Michigan football wins instant classic in Rose Bowl, clinches spot in national title game

The Michigan Wolverines are heading to the national championship game after a 27-20 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl, ending a six-game bowl losing streak and advancing to play the winner of Texas and Washington in the Sugar Bowl.

Below is the blow-by-blow game recap of an instant classic from Pasadena.

First quarter

Alabama won the coin toss and deferred its choice to the second half, giving Michigan the ball to start things out on offense. The opening kick was booted out of the end zone, giving U-M the ball at the 25-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw an interception to Alabama safety Caleb Downs, but it was overturned on review. Michigan would go three-and-out on offense anyways, punting down to the Alabama 38-yard line with 13:56 to go.

Michigan responded on defense by forcing a three-and-out of its own, boosted by sacks by Braiden McGregor and Josaiah Stewart. However, freshman Semaj Morgan muffed the punt, giving Alabama the ball back at U-M’s 44-yard line with 11:52 remaining. Four plays later, Bama’s Jase McLellan found the end zone on a 34-yard run, giving the Crimson Tide a 7-0 lead with 9:41 to go in the first quarter after the extra point.

Needing a drive to regain some momentum and settle down, the Michigan offense stepped up in a big way on a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped off by an 8-yard touchdown pass from McCarthy to Blake Corum. After the extra point, the Rose Bowl was tied at 7-7 with 4:23 left in the first quarter. The Wolverines forced a three-and-out on the next drive, and Alabama punted down to the U-M 19-yard line with 2:49 to go. At the end of the quarter, Michigan was facing a third-and-9 from its own 39-yard line.

Michigan 7, Alabama 7

Second quarter

Alabama and Michigan started the quarter with dueling three-and-outs. The Crimson Tide next took over at the Michigan 30-yard line with 10:50 to go in the half. After Bama mustered three quick plays and just two yards, the Wolverines took back over on their own 17-yard line with 8:19 remaining. Eight plays and 83 yards later, U-M took its first-ever lead in the CFP with a 38-yard touchdown from McCarthy to Tyler Morris, the first score of his career. The extra-point snap was botched, leaving Michigan with a 13-7 lead with 3:44 left in the half.

Alabama put a drive together right before halftime, going 52 yards in 10 plays and drawing a little closer with a 50-yard field goal, narrowing the deficit to 13-10 in favor of the Wolverines heading into the locker room.

Michigan 13, Alabama 10

Third quarter

Alabama started the second half with the ball on offense and had a drive going, but a pair of bad snaps by the center derailed the drive and gave U-M the ball for the first time in the half from its own 13-yard line. Six plays and 21 yards later, Michigan punted it back to the Crimson Tide down to their 21-yard line with 5:58 left in the quarter. The Wolverines forced a three-and-out, then followed it up with one of their own on offense. After a poor U-M punt, Alabama took back over on its own 45-yard line with 3:44 to go in the third.

With Alabama driving down to the 21-yard line of Michigan, the clock expired on the quarter leaving 15 more minutes to decide a trip to the national title game.

Michigan 13, Alabama 10

Fourth quarter

Alabama jumped back ahead two plays into the fourth quarter on a two-yard touchdown run from McLellan, his second of the game. After the extra point, the Tide led 17-13 with 14:30 to go. It went 55 yards in eight plays.

Michigan responded with a three-and-out on offense, punting back to Alabama. Two plays later, quarterback Jalen Milroe fumbled the ball to Michigan, who took over at its 49-yard line with 12:47 to go. Michigan was able to get the ball down to the Alabama 31-yard line, but James Turner missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. The score would stay 17-13 Alabama with 10:30 to go.

Alabama went 35 yards in nine plays and got a 52-yard field goal out of it, extending the lead to 20-13 with 4:41 to play. The Wolverines responded with the drive of their season, going 75 yards in eight plays and tying the game on a touchdown pass from McCarthy to Roman Wilson from four yards out. Turner’s extra point was good, tying the game at 20 with 1:34 to go.

The Michigan defense got its stop, setting up a potential game-winning drive. However, a punt that was muffed and recovered at the 1-yard line forced U-M to kneel it out and force overtime.

Michigan 20, Alabama 20

Overtime

Alabama won the toss and decided to start on defense, giving Michigan the ball first from the 25-yard line. A few plays later, Corum scored a touchdown to put the Wolverines ahead 27-20. Alabama was able to get the ball down to the 3-yard line, but was stuffed on fourth down, clinching the victory and trip to Houston.

FINAL: Michigan 27, Alabama 20

Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl box score, final stats