Rose Bowl Preview: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama

The Rose Bowl matchup between Michigan and Alabama should be one of the best games of the 2023 college football season.

Author:
Christopher Breiler
Publish date:
Dec 15, 2023 5:06 PM EST

In this story:

The No. 1 ranked Michigan Wolverines continue to prepare for the upcoming Rose Bowl matchup against No. 4 ranked Alabama. In terms of how both teams have performed this season, the Wolverines and the Crimson Tide are fairly similar on both sides of the ball. Alabama features an offense that makes big plays, but Michigan features a defense that gives up the fewest points per game nationally.

It all adds up to what should be an incredible matchup when these two blue blood programs meet on Jan. 1 in Pasadena.

Michigan

Current Record: 13-0
Current winning streak: 13
Biggest win in 2023: vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Total Offense: No. 66
Scoring Offense: No. 14
Total Defense: No. 2
Scoring Defense: No. 1
CFP appearances: 2
CFP record: 0-2
CFP Semifinal record: 0-2
CFP National Championship record: N/A
Last National Championship: 1997

Alabama

Current Record: 12-1
Current winning streak: 11
Biggest win in 2023: vs. No. 1 Georgia
Total Offense: No. 53
Scoring Offense: No. 18
Total Defense: No. 18
Scoring Defense: No. 17
CFP appearances: 8
CFP record: 9-4
CFP Semifinal record: 6-1
CFP National Championship record: 3-3
Last National Championship: 2021

Although Michigan enters the matchup with the No. 1 ranking and a perfect 13-0 record, history favors Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide in this matchup. Under Saban's leadership, Alabama has never gone three years without winning a national championship in the CFP era. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in CFP appearances (8), CFP Semifinal wins (6), and CFP National Championships (3).

The Wolverines, on the other hand, have not been able to generate as much postseason success when compared to Alabama. Michigan is on the verge of making its third straight appearance in the CFP, but the previous two appearances both resulted in a loss (Georgia, 2021 - TCU, 2022). Jim Harbaugh has also struggled to win in the postseason during his time at Michigan, with a current bowl record of just 1-6 since 2015. In fact, Harbaugh's only bowl game victory occurred during his first season at Michigan, when the Wolverines defeated Florida in the Citrus Bowl.

Rose Bowl Game information: