It’s been nine years in the making, but Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines will finally get to stand on college football’s biggest stage.
In a hard-fought Rose Bowl contest that concluded without a clear winner in regulation, Michigan’s running back Blake Corum emerged as the hero by scoring the decisive touchdown in overtime. Corum’s impressive 17-yard rushing play secured a 27-20 victory, granting Michigan the opportunity to compete in the College Football Playoff championship. This historic win represents Michigan’s inaugural triumph in a CFP game. The team is now poised to face the winner of the Washington-Texas matchup in the national title game scheduled for January 8th.
In a deadlock at 20 with 1:34 remaining in regulation, Alabama faced a challenge advancing beyond its own 43-yard line. The situation intensified when James Burnip’s powerful 51-yard punt for Alabama, following a Michigan fumble and subsequent recovery, positioned the Wolverines on their own 1-yard line. Opting for a cautious approach, Michigan took a knee to conclude regulation and set the stage for the overtime period.
For Michigan, quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Corum added 83 yards and the game-winning touchdown on the ground to go with an earlier receiving score. Three different receivers put up points for Michigan on the day.
Alabama running back Jase McClellan played a pivotal role, contributing both of the Tide’s touchdowns. Quarterback Jalen Milroe further bolstered the offensive effort with 116 passing yards on 16-of-23 completions and an additional 63 rushing yards. the Michigan Wolverines
The victory propels the Wolverines to a 2-6 record in bowl appearances under Coach Harbaugh. On the other side, Alabama finds itself excluded from only the fourth national title game of the modern College Football Playoff era. This marks only the second instance since 2005 that an SEC school will not be part of the championship matchup.