Two of the biggest brands in college football will meet for a spot in the national title game on the line when No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama will face off on New Year's Day at the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals. It's hard to believe, but this will be just the sixth meeting between the two winningest teams in college football history. The last one was a blowout victory for Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.
Michigan's path to this semifinal was pretty linear. The Wolverines breezed through the first three quarters of their schedule without breaking a sweat, then finished in the top 10. Penn State by nine points before two close battles over the next two weeks against upset players Maryland and a very talented state of ohio team. Michigan needed a last-second interception to defeat the Buckeyes and secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, where it held Iowa scoreless in a 26-0 triumph.
Alabama's journey, by comparison, was fraught with twists and turns. The Crimson Tide suffered a major setback early in the year with a 34-24 loss at home to another playoff team. Texas. They then beat USF by just two touchdowns a week later and struggled against the likes of Texas A&M And Arkansas before righting the ship against Tennessee and winning four of their last five regular season games by double digits. Alabama announced its return to the CFP by defeating Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, handing the Bulldogs their first loss since the 2021 season.
College Football Playoff Case: Why Michigan Can Win | Why Alabama Can Win
How to watch Rose Bowl live
Date: Monday January 1st | Time: 5 p.m. ET
Location: Rose Bowl Stadium — Pasadena, California
TV: ESPN | Direct: Fubo (Try for free)
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Three players to watch at the Rose Bowl
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe: Milroe won Alabama's starting quarterback job on shaky footing and was actually benched before a Week 3 win over USF. Since then, he has become one of the most electric players in college football. He recorded just two turnovers in the last seven games and totaled 17 touchdowns in Bama's final five regular season games. Milroe, who weighs 220 pounds, possesses elite arm talent and running ability that allowed him to rush for over 100 yards against Auburn And LSU. He will be a handful for Michigan's defense.
Michigan Database Mike Sainristil: A converted wide receiver, Sainristil is the heartbeat of a Michigan secondary that ranks second nationally in pass defense while allowing just 152.6 yards per game. As the Wolverines' starting nickelback, he does a great job of erasing an opponent's slot receiver. It's also clear that he has never lost his skills with the ball since his time as an attacking player; he has five interceptions so far this season, including two returned for a touchdown. It's rare that a slot corner has such game-changing ability.
EDGE OF Alabama Dallas Turner: Turner against the Michigan offensive line is a date. The Wolverines, who won back-to-back Joe Moore Awards from 2021-2022, had another strong outing in 2023 while allowing just 18 sacks all season. Turner replaced All-Star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and posted career highs with 14.5 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. He has the makings of a top 10 NFL Draft pick, and a strong performance against Michigan could go a long way in cementing that status.
Rose Bowl prediction, picks
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
This looks like a total brawl. Both teams are loaded in the trenches and rely on heavy rushing attacks anchored by a deep stable of running backs. Milroe and Alabama Michigan Quarterback JJ McCarthy can both make plays with their legs and do a lot of passing work on play-action looks. Where Alabama has a discernible advantage is outside of the hash marks on both sides of the ball.
Crimson Tide wide receiver Isaiah Bond is becoming one of the best point guards in the sport, while Jermaine Burton is a favorite target of Milroe and is as consistent as they come. Michigan has a talented secondary, but Alabama has two likely first-round picks at corner Kool-Aid McKinstry And Terrion Arnoldwhile the safety of freshmen Caleb Downs has all the qualities of a future winner. If Alabama can hold its own at the line of scrimmage — its offensive line, in particular, struggled early in the year — it's more than capable of winning this one outright. Prediction: Alabama +1.5
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