Michigan defeated Alabama for a 27-20 victory in the Rose Bowl on Monday for their first College Football Playoff victory under head coach Jim Harbaugh and a chance to play for the national title.
The game nearly became a nightmare from the opening snap for the Wolverines after quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage. The play was overturned after it was deemed Crimson Tide freshman Caleb Downs had been out of bounds, but the offense still couldn’t capitalize on the break with points. After a muffed punt three minutes later led to Alabama’s first touchdown, it seemed like the game could teeter away from Michigan.
The Wolverines defensive line answered the call and absolutely dominated the first two quarters, however. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe dropped back to pass 15 times in the first half and got sacked five times as the Wolverines’ defense mixed pressures and brought blitzers from everywhere in the front seven.
The Michigan offense started to churn late in the first quarter, too. Star running back Blake Corum, who had an FBS-leading 24 touchdowns this season, ran for 51 yards on nine carries and caught an eight-yard touchdown for the Wolverines’ first touchdown. A few possessions later, wide receiver Tyler Morris caught an underneath crossing route from McCarthy and raced 38 yards to the end zone, and Michigan had the lead.
The Wolverines bungled the extra point to keep the lead just 13-7, however. Despite Michigan outgaining Alabama 197-96 in the first quarter and converting nine of the game’s 14 first downs, a Crimson Tide field goal in the closing seconds of the second quarter left the lead at just three points.
Both teams traded punts for the entire third quarter, each trying to gain the upper hand in the field position game before Alabama’s offense finally struck again. The Crimson Tide got the ball near midfield and, after a few first downs, an 18-yard rumble from Milroe up the middle inside the 5-yard line set up an easy Jace McClellan rushing touchdown to take a 17-13 lead.
After another Michigan punt, it looked like the Crimson Tide offense had a chance to put the game out of reach, but Milroe fumbled on Alabama’s opening drive to inject life into the Michigan sideline. After a failed flea flicker lost seven yards on the ensuing drive, however, the Wolverines missed a field goal that would have made it a one-point game.
After Alabama kicker Will Reichard made his second field goal from 50 yards away or farther, Michigan’s offense had fewer than five minutes to find a game-tying touchdown.
They delivered.
McCarthy found Corum for a huge gain on fourth down before star wide receiver Roman Wilson took over the drive. He made a leaping catch to get Michigan into the red zone before catching the game-tying touchdown on a flat route.
In overtime, Michigan’s offense ran through Corum. The star runner traveled all 25 yards of the opening overtime possession in just two carries, breaking about 50 tackles on his way to the end zone. Alabama tried to sneak Milroe up the middle on fourth down, but the Wolverines’ defensive line stuffed the Crimson Tide quarterback to cement the comeback.
The Wolverines will await the winner of the Sugar Bowl between Washington and Texas to play for the national title.