New Year's Day brings a seismic clash in 'The Granddaddy of All' with No. 1 Michigan set to meet No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl for a spot in the National Championship Game 2024 College Football Playoff.
Can the Wolverines finally get over the hump in their third straight trip to the College Football Playoff after back-to-back semifinal losses?
Even though a sign-stealing scandal threatened to derail its season, Michigan rose above the noise. Facing two separate suspensions from coach Jim Harbaugh, the Wolverines dominated the standings, beating Ohio State and winning the Big Ten for the third time in as many years.
Dynamic quarterback JJ McCarthy and stalwart running back Blake Corum are the mainstays of Michigan's offense. On the other side of the ball, the Wolverines boast the best defense in the country, allowing just 9.5 points per game.
Coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide has struggled to find its footing at times this season. Alabama went through the quarters before Jalen Milroe became a formidable starter, and the Tide needed a prayer — a touchdown on fourth down and a field goal from the 31-yard line — to defeat Auburn.
But Alabama certainly looked like its old self when it defeated Georgia in the SEC title game. Its defense, boasting a fierce passing tandem and a secondary filled with NFL prospects, tamed the Bulldogs. The dominant performance earned the Crimson Tide a spot in the playoff field for the eighth time, the most of any college football program.
Here's what you need to know about the New Year's Eve matchup between Michigan and Alabama, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Alabama vs. Michigan on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Direct: Fubo
Alabama vs. Michigan will be broadcast nationally on ESPN, with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call.
If you're a cord cutter, you're in luck. Fans can stream the game on Fubo, which offers a free trial, so you can try before you buy. And for a limited time, fans can enjoy a discounted price of $4.99 per month for the first month when subscribing to a quarterly plan.
Alabama vs. Michigan Start Time
- Date: Monday January 1
- To start up: 5 p.m. ET | 2:00 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Alabama vs. Michigan is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. ET from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
The Wolverines, who won the first Rose Bowl in 1902, are back in Pasadena for the first time since 2007. Michigan last won the Rose Bowl in 1998, when it won a national championship.
The Crimson Tide technically played in the Rose Bowl in 2021, beating Notre Dame to advance to the national championship game. But COVID-19 restrictions moved the game to Arlington, Texas.
Alabama last played in Pasadena in 1946.
2023 Alabama Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| September 2 | against Middle Tennessee | F, 56-7 |
| September 9 | against Texas | L, 34-24 |
| September 16 | south of Florida | F, 17-3 |
| September 23 | vs. Ole Miss | F, 24-10 |
| September 30 | in the state of Mississippi | F, 40-17 |
| October 7 | at Texas A&M | F, 26-20 |
| October 14 | against Arkansas | F, 24-21 |
| 21st of October | vs. Tennessee | F, 34-20 |
| November 4 | vs. LSU | W, 42-28 |
| November 11th | in Kentucky | F, 49-21 |
| November 18 | vs. Chattanooga | F, 66-10 |
| November 25 | in Auburn | F, 27-24 |
| December 2 | against Georgia | F, 27-24 |
| January 1st | against Michigan | To be determined |
2023 Michigan Football Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET)/Result |
|---|---|---|
| September 2 | vs. East Carolina | W, 30-3 |
| September 9 | vs. UNLV | F, 35-7 |
| September 16 | vs. Bowling Green | W, 31-6 |
| September 23 | vs. Rutgers | W, 31-7 |
| September 30 | in Nebraska | W, 45-7 |
| October 7 | in Minnesota | W, 52-10 |
| October 14 | against Indiana | W, 52-7 |
| 21st of October | in the state of Michigan | F, 49-0 |
| November 4 | vs. Purdue | W, 41-13 |
| November 11th | at Penn State | F, 24-15 |
| November 18 | in Maryland | F, 31-24 |
| November 25 | against Ohio State | F, 30-24 |
| December 2 | against Iowa | W, 26-0 |
| January 1st | against Alabama | To be determined |