PASADENA, Calif. — Michigan beat Alabama 27-20 in an overtime nailbiter in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.
Now, the Maize and Blue will face the Washington Huskies for the national championship on Jan. 8. This will be Wolverine's first appearance since they claimed the title in 1997.
Read below for live highlights and scores from the game.
Alabama won the coin toss to start the game but deferred and Michigan chose to receive.
The first play of the game nearly ended in an interception when Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy's pass was intercepted by Alabama defensive back Caleb Downs, but a review showed Downs was out of bounds.
A sack forced Alabama to punt, but it was muffed by Michigan wide receiver and Detroit native Semaj Morgan. The Tide recovered and quarterback Jalen Milroe took the first down.
Alabama running back Jase McClellan carried 34 yards for the first touchdown of the game, putting the Tide up 7-0 with 9:40 left in the first quarter.
Michigan fought back just five minutes later when McCarthy found running back Blake Corum for an eight-yard touchdown, tying the game.
The first quarter ended with the Wolverines in possession at their 31-yard line.
The ball was back in Alabama's hands after a series of punts until Michigan sacked Milroe twice for a combined total loss of 13 yards.
The Maize and Blue took the lead with just under four minutes left in the second quarter when wide receiver Tyler Morris took the ball 38 yards for a TD. However, a bad snap prevented the extra point.
Alabama kicker Will Reichard completed an impressive 50-yard field goal, closing the gap ever so slightly. The first half ended 13-10, Michigan.
In the second half, Alabama inched its way down the field, but the Tide had to backpedal after two bad snaps put them at the 29-yard line on the third down.
The third quarter came and went without scoring from either side. Alabama starts with the ball in the fourth quarter.
Thirty seconds into the fourth quarter, Alabama's McClellan rushed three yards for a TD, putting the Tide up 17-13.
Michigan defensive back Josh Wallace recovered an Alabama fumble and Wolverines kicker Jaylen Harrell missed a field goal from the 49-yard line.
Reichard scored another impressive field goal --this one at 52 yards -- with 4:40 left on the clock in the fourth quarter. Alabama leads 20-13.
McCarthy completed a touchdown pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson, and the Wolverines tied the game with just 1:34 left in the game.
Michigan wide receiver Jake Thaw muffed a punt inside the five-yard line with 44 seconds to go.
McCarthy took a knee to head to overtime.
Alabama won the coin toss and Michigan took the first possession in OT.
Corum ran in a 17-yard TD, notching his place as Michigan's leading touchdown scorer.
With Alabama at fourth-and-goal, Michigan held off the Tide to secure the victory in the semifinals of the 2023-2024 College Football Playoffs.
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