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Urban Meyer is fired up to watch Alabama vs. Michigan in Rose Bowl CFP Semifinal

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•12/27/23
jalen-milroe-addresses-pressure-being-alabama-crimson-tide-starting-quarterback
jalen-milroe-addresses-pressure-being-alabama-crimson-tide-starting-quarterback

Alabama snuck into the College Football Playoff in the No. 4 spot, earning a berth against No. 1 Michigan by beating Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.

Now the Crimson Tide will get to take a whack at the Wolverines. And one college football analyst is fired up to see it.

“This will be a line of scrimmage game, which the Wolverines are really good at,” FOX analyst Urban Meyer said on Urban’s Take with Tim May. “I think this is a great balance, I was hoping that would be the matchup. I’m looking forward to watching this game because it’s two really good teams and two strength on strength.”

Meyer made one prediction for the game that will raise some eyebrows in certain corners.

“I think (Jalen) Milroe will be a big difference in that game,” Meyer said.

Few players in college football went on the kind of journey Milroe did during the 2023 season. He was the starter when the team opened up the year, only to lose his job two games in.

After the other quarterbacks also disappointed for the Crimson Tide, Milroe was given the reins once more. He’s controlled them tightly ever since, emerging even as a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate with his strong play.

Milroe threw for 2,718 yards and 23 touchdowns, while throwing just six interceptions. He also added 468 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground, proving to be a very difficult matchup problem as a dual-threat quarterback.

That ability might come in handy against Michigan.

Meyer’s certainly expecting it, and the former Ohio State and Florida coach certainly knows his football. After all, he watched the Alabama transformation this season just like everyone else.

“Alabama early in the year was not the Alabama that I remember watching and coaching against,” Meyer said. “However, excellent staff, one of the best rosters in college football. They benched the quarterback, who is Percy Harvin slash Curtis Samuel slash Reggie Bush playing quarterback. I mean he’s that good.”

Alabama and Michigan are set to square off in the first of two College Football Playoff semifinal games on New Year’s Day at 5 p.m. ET, with a national broadcast slated for ESPN.