On New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl, No. 4 Alabama fell to the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines by a score of 27-20 in overtime in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. The game was closely contested, with both teams displaying comparable performance across various categories.
Alabama’s offensive effort saw them accumulate 288 total yards and control the ball for 32 minutes and 19 seconds. On the other side, the Wolverines finished with 351 total yards and 27 minutes and 41 seconds of possession.
Jase McClellan led Alabama’s rushing attack, gaining 87 yards on 14 carries and scoring two touchdowns. The ground game, contributing to a total of 172 yards, also featured Jalen Milroe with 63 yards and Justice Haynes with 31 yards.
Milroe added 116 passing yards on 16-of-23 attempts, totaling 179 yards of offense. Receivers Isaiah Bond (47 yards) and Jermaine Burton (21 yards) each caught four passes.
Defensively, Caleb Downs recorded 14 tackles and a pass breakup, while Kool-Aid McKinstry and Deontae Lawson contributed with 10 tackles and six tackles, respectively, along with pass breakups.
Alabama, participating in its eighth Rose Bowl, holds a 5-2-1 record in all-time Rose Bowl games. Head coach Nick Saban suffered his first College Football Playoff Semifinal loss since 2014, breaking a six-game winning streak in Semifinals.
Kicker Will Reichard made two field goals in the game, surpassing Leigh Tiffin as the school’s all-time career field goal leader with 84 career field goals. Reichard also concludes his career as the NCAA’s all-time scoring leader with 547 career points.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter:
– Jase McClellan’s 34-yard run gave Alabama an early lead.
– J.J. McCarthy’s eight-yard pass to Blake Corum tied the score for Michigan.
Second Quarter:
– McCarthy’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Morris gave Michigan its first lead.
– Will Reichard’s 50-yard field goal closed the first half, narrowing the gap for Alabama.
Fourth Quarter:
– McClellan’s three-yard rush regained the lead for Alabama.
– Reichard’s 52-yard field goal extended Alabama’s lead.
– McCarthy’s four-yard pass to Roman Wilson tied the game, sending it to overtime.
Overtime:
– Corum’s 17-yard rushing touchdown secured the victory for Michigan.
– Alabama failed to score.
