In an era of high-scoring and spread offenses, Michigan and Alabama found themselves in a throw-back, ground-and-pound, defensive battle in the 2024 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential. And fittingly, an overtime defensive, goal-line stand earned Michigan a 27-20 win, and a trip to the CFP National Championship.

On the second play in overtime, Michigan running back Blake Corum bounced a run to the left, followed great blocking, broke a tackle and pirouetted into the end zone to give Michigan a 27-20 lead.
Alabama's overtime possession came down to fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line. Quarterback Jalen Milroe corralled a low shotgun snap and surged ahead, but was stopped at the two-yard line, sending the Michigan sideline and the Maize and Blue faithful into pandemonium.

Throughout the Rose Bowl Game, the Wolverines' swarming defense kept the Crimson Tide passing attack in check. Michigan tallied six sacks in the game with pressure coming from all areas of the field.

Alabama struck first with a 34-yard run by running back Jase McLellan to score the game's first points. Michigan immediately responded with a touchdown on the next drive, then added a score midway through the second quarter, but missed the extra point to take a 13-7 lead.

Alabama found their offense by leaning on their rushing attack right at the end of the first half. The Crimson Tide orchestrated an 8-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 50-yard field goal by Will Reichard in the final seconds of the half to cut the lead to 13-10 at halftime.

At the end of a scoreless third quarter, Alabama once again found success by running the ball. On the second play of the fourth quarter, McLellan scored his second touchdown of the game and gave Alabama its first lead, 17-13, since the first quarter. Reichard added another 50+ yard field goal, tying the record for most field goals of 50 yards or longer in a Rose Bowl Game, to push the Alabama lead to 20-13 with just 4:41 remaining in the game.

The Michigan offense, which had been held scoreless for the second half, then faced a fourth-and-two from their own 33-yard line on their ensuing possession. Wolverine quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had been steady all game, found a wide-open Corum in the flat and the running back scampered up to midfield to give Michigan new life. On the next play, McCarthy kept the ball and ran down the right sideline for 16 yards.

Then McCarthy completed a tipped pass to receiver Roman Wilson, who took the ball all the way down to the five-yard line. Two plays later, McCarthy found Wilson again for a four-yard touchdown pass to tie the game and force overtime.

Michigan carried the momentum from this Rose Bowl Game victory, their first since 1998, to the College Football Playoff National Championship in Houston, where they defeated Washington, 34-13.