Rose Bowl - (4) Alabama vs. (1) Michigan, Monday, 1-1-24 at 5pm on ESPN

Michigan controlled the line of scrimmage. Both sides. Good game, but frankly I thought Bama was lucky to be so close at end of first half.

 

Surely Bama got higher rated players on line of scrimmage on both sides, at least on paper when they got out of HS.

 

Nick Saban indicated the final play call of Alabama’s season came from his first-year offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees. It will not go down as one of the favorites in Alabama football history.

With Alabama facing fourth-and-goal at the Michigan 3-yard line in overtime, quarterback Jalen Milroe took the snap and ran up the middle. He gained a yard before Michigan defenders tackled and ended the game.

Michigan called timeout and then Alabama called out before the play was run.

“We called three plays,’’ Saban said. “One they called timeout, one we called timeout, and the last one that didn't work. The fact that it didn't work made it a really bad call. You know what I mean?

“But we called timeout because we had a bad look. We had a good look on the first one. They must have known it.”

Regardless, Rees wanted the ball in Milroe’s hands, according to Saban.

“…Tommy just felt like the best thing that we could do was have a quarterback run, which was kind of our two-point play, one of our two-point plays for this game,’’ he said.

 

To my eye Michigan was more than a match for Bama in speed and physicality. This game served to blow up some myths.

 

And they tackled well

 

As good as Michigan's pass rush was, Alabama having opportunities to win the game late is impressive considering that their QB, as great an athlete that he is, was such an inconsistent passer.

 

Bama was only in the game at the end because the Michigan offense futzed around the middle twenty minutes. Michigan should have won the game handily. It was the better team.

 

He was sacked six times, and was under constant pressure That surely impacted his passing game.

 

I think Michigan had fifteen sacks and tackles for loss.

 

Alabama postgame PC:

Nick Saban, Jalen Milroe recap Rose Bowl loss | Alabama Football

 

Michigan's defensive front dominated Alabama's offensive line. Hardly ever see that happen, which shows how good Michigan's defense is, plus how their game plan of targeted blitzing and trying to disrupt Milroe worked really well.

 

Water under the bridge, but I wonder if anyone asked Saban about whether or not he would have gone for two had they scored in OT. I'd lean toward yes, since they were getting pushed around and likely would have continued to get pushed around in subsequent segments.

 

Awesome shot of the B-2 flyover before the game.