The 2024 Rose Bowl has become an instant classic between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Michigan Wolverines.
Alabama got on the scoreboard first with a seven play 63 yard drive capped off with a Jase Mclelland 34-yard touchdown run. Michigan answered right back with a much more methodical 10 play 75 yard drive, with J.J. McCarthy finding Blake Corrum for an eight yard touchdown reception.
After each team traded punts on five straight possessions, the Wolverines offense then scored on an eight play 83 yard drive. This time McCarthy found Tyler Morris for a 38 yard touchdown. The extra point was missed.
Needing an answer, the Crimson Tide managed to put together 10 play drive which went for 52 yards yet resulted in a long field goal attempt by Will Reichard who nailed the 50-yard field goal. At halftime the score was 13-10.
Once again in the third quarter neither offense was able to get anything going until Alabama did late with the drive continuing during the fourth quarter. Which resulted in a three yard touchdown run by McLellan and with the extra point a 17-13 lead.
Michigan’s offense sputtered once again and resulted in a three and out. Needing momentum, their defense came up with a big play, forcing a Jalen Milroe fumble that was recovered by Josh Wallace.
Interestingly enough, the Wolverines did not capitalize off the turnover as James Turner missed a 49-yard field goal. During this series many believed the flea flicker call, was the worst play call of the college football season.
With the miss, the Crimson Tide seemingly were going for the knock-out blow to the Wolverines National Championship aspirations. Yet once again the defense came up with a big play, this time sacking Milroe and forcing a 52-yard field goal attempt, which was made by Reichard.
Corrum started the drive out with two runs that went for eight yards, after an incomplete pass, Harbaugh elected to go for it on fourth and two.
McCarthy was able to find Corrum for 27 yards and even with an illegal block in the back it was still enough yardage for a first down. He then ran the football for 16 yards, found Roman Wilson for an additional 29 yards, and after a one-yard run, Wilson capped off the drive with a four yard touchdown reception. Turner made the extra point and the game was tied.
Still there was plenty of time for Alabama to get in field goal range. Yet Michigan instead forced another punt, their return man made it interesting to say the least nearly muffing the punt and recovering the football in the end zone for a safety.
As a result, overtime.
It took only two plays both runs by the Wolverines for Corrum to score the go-ahead touchdown. The extra point was good.
With the Crimson Tide getting their chance on offense, a one yard completion, and a 15-yard run by Milroe made it seem like a second overtime was inevitable. Back-to-back runs by McLelland resulted in a third and goal from the 14.
Jermaine Burton then came up with an 11 yard reception, and the Wolverines were able to diagnose what the fourth down play call was from the beginning, and Milroe had no chance of reaching the end zone.
Overall Milroe finished completing 16 of 23 passes for 116 yards, he ran the football 21 times for 63 yards, and was sacked six times. McLellan carried the football 16 times for 87 yards and the two touchdowns. Isaiah Bond caught four passes for 47 yards and Burton caught four passes for 21 yards.
McCarthy finished completing 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards, and three touchdowns, he ran the ball three times for 25 yards, Corrum had 19 carries for 83 yards, also caught two passes for 35 yards, Wilson caught four passes for 73 yards, and Morris two catches for 45 yards.