2024-01-02 01:58:00
PASADENA, Calif. – Blake Corum scored a 17-yard touchdown on the second play of overtime and the Michigan Wolverines beat the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 on Monday at the Rose Bowl.
Michigan, top seed, thus reached the final of the NCAA playoffs for the very first time in its history.
It was only the second time in 110 editions of the Rose Bowl that the game ended in overtime. Michigan’s defense stopped Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe on a fourth down at the Wolverines’ 3-line.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines (14-0) will play for the program’s first national title since 1997 once morest the University of Washington on Jan. 8 in Houston. The Huskies defeated the Longhorns 37-31 Saturday night in the Sugar Bowl.
Roman Wilson had a 4-yard catch with 1:34 left in regulation for the Wolverines, who had not scored in the second half before this 75-yard drive led by JJ McCarthy.
Jase McClellan had 87 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Tides (12-2), who moved within one win of playing for Nick Saban’s possible seventh national title with Alabama.
The Tides led 20-13 following Will Reichard’s 52-yard field goal with 4:41 remaining in the game, but their defense was unable to maintain the lead.
McCarthy had 221 passing yards, along with three touchdown passes for the Wolverines.
Milroe finished with 116 yards and ran for another 63 yards.
A spectacular match between Washington and Texas
In the other semifinal, the Washington Huskies held off a late surge from the University of Texas Longhorns to earn a spot in the grand final.
At the Huskies’ 13 with 15 seconds left, Texas was unable to reach the end zone to tie the game 37-37 and attempt a one-point conversion for the win.
Michael Penix Jr had an incredible game in the Huskies camp. The quarterback threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns and didn’t have a turnover.
Dillon Johnson scored two rushing touchdowns for Washington. Rome Odunze (six receptions, 125 yards) and Ja’Lynn Polk (five receptions, 122 yards) took advantage of Penix’s big performance.
Quinn Ewers had 318 passing yards in the loss.
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