Rose Bowl Review

and some National Championship insight

Michigan vs Alabama: the stakes are nothing short of enormous, as these historically successful programs converge in the Rose Bowl Playoff Game, each vying for a coveted spot in college football history. Both teams carry the weight of storied legacies, with Michigan seeking redemption after recent near-misses in the previous seasons, while Alabama, perennial contenders, aim to add another chapter to their illustrious dynasty. 

Michigan football achieved a historic triumph against Alabama, a significant win that marked a redemption after falling short in the College Football Playoff for the past two seasons.

Amidst various negative narratives surrounding the Wolverines, skepticism persisted that their success was just a byproduct of an easy Big Ten schedule. Doubters argued that the SEC's prowess would easily overpower a Big Ten team like Michigan. The team also carried the weight of an infamous sign-stealing scandal. This adversity fueled a determination within the team to prove their worth, with or without the controversy.

The game itself was marred by early mistakes. Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy narrowly avoided a major blunder on the first play, attempting to throw away a pass, but was picked off by an Alabama defender, Caleb Downs. Luckily, the Wolverines caught a break, as Downs had stepped out of bounds prior to his big play. 

Although the offense initially struggled, yielding possession to Alabama, Michigan's defense rose to the occasion. Relentless pressure on Milroe forced a quick punt, only for a mishandled return by Semaj Morgan to gift the Crimson Tide an early score.

Despite early setbacks, Michigan countered and orchestrated a flawless drive to level the score at 7. They capped it off with a beautifully run play, using tons of misdirection to confuse the defense, resulting in Blake Corum catching a pass out of the backfield. He then easily made it to the end zone for the score. 

The Wolverines' defense continued to disrupt Milroe, securing five sacks in the first half. Jalen Milroe often dropped way too far in the pocket, and the defense took advantage. Yet, Michigan’s offensive output was limited, and they failed to capitalize on their excellent field position. However, the Wolverines finally threw another punch, with an excellent touchdown from the speedster Tyler Morris, who outran the entire Bama defense. There was a narrative that the Big 10 couldn’t handle the speed of the SEC, and this play proved it to be false. However, this big play was overshadowed by a botched extra point.

Alabama put together another drive to end the half, resulting in a field goal. The halftime score of 13-10 favored the Wolverines, but considering the defensive dominance, the margin should have been more pronounced.

With only a 3-point deficit, Alabama made crucial adjustments. Coach Nick Saban recognized the vulnerability of Milroe in the pocket and implemented a strategic shift. Utilizing a barrage of Run/Pass Option plays, the Tide kept the Michigan defense guessing and enabled Milroe to contribute to the running game, resulting in a score that handed them a 4-point lead.

Michigan's offense struggled in the third quarter, repeatedly punting as they appeared out of sync. Entering the fourth quarter, Alabama extended their lead with a field goal, creating a 7-point gap. It looked as though Nick Saban had outcoached Harbaugh. 

It wasn’t until the very end of the game that the Wolverine offense started to play well. With 3 minutes left in the game, Michigan faced the challenge of mounting a game-tying drive, needing to defy the odds for a shot at victory.

Faced with a 4th and 2 in their own half, Jim Harbaugh decided to roll the dice and go for it. Yet again, they used misdirection to confuse the Tide, allowing Corum to catch a pass for a huge gain. JJ McCarthy then floated a ball to Roman Wilson, and even after it was tipped, he made a spectacular catch to put the Wolverines inside the 5 yard line. They then tied up the game, with Roman Wilson taking the ball in for a score. 

The Michigan defense stifled Alabama, and forced them to punt. Learning from earlier struggles, the Wolverines entrusted Jake Thaw with the punt-catching duty due to his consistent performance throughout the season. However, under pressure, Thaw fumbled the ball, only to recover it on the half-yard line. Opting for a conservative approach, the Wolverines decided against further risks, kneeling the ball to force the game into overtime.

The biggest game of the season, on the biggest stage, was going into overtime. The stakes were at an all-time high. Michigan started with the ball, and went to Corum right away. Then, on his second attempt, he broke several tackles, and spun his way into the end-zone on a miraculous run. Over the course of the season, Blake Corum had always found a way to score when Michigan needed it most. Against both Penn State and Ohio State, we saw similar plays right in front of our eyes. With this run, Corum had broken the record of most rushing touchdowns scored in Michigan history.

Facing the need for a touchdown to stay in the game, Alabama's Milroe advanced to the 10-yard line. However, Michigan's defense surged to life, executing two stellar plays in succession and pushing the Tide to a 3rd and Goal from the 14. Milroe connected with star WR Jermaine Burton, bringing them to the 3-yard line. The pivotal moment arrived with a 4th and 3, a make-or-break situation. In a decisive play, Coach Saban entrusted his star player, Jalen Milroe, who attempted a run up the middle, and was promptly stopped by a fired up defensive line. Michigan had won.

This game signified a turning point for the Wolverines. Everyone believed that they weren’t good enough to win the big games. They weren’t good enough to beat an SEC team. But at the biggest moment, with the whole world watching, Michigan managed to advance to the Championship. 

I write this 3 hours before the National Championship. Now, Michigan stands on the brink, facing the undefeated Washington Huskies with the title at stake. We haven’t had an outright championship in decades. Washington poses a formidable threat, led by the highly skilled Michael Penix Jr, arguably the best passer in the country, supported by two NFL-caliber receivers and the nation's top offensive line. Their offensive prowess has been unrivaled, but Michigan's defense stands as a formidable obstacle.

While Washington has dominated against most defenses this season, their toughest test came against Oregon, whose passing defense ranked around 50th. In contrast, Michigan boasts the second-ranked pass defense in the country, offering a unique challenge for the Huskies.

On the defensive front, Washington is comparatively less formidable. Michigan's path to victory hinges on executing sustained, time-consuming drives to limit Penix's time on the field. If Michigan can thwart the Huskies' quick-scoring capabilities, victory is within reach.

This moment signifies the pinnacle of the season—the Wolverines have a mere 60 minutes to affirm their status as the best team in the country. The challenge is clear, and the stage is set for an epic showdown.