PASADENA, CA — It took overtime to decide who would play for a national championship between the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide at the Rose Bowl on Monday afternoon, January 1. A failed 4th down and goal attempt by Alabama in the overtime period decided the winner as Michigan advanced to its first title game since 1997 in the 27-20 win.
Michigan vs. Alabama
(Credit: twitter.com/UMichFootball)
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with multiple lead changes throughout the contest. Michigan tied the game with a touchdown with less than two minutes to play. Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy hit wide receiver Roman Wilson for a 4-yard pass to knot the score at 20-20. The Wolverines’ defense forced a punt to send the game to overtime after that.
Michigan’s running back Blake Corum did all the work himself during the first overtime period. His first carry pushed the Wolverines to the 17-yard line before he sprinted the final distance on 2nd down. Michigan took the lead 27-20 and was on the verge of a national championship berth.
Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide had a final chance to tie the game but fell short inside the 10-yard line. After Alabama reached the 3-yard line, the Crimson Tide faced a 4th and goal to go. A low snap killed any momentum Alabama had at the start of the play, and the Wolverines crashed the box to stuff Alabama’s chances at another National Championship, 27-20.
Michigan will play the winner of the Washington and Texas game played at 8 p.m. on Monday night. The National Championship game is on Monday, January 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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