Michigan defeats Alabama 27-20 in OT at Rose Bowl to advance to College Football Playoff National Championship

Michigan beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime in an absolute classic at the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Alabama struck first but it turned into a hard-hitting and physical affair over the course of the first half. The two winningest programs in college football history were pretty much expected to be evenly matched going into the game.

As it went back and forth, JJ McCarthy engineered a game tying drive in the fourth quarter after it looked like Alabama would pull away. However, the Wolverines kept fighting and prevailed in the end.

Here’s how it looked the whole night in Pasadena.

1st quarter: Alabama 7, Michigan 7

On the opening play from scrimmage, McCarthy threw an interception to Alabama star freshman defensive back Caleb Downs. However, Downs’ foot was out of bounds and when he reestablished himself, he was the first person to touch the football.

With that, Michigan kept the ball and the offense let out a huge sigh of relief. However, the Wolverines punted and Alabama did the same on its opening possession.

After a muffed punt from Semaj Morgan, Alabama regained possession in Wolverine territory. Eventually, Jase McClellan put Alabama on the board first with a 34-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead.

The Wolverines answered on the ensuing drive. It included a key fourth down conversion from Blake Corum and he’d be involved later in the drive.

McCarthy found Corum on a beautiful misdirected pass and the star running back waltzed into the end zone from eight yards out and tied it up 7-7 with 4:23 remaining in the first quarter.

Alabama ended up punting on its next drive, but officials appeared to miss a running into the kicker call on the Crimson Tide’s punt. It would’ve resulted in a first down but instead, the Wolverines were back on offense.

2nd quarter: Michigan 13, Alabama 10

Michigan took its possession into the next frame but ended up punting in a 7-7 ball game, giving Milroe and the Crimson Tide offense another opportunity.

However, it was a brutal drive as Milroe was sacked on first and second down, leading to a three-and-out by Alabama, the third of the game.

The two squads would trade punts on the ensuing two possessions of the quarter.

Once Michigan got the ball back, the Wolverines opened up the bag of tricks. McCarthy would receive a backwards pass and find Roman Wilson for a 20 yard gain to the Alabama 38-yard line. Two plays later, McCarthy hit Tyler Morris for a 38-yard score as he tight roped the sideline.

The Wolverines would botch the extra point but hold a 13-7 lead with 3:49 to go in the half.

Milroe made some plays happen on the next drive for Alabama. Michigan lost contain of the dual threat quarterback on a 17-yard run, which got the Crimson Tide to the Michigan 32.

However, the Wolverines tightened up and Derrick Moore sacked Milroe with 14 seconds left in the half. Will Reichard made up for it though as he nailed a 50-yard field goal to cut the lead 13-10.

3rd quarter: Michigan 13, Alabama 10

The opening drive for Alabama was not too kind as multiple fumbles off bad snaps pushed the Crimson Tide to 3rd and 29 before they eventually punted to begin the quarter.

It looked like Michigan would get a long drive going, but McCarthy’s pass to Morris on a third and nine ended up short with the throw slightly off target and the receiver hitting the ground. Michigan would punt it back to Alabama.

The defenses controlled the next couple of series once again as both teams traded more punts from their own territory. Alabama was set up with great field position at its own 45 with 3:44 left in the third.

Milroe engineered a solid drive towards the end of the quarter. He meticulously got them down the field, including a completion to Isaiah Bond to get Alabama into the red zone. The third quarter clock expired with Alabama facing a 2nd and 10 from the Michigan 16-yard line.

4th quarter: Michigan 20, Alabama 20

Milroe started the quarter with an 18 yard line and then McClellan capped it off with a three-yard touchdown run. The Crimson Tide took a 17-13 lead.

On the next drive, Corum had a one yard run but McCarthy threw back-to-back incompletions to lead to another Wolverines punt and three-and-out.

Alabama stole the momentum and while driving at midfield, Milroe kept the football but was stripped and Michigan recovered.

McCarthy immediately completed a 20 yard pass to Roman Wilson to get them deeper into Alabama territory. A couple of plays later, Michigan botched a flea flicker to put it at 3rd and 17 at the Alabama 38. After a seven yard pickup, the Wolverines sent out the field goal unit.

However, James Turner missed the 49-yard attempt and the score remained 17-13 with 10:30 left in the game.

Milroe led Alabama down the field into Michigan territory. However, Braiden McGregor earned Michigan’s sixth sack of the game to force a field goal attempt.

But that’s when Reichard was clutch for the Crimson Tide as he nailed a 52-yarder to put Alabama up over Michigan 20-13 with 4:41 left.

On 4th and 2 on the ensuing drive, Michigan took a gamble. McCarthy found Corum wide open in the flat and he made it to the Alabama 32. However, a block in the back penalty moved it back to midfield.

McCarthy followed it up with a run of 16 yards back into Crimson Tide territory. Then, he found Wilson for a huge gain, getting down to the five-yard line.

Alabama called a timeout with 1:44 remaining following Wilson’s catch. It became gamesmanship after a Corum one yard run as the Crimson Tide spent their second timeout with 1:38 left.

On the very next play, McCarthy found Wilson for a four-yard touchdown and Michigan tied things up 20-20 with 1:34 left.

On Alabama’s next drive, Milroe got the offense to the 43 yard line, but faced 4th-and-4 on the wrong side of the field. Michigan spent its first timeout with 54 seconds left, forcing a point.

Jake Thaw would muff the punt and Michigan got backed up at the one yard line with 44 seconds left in a tie game. After a short gain, McCarthy then took a knee on second down but the Wolverines spent their second timeout, curiously.

The timeout was then revealed to be called before the kneel down, so McCarthy carefully did it again and sent the game to overtime.

Overtime: Michigan wins 27-20

It only took two plays to go 25 yards for Corum as Michigan got the ball first. He scored from 17 yards out to give the Wolverines a 27-20 lead and then switched to defense.

Then it was Alabama’s turn as Milroe got the Crimson Tide inside the 10-yard line. But back to back stops of McClellan, including a five-yard loss, pushed Alabama to third and goal from the 14 yard line.

Milroe found Jermaine Burton but he was short of the end zone and it was fourth and goal from the three yard line. The final play was a quarterback draw but Milroe was stuffed at the line after they called his number.

Michigan advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship for the first time.