimately it was the Wolverines winning the line of scrimmage of fourth and goal and stopping Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe for no gain to win the game
How It Happened:
(most recent update at the top)
Overtime
- The Michigan Wolverines end up shutting down Jalen Milroe on a QB run up the middle to win the game 27-20.
- Both teams end up taking timeouts to study each other's looks. Play of the game coming up.
- Jermaine Burton makes a reception down to the 3-yard line. Alabama faces fourth and goal with the season on the line.
- Alabama faces third and goal from the 14-yard line after back to back negative plays.
- Jalen Milroe takes a fake toss and converts a first down on a QB-counter. Tide still alive with first and goal. .
- The Michigan Wolverines score a touchdown in just two plays. Blake Corum takes two carries for the score and with the extra point the Maize and Blue take a 27-20 lead.
- The Alabama Crimson Tide wins the overtime toss and chooses to play defense first.
Fourth Quarter
- The Michigan Wolverines blast the ball off the 1-yard line and the Rose Bowl is heading into overtime.
- The Crimson Tide manage their way to midfield but are stopped. James Burnips deep punt leaves Michigan starting their next drive at the 1-yard line with just :44 seconds left.
- Michigan managed a long drive going for it on fourth down in their own territory and converting. The Maize and Blue tie the score with 1.32 to play at 20-20.
- The offense drove down into Michigan territory, but stalled and had to settle for a long field goal. Reichard nails the 52-yarder, and puts Alabama up 20-13.
- Alabama's defense forced a field goal, and it misses wide left. Alabama has avoided complete disaster.
- Milroe fumbles on a run, and Michigan has the ball at midfield with tons of life. That's the exact mistake Alabama couldn't make.
- Alabama's defense comes up with a three-and-out, and the momentum has swung.
- A monster Milroe run sets up McClellan for his second touchdown of the night. The offense finally took advantage, and the Crimson Tide leads 17-13.
Third Quarter
- The third quarter has ended, with Michigan holding a 13-10 lead.
- Milroe shows off his elusiveness with a nice scramble and Alabama has moved into field goal range.
- Alabama's offense is getting every chance in the world to take control of this game.
- Once again, the defenses are trading stops. Alabama goes three plays and punts it back to Michigan, who takes over at the 10 yard line after an excellent punt.
- The Crimson Tide defense gets a stop, and Downs fair catches at the 20. Alabama has the ball with the chance to go ahead.
- Alabama had some momentum and was picking up yards, but back-to-back miscues with the snap kill the drive in its tracks.
- Alabama's offense has moved into Michigan territory.
- Freshman running back Justice Haynes takes his first carry for 9 yards.
HALFTIME: Michigan 13, Alabama 10
2nd Quarter
- The drive stalls, but Reichard nails a 50-yarder to cut into the lead and make the score 13-10. That was a good drive from Alabama that showed some flashes, with Milroe finally being let loose a little in the passing game.
- Alabama's offense has found a bit of rhythm, and is into Michigan territory.
- Michigan takes a 13-7 lead after Lawson gets beat on a crossing route for a touchdown, but the snap gets muffed on the extra point attempt. Alabama's offense needs to figure something out, and fast.
- Michigan pulls off an impressive trick play that was almost blown up, and moves into Alabama territory.
- In a field position battle like this one, Alabama should be very thankful Burnip wasn't seriously hurt on that hit. He is essential.
- The defenses are just trading three-and-outs, as Alabama still can't get anything on offense going.
- Alabama has given up as many sack yards (37) as total yards gained (37) so far this game.
- The Alabama defense forces a much-needed three-and-out, and the offense will have the chance to put some more points on the board.
- Alabama's offensive line is looking a lot more like it did in September than December. Milroe has already been sacked four times.
- Alabama gets a hug stop on third down, and Downs fair catches the punt inside the Alabama 25.
1st Quarter
- The first quarter ends with a 7-7 tie. Michigan has a third-and-long coming up.
- Milroe scrambles on 3rd-and-long, but he slides down short of the first down bringing up an Alabama punt.
- Michigan answers with a really nice drive with a lot of really well-designed play calls. A Corum receiving touchdown makes the score 7-7.
- Corum busts a couple big runs and has Michigan near midfield.
- McClellan shakes a Michigan defender and scampers for a 34-yard rushing touchdown to give Alabama a 7-0 lead.
- Burnip's rugby-style punt makes Michigan's return man run up too fast to field it, and he muffs it. Alabama takes over in Michigan territory.
- Milroe takes two sacks in three plays, and Alabama goes three-and-out. Burnip will punt.
- Terrion Arnold gets a PBU on 3rd down, so Michigan will punt.
- Downs stepped out of bounds before the interception, so it is ruled an incomplete pass.
- On Michigan's first play of the game, Caleb Downs picks off McCarthy. Alabama takes over on the Michigan 30.
Pregame
- Alabama wins the toss and defers. Michigan will get the ball first.
- Proctor went back to taking first-team snaps during 11-on-11 before the team went back to the tunnel.
- Overhearing Jalen Milroe's speech to the team in the tunnel, he told them to play three ways: fast, free, and fearless.
- The crowd definitely feels to favor Michigan, probably about 65-35.
- Offensive lineman Elijah Pritchett is taking first team snaps in warmups. Typical starter Kadyn Proctor is with the twos.
- Defensive back Earl Little II is in sweats and no pads. Looks like he won’t be available.
- Alabama players have started taking the field to get loose.
- Today's officiating crew is from the Big 12:
- Referee: Michael Vandervelde
- Umpire: Robert Richeson
- Referee: Michael Vandervelde
- Head Linesman: Andy Warner
- Line Judge: Keith Garmond
- Back Judge: Daniel Young
- Field Judge: Gabriel DeLeon
- Side Judge: Fulton Carson
- Center Judge: Chris Talent
- Replay Official: Marcus Marsden
- The doors have been opened, and fans have started filing into the Rose Bowl.
- As we sit in the south press box at the Rose Bowl, faint sirens can be heard in the distance that could only mean one thing: the teams are close to arriving.
How To Watch: No. 1 Michigan vs No. 4 Alabama
Who: No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-1) vs. No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (13-0)
What: The College Football Playoff semifinal
Where: Rose Bowl (92.542), Pasadena, Calif.
When: Monday, 4 p.m. CT
TV: ESPN (Play-by-play Chris Fowler, Analyst Kirk Herbstreit, Sideline Laura Rutledge, Holly Rowe)
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network: (Play-by-play Chris Stewart, Analyst Tyler Watts, Sideline Roger Hoover)
National Radio: ESPN (Play-by-play: Joe Tessitore, Analyst Dusty Dvoracek, Sideline Quint Kessenich)
