ESPN NEWS: Michigan head coach expressed words of gratitude to his team as Michigan rallies back, advances to CFP National Championship with overtime victory over Alabama

For Michigan, the second half had not gone well. The offense had not scored a single point through 26 minutes of play, and in the latter portion of the fourth quarter, a three-point advantage at halftime became a seven-point deficit. Michigan needed a drive to tie the game, and as there were eleven men on the field, it was reasonable to say that it was a legacy drive for the team’s many seasoned heroes, including Roman Wilson, Blake Corum, JJ McCarthy, and the rest of the offensive line. To tie the game, they had to make plays. They would. After a short while, Michigan’s defense needed to make one stop to win the game with the score at 27-20. Indeed, they did.

With everything on the line, this Michigan squad went deeper than they had any other time this season, facing their own mistakes and inner demons to overcome #4 Alabama and win the 110th Rose Bowl Game, 27-20. Wilson and Corum scored touchdowns late in the game to give Michigan the lead, and the defense stopped two consecutive Alabama possessions that could have tied or won the game because this seasoned Wolverine squad had the answers. Michigan got to inflict their own kind of misery on the legendary Crimson Tide 366 days after they suffered one themselves at the hands of TCU in the 2022 semifinals. With a 14-0 record, Michigan is on its way to the National Championship Game.

Imagine a less than ideal BPONE beginning to the game than what almost happened on the first play from scrimmage. After taking the snap, JJ McCarthy rolled to his right and kept the ball in an attempt to find Cornelius Johnson, even though Roman Wilson was wide open for free yards. McCarthy sent the ball to Alabama safety Caleb Downs, who toe-tapped for an interception deep in Michigan territory, even though Johnson was not open. Disaster… or not. Shortly after, it was discovered that Downs had never set foot back in the field of play after taking a step out of bounds just before collecting the ball, rendering the pass incomplete. Michigan received a pass.

The drive that came after Michigan received their gift of a mulligan was a bust. Semaj Morgan was tackled quickly after the Wolverines ran a short screen to him with TEs blocking in front of him. After setting up a third and eight, McCarthy threw short of the sticks to AJ Barner, who was well-covered. The Bama defense easily picked off the ball. The Wolverine defense had to step up to correct the early mismatch in the offense, which is exactly what happened. During Alabama’s first drive, Jalen Milroe was sacked twice by Michigan, once by Braiden McGregor and once by Josaiah Stewart, forcing a hasty three-and-out.

Then came the mistake that did count—a terrible one. Semaj Morgan raced forward to field a relatively short kick that Alabama punter James Burnip lofted, sensing a good return. Morgan never managed to secure the catch and placed the ball on the ground; perhaps he had his eyes turned downfield too soon. Alabama makes a comeback and wins at the Michigan 44. With excellent field position at their disposal, the Tide worked out a first down on the ground. Later, Mike Sainristil blew a tackle on Jase McClelland, who was racing down the field and into the end zone, while the right side of Alabama’s offensive line buckled under the Michigan defensive line. 7-0 Alabama, and about the worst start Michigan could have had in the first five minutes.

The offense had to step up with the squad in disarray, and Michigan’s offensive line did just that with a masterfully planned drive from offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore that employed a variety of ploys to confuse Alabama’s defense. After a brilliant pitch play to Blake Corum, who scored 21, there was a planned run for JJ McCarthy, who won 7 games on 3 and 8. On 4th and 1, Michigan set up Bama for a first down. Two plays later, Kalel Mullings ran a route that matched up on an end line, which McCarthy saw and targeted for 19. Following a jet sweep to Morgan and a toss to Corum, who was wide open underneath for a walk-in touchdown, Michigan was able to move the ball into the red zone in just two plays. 7–7 draw.

The Alabama offense’s third drive resembled their first in terms of complete dominance by the Michigan defense. After a brief incompletion and a stuffed-down run, pressure ultimately caused Milroe to scramble and fall short of the line to gain. Another punt after three outs. When Kechaun Bennett connected with the Alabama punter, who tried his best to sell the call, Michigan did seem to be off the hook on the punt. The Wolverines grabbed control because the referees didn’t buy it. When Max Bredeson was called for a personal foul for jumping on the player he had been blocking and making helmet-to-helmet contact, they were building another strong drive close to midfield. That negated a first-down score and converted it to a second-and-11 due to an unrelated foul. Despite the loss, Michigan managed to reach fourth and one, but they chose to punt on their half of the field.

However, the Bama offensive is still without success. On the first down, Mike Barrett sacked Milroe, and on the second down, Kris Jenkins sacked Milroe. On a third and twenty-three play, Michigan gave up a 12-yard quarterback draw to Milroe and were forced to punt again. The absence of an efficient McCarthy in Michigan’s offense hindered their subsequent effort. Alex Orji’s run gave them four yards on first down, but McCarthy airmailed a pass to an open Cornelius Johnson across the field. McCarthy targeted Roman Wilson on third and six, but the ball dropped incomplete because Wilson was not open. Make a pun.

The effort to stay defensive went on. After Michigan stopped Alabama from scoring on first and second downs, Mike Sainristil detected a mistake on a third-and-nine Milroe keeper, forcing another Alabama punt. After a prolonged period of defensive dominance, Michigan regained possession of the ball and started what would turn out to be a significantly busier game for the two sides. Blake Corum churned out yards to get Michigan started, then McCarthy hit Colston Loveland with a missile that went 12 yards over the middle. Donovan Edwards then threw a double pass laterally across the field to McCarthy as Michigan dialed up a play. Dallas Turner, the star of Alabama EDGE, was bearing down on McCarthy as he had to catch his ball, take a step back, and make the throw since it was almost too high. Amazingly, JJ succeeded in doing so, completing Wilson’s pass deep into Alabama territory.
Disaster avoided, Michigan had to face a third and 10 after running it twice ineffectively. After dropping back, McCarthy found Tyler Morris, a former high school buddy, suited up on a crossing pattern. Morris gained the first down and then cut upfield along the right sideline. Morris scampered inside the pylon, making sure his feet stayed within. Michigan scores a touchdown on a play that uncannily mimics Erick All’s two-year-ago touchdown against Penn State. Regrettably, Tommy Doman failed to control the extra-point snap, allowing it to get by him and eliminating the possibility of a converted PAT. This continued Michigan’s disastrous special teams performance in the first half. Instead, Michigan was ahead 13–7.

With less than four minutes remaining in the first half, Alabama got the ball and put together their strongest drive to start the game. Jalen Milroe and Isaiah Bond put up outstanding individual efforts to get things moving, with Milroe throwing a terrific pass into a narrow window and Bond making a fantastic reception along the sideline. With 29 yards gained, that forced Bama to punt close to midfield. After three plays, the Tide had a third and five, which McClellan converted on a run to give the team the yards needed to move the sticks. On the second down of the subsequent series, Jalen Milroe’s legs were heavily involved as he scrambled for 17 yards, but that was when the drive fell flat. Eventually, Michigan forced Alabama to throw a third and three, and Milroe dropped back to pass. This time, he didn’t anticipate the rush and was crushed by Derrick Moore as he came unchecked off the edge. Despite being tackled at the 32-yard line, experienced kicker Will Reichard remained unfazed as he skillfully placed a 50-yard field goal between the uprights. Michigan led 13-10 at halftime.

After making the dubious choice to return the kickoff, the Crimson Tide were pinned deep in their own territory and managed to get the ball out of halftime. During this drive, Alabama’s offensive line started to counterattack on the ground, and the Tide began to move the ball with astonishing ease. Justice Haynes, a rare blue-chip rookie back, saw some ground work and gained nine and eleven yards in back-to-back runs that were sandwiched around a Milroe incompletion. A few plays later, McClellan gained nine, moving Alabama into Michigan territory. Though the drive would be ruined by Alabama’s own actions—the long-standing snapping issues of center Seth McLaughlin raising their ugly heads—the reeling Wolverines would escape with their lives. On third and 29, McLaughlin botched two consecutive snaps that resulted in a loss of 19 yards, and Alabama raised the white flag by punting and rushing the ball.