Back at The Rose Bowl for the first time since 2007, the No. 1-ranked University of Michigan football team emerged victorious, defeating No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in overtime in a 2023 College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. With the win, Michigan earned a spot in its first CFP National Championship Game.
In overtime, the Crimson Tide won the coin toss and chose to defer, allowing U-M to work on offense first. It took running back Blake Corum only two plays to go the allotted 25 yards and score a touchdown on a 17-yard rush which included three broken tackles near the goal line, giving the Wolverines a 27-20 advantage.
On fourth down at the U-M three-yard line, Alabama needed a scoring play to extend the game on its overtime possession. U-M defensive lineman Josaiah Stewart came up with a tackle, holding the Tide short of the goal line to secure a theatrical Rose Bowl win.
Down seven points with 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines put together their most important scoring drive of the season, marching 75 yards on just eight plays. Three straight plays of at least 16 yards took the Wolverines the length of the field and set up a four-yard passing touchdown from quarterback J.J. McCarthy to wide receiver Roman Wilson, tying the game at 20 apiece with 1:34 on the clock after a converted extra point attempt. The score was preceded by a 29-yard reception resulting from a leaping grab by Wilson.
Back on defense, the Maize and Blue came up with a crucial late-game stop, forcing a punt and overtime.
In the program's first bowl game victory since 2016, Michigan shined in the trenches, with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss -- both season highs -- proving to be a difference maker in the game. Edge rusher Braiden McGregor led the charge with two sacks.
The Wolverines also recorded a turnover in the fourth quarter when defensive back Quinten Johnson recorded his first career forced fumble recovered by Josh Wallace.
On offense, U-M compiled 351 total yards, in which much could be attributed to McCarthy's 17-for-27, 221-yard, three-touchdown effort. Corum compiled 118 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the win.
The semifinal matchup opened with a pair of punts followed by scoring drives from each side. The first, a 34-yard Alabama rushing touchdown, was set up by special teams turnover to give the Crimson Tide the ball in Michigan territory. On the subsequent drive, U-M marched 75 yards on 10 plays, culminating in an eight-yard Corum receiving score -- his first touchdown through the air this season -- to tie the game.
A scoring drought ensued, with the teams trading punts on five straight drives, but ended with 3:49 remaining in the first half on a 38-yard touchdown connection between McCarthy and Tyler Morris -- his first career touchdown and longest reception -- along the Alabama sideline. The eight-play, 84-yard drive included a flea flicker play where a pressured McCarthy connected with Wilson on a 20-yard pass.
Due to a botched snap on the extra point try and a 50-yard Alabama field goal with seven seconds remaining, the first half closed with a 13-10 Michigan advantage. The Wolverines held the Tide to just 96 total yards through the first two frames.
Michigan and Alabama continued to trade third-down stops in a scoreless third quarter, recording four straight punts. Both defenses saw great success on third down throughout the afternoon, holding the opposing offenses to 2-of-11 and 3-of-13 on third-down conversions, respectively.
The Crimson Tide rushed on seven of eight plays during a four-minute touchdown drive which culminated in a three-yard rushing score. This gave Alabama a 17-13 lead, marking the first time the Wolverines trailed in a second half this season.
Despite forcing a fumble on the Tide's next drive and starting with opportune field position, the Wolverines failed to capitalize, missing a 49-yard field goal attempt. Alabama responded with a field goal make of its own (52 yards) to extend the lead to seven points with just 4:41 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Wolverines will face either No. 2 Washington or No. 3 Texas in the CFP National Championship Game next Monday (Jan. 8), at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CST, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
