Michigan escapes Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl in CFP semifinals (2024)

No. 1 Michigan outlasted No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in the Rose Bowl thanks to a fourth-down stop in overtime. With the win, the Wolverines win their first ever College Football Playoff game and advance to the CFP title game.

Michigan's defense and the front-seven stepped up in the game's final moment stalling Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on a quarterback power run. The Wolverine defense finished with six sacks and 10 tackles for loss while keeping Milroe out of the endzone all game long.

Michgan overcame special teams miscues throughout the night, whether it was a two muffed punts at the start and end of regulation and missed kicks. Michigan Quarterback J.J. McCarthy earned Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game honors after completing 63 percent of his passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

It's the first time there's been three straight seasons in Nick Saban's tenure at Alabama without a championship. This is just the 2nd time since 2005 that the national title game will not feature an SEC team. Click or tap here for stats from the game.

Blake Corum broke the Michigan all-time rushing touchdown record with the first score of overtime. Corum used a jump cut before breaking through multiple arm tackles on his way to the end zone. Alabama will have a chance to match Michigan's score in the first overtime.

BLAKE CORUM IS PHENOMENAL#PMSCFBRoseBowl pic.twitter.com/bFBxTe2Mkz

See Also

Michigan knocks down Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff championship gameMission Accomplished: U-M takes Down No. 2 Washington to Capture CFP National Championship - University of Michigan AthleticsMichigan vs. Purdue score, highlights: Wolverines grab easy 41-13 win

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson for the game-tying touchdown, with the extra point — important since the Wolverine kicking game has struggled all night — being good. The eight-play, 75-yard drive was bolstered by two chunk passes from J.J. McCarthy of 35 yards to Blake Corum and 29 yards to Roman Wilson.

#1 comes through clutch!#GoBlue | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Hjtz7TXn1p

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 2, 2024

Alabama will take over possession with 1:34 on the clock, one timeout and a kicker that is capable of making field goals of over 50 yards.

Alabama kicker Will Reichard made his fifth 50-plus-yard field goal of the season and second of the Rose Bowl, drilling a 52-yard attempt to push Alabama's lead to seven points in the fourth quarter. The Tide lead 20-13 with less than five minutes to play.

Will Reichard is as true as the day is long#PMSCFBRoseBowl pic.twitter.com/uyoFJ9Laia

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024

Michigan defensive back Quentin Johnson stripped Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on a scramble, forcing the first takeaway for the Wolverine defense. Michigan takes possession with great field position at its own 49-yard line.

However, Michigan couldn't capitalize off the turnover, missing a 49-yard field goal attempt.

JALEN MILROE FUMBLES AND MICHIGAN RECOVERS 😳

📺: ESPN | #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/ILLsa1W1mI

— ESPN (@espn) January 2, 2024

It took Alabama two plays to bounce back from a scoreless third quarter as running back Jase McClellan scored his second touchdown of the day, this time from three yards out. The Crimson Tide leads 17-13 after the impressive eight-play drive.

Championship type DRIVE 🔥

Its getting tight in the Rose Bowl pic.twitter.com/3b3XFLQVBD

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 2, 2024

The third quarter of the Rose Bowl was scoreless. Michigan and Alabama had two drives each, with every drive ending in a punt and one drive per team ending in a three-and-out.

Alabama did find success on its final drive of the third quarter and will return to start the fourth quarter in the middle of a drive that's gone six plays and 39 yards to the Michigan 16-yard line before a false start. When play resumes, Alabama will face a second-and-15 at the Michigan 21-yard line down three points.

Jalen Milroe with a MASSIVE gain#PMSCFBRoseBowl pic.twitter.com/XTwjgWbOj0

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 2, 2024

No. 1 Michigan leads No. 4 Alabama 13-10 at halftime. Just before the break Alabama kicker Will Reichard kicked a 50-yard field goal — his fourth 50-plus yard make of the year — to cut the deficit to three points.

WILL REICHARD FROM 50 YARDS

WHAT A DAWG #PMSCFBRoseBowl pic.twitter.com/vebUSjAiPP

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 1, 2024

Michigan dominated the first half, limiting Alabama to just 96 offensive yards while sacking Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe five times, pressuring him another three times on 15 total drop backs.

BIG TEN PHYSICALITY 💪

Michigan already has 4 sacks on Jalen Milroe pic.twitter.com/AHxT5VDGRD

— College Football Report (@CFBRep) January 1, 2024

While Michigan's offense has found success with 197 total yards, it's special teams miscues from the Wolverines that has the Rose Bowl at a three-point margin at half. Alabama's only touchdown drive came after a muffed punt and Michigan left one point on the board by botching the snap on an extra point attempt. Click or tap here for stats from the game.

Michigan wide receiver Tyler Morris scored his first touchdown of the year, beating Alabama's man-to-man coverage on a crossing route before out-racing the Tide defense up the sideline into the endzone. While Michigan failed to convert the extra point, the Wolverines still have their first lead ever in their three College Football Playoff appearances.

TYLER MORRIS💨

pic.twitter.com/yyDVbjpucZ

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 1, 2024

The highlight of the drive came when a double-pass from Michigan nearly broke big as quarterback J.J. McCarthy found wide receiver Roman Wilson for a 20-yard gain. Check out the trick play below.

What a crazy play by Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Catches the bad pass with one hand, throws the ball as he's about to get rocked, and connects with his receiver. pic.twitter.com/ysgoX6lVgT

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2024

Touchdowns by each team's running back have us all tied at seven after a competitive first quarter. It is Michigan ball to begin the second quarter.

End of the 1st Quarter!#RollTide pic.twitter.com/QHbnbuwFFq

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 1, 2024

Michigan's offense finds some success with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to even the score at seven. Superstar running back Blake Corum had five touches on the drive, including the touchdown, where he caught a eight-yard pass and waltzed into the end zone for the score.

Wide open for six! pic.twitter.com/v9GUrI51oI

— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 1, 2024

Alabama running back Jase McClellan scored the first points of the college football playoff, running 34 yards — and juking a Michigan safety out of his cleats — for a touchdown. McClellan's scored followed a fourth-down conversion from Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe that kept the Alabama drive alive.

JASE MCCLELLAN AND BAMA STRIKE FIRST IN PASADENA‼️#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/KdmAVKPTr4

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2024

Michigan freshman punt returner Semaj Morgan muffed Alabama's first punt for the first turnover of the 2023 College Football Playoffs. Alabama recovered the ball at the Michigan 44-yard line.

BAMA RECOVERS THE MUFFED PUNT 😳#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/egw7R9mNEU

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2024