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WATCH: Reactions, analysis of Michigan's Rose Bowl win, natty showdown with Washington

Anthony Broomeby:Anthony Broome•01/02/24•

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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh waves at fans to celebrate a 27-20 Rose Bowl win over Alabama at the 2024 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

The Michigan Wolverines are heading to the program’s first national championship game in the BCS/College Football Playoff era after a 27-20 overtime win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl. It set up a showdown with Washington next Monday night in Houston for all the marbles.

TheWolverine.com’s Anthony Broome and former Michigan defensive lineman Ryan Van Bergen discussed the victory from Los Angeles and a program and era-defining win.

“I feel like I have six months of my life that I’ll never get back because of just how much stress I feel like I experienced there in the stands,” Van Bergen said. “But I mean, what an amazing team, what an amazing story. We didn’t play our best football today. I think we can probably agree that offensively we didn’t play our best. On special teams, everything but a disaster. 

“I kept telling my wife, ‘I don’t know how we’re this close. We shouldn’t even be in this game with some of the mishaps that we had. We have a trick play, a flea flicker that takes us out of field goal range and we missed that field goal, we missed an extra point.  We have so many things in a game versus Alabama and a game versus one of the best teams in the country where you make these mistakes, you lose the game and everybody knows that. But his team showed tremendous resilience, consistency, grit and heart. That was not a beautiful football game, but the result was absolutely beautiful. 

“Not a doubt in my mind, that’s the best game I’ve ever witnessed, the best game I’ve ever been a part of and I couldn’t be more excited for this team and what they were able to persevere through to get this win.”

Watch or listen to the full show above, on our YouTube channel or wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks to the sponsors of our Michigan postgame show

Homefield Apparel: Use code WOLVERINE23 for 15% off your first order from Homefield. https://www.homefieldapparel.com/

Lewis Jewelers: Visit them at their new location, 300 South Maple Road, Ann Arbor or online at LewisJewelers.com. http://bit.ly/LewisJewelersAnnArbor

The Vegas odds were already set shortly after Washington’s 37-31 win over Texas went final. According to the FanDuel Sportsbook, Michigan opens up as a five-point favorite with the over/under set at 54.5 points.

Michigan is 8-5 all-time against the Huskies with its most recent win coming as a 31-10 victory at the Big House on Sept. 11, 2021. Washington’s last victory in the series came in 2002 by a 31-29 margin. The teams will meet next season on Oct. 5 in Seattle.

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