
It’s been 9 years within the making, however Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines will lastly get to face on faculty soccer’s greatest stage.
After a hard-nosed Rose Bowl battle ended and not using a regulation winner, Michigan working again Blake Corum scored the successful landing in additional time, dashing 17 yards for the 27-20 victory and the correct to seem within the School Soccer Playoff championship. After successful its first CFP sport, Michigan will face the victor of Washington-Texas for the nationwide title on Jan. 8.
Tied at 20 with 1:34 to go in regulation, Alabama couldn’t get previous its personal 43-yard line and James Burnip punted it again to Michigan on a monster 51-yard punt that, after a Michigan fumble and restoration, positioned the Wolverines on their very own 1-yard line. Michigan took a knee to ship the sport to additional time.
For Michigan, quarterback J.J. McCarthy accomplished 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Corum added 83 yards and the game-winning landing on the bottom to go along with an earlier receiving rating. Three completely different receivers put up factors for Michigan on the day.
Alabama working again Jase McClellan led the cost with each of the Tide’s solely touchdowns. Quarterback Jalen Milroe added 116 yards on 16-of-23 passing and 63 yards on the bottom.
With the win, the Wolverines enhance to 2-6 in bowl appearances below Harbaugh and Alabama is unnoticed of solely the fourth nationwide title sport of the trendy CFP period. It’s only the second time since 2005 that an SEC college is not going to play within the championship.
Alabama coach Nick Saban mentioned “this is among the groups I’ll all the time bear in mind most and be most pleased with” after Alabama was largely discounted as a CFP contender following its Week 2 loss to Texas and Week 3 benching of Milroe. “This staff most likely improved from the (USF) sport and the Texas sport early within the season as a lot as any staff I’ve ever coached,” Saban mentioned.
Within the first half, Michigan bought to Milroe with ease, limiting him to 53 yards and sacking him 5 occasions. The 5 sacks have been essentially the most any Alabama quarterback took in a half below coach Saban, in keeping with the ESPN broadcast. The Wolverines held a 13-10 halftime lead after lacking the extra-point try after their second landing, some extent that might’ve put them up 21-20 with a minute and a half to play and primarily ended the sport in regulation. Heading into the matchup, Michigan had gained 28 straight video games when main at halftime, the second-longest lively streak within the FBS behind Georgia (39), per ESPN Stats & Information.
McClellan opened scoring with a 34-yard TD run minutes into the primary quarter to take the primary lead of the sport. Michigan responded with 13 straight factors till Will Reichard nailed a 50-yard subject purpose to convey the Crimson Tide inside three heading into half.
Alabama’s particular groups unit, headlined by Reichard and Burnip, dazzled all sport. Reichard hit two 50-plus subject targets, accumulating eight factors, and Burnip posted 352 yards on seven punts with an extended of 62.
How did Michigan prevail?
Michigan’s playmakers made performs when it counted. From Corum’s reception on fourth-and-2 to Roman Wilson’s landing catch to tie the rating to Corum’s TD in additional time, the Wolverines’ greatest gamers got here by in the long run. Lots of these gamers have been a part of CFP losses to TCU and Georgia and needed to stay with the frustration of falling quick on this stage. Corum injured his knee final November and didn’t play within the Fiesta Bowl. For all of these causes, this was a redemption win for Michigan.
Don’t neglect about Michigan’s protection, which made life tough for Milroe all evening. The ultimate stand, a fourth-and-goal cease from the three, will go down as one of many nice performs in Michigan historical past. — Austin Meek, Michigan beat author
Previous Alabama warts reappear in greatest sport of the season
Monday evening’s sport intently resembled an Alabama sport in early September — marked by poor snapping points and inconsistent offensive line play that halted any ahead momentum. Milroe was sacked on 4 of his first six drop again makes an attempt. Total, Michigan recorded six sacks and 9 tackles for loss, dominating the Alabama offensive line for lengthy stretches within the sport.
It was a very powerful sport for heart Seth McLaughlin, who had a number of poor snaps, a few of which resulted in losses of double-digit yardage because the ball raced previous Milroe and an extra false begin penalty. On the opening drive of the second half, Alabama seemed to be gaining momentum however two consecutive dangerous snaps derailed the drive leading to a punt. It served as a reminder that Alabama’s points weren’t totally within the rear view mirror. — Kennington Smith III, Alabama beat author
A heartbreaking Alabama finish
Michigan answered rapidly and definitively to start additional time — two Corum runs that totaled all 25 yards and the landing. Alabama’s possession was rather more dramatic: destructive performs adopted by optimistic and a steady cycle that culminated in a fourth-and-goal from the Michigan 3-yard line to determine the sport. Every staff referred to as a timeout earlier than the ultimate play, attempting to measurement up the opposite’s formation to achieve a bonus. Alabama put the ball in Milroe’s palms however a quarterback keeper was stuffed and Michigan prevailed.
A heartbreaking finish to a miraculous playoff run by Alabama. In a matchup of two powerhouses, it was Michigan’s evening. — Smith
Pivotal particular groups performs
Michigan’s lone turnover, a muffed punt early within the first quarter, gave Alabama its solely landing of the primary half. Apart from turnover margin (-1) Michigan dominated each statistical class within the first half, however that wasn’t the one blunder that price the Wolverines factors. Halfway by the second quarter, Michigan took a 13-7 lead and appeared to have the momentum on its aspect, nevertheless missed the additional level which put them at a drawback situationally for the rest of the sport.
Within the fourth quarter, with Alabama main 17-13, a Milroe fumble gave Michigan a possibility to attain with the drive beginning close to midfield. Nonetheless, the Wolverines missed a 49-yard subject purpose try. Alabama bled a number of minutes off of the clock on its subsequent drive which helped salt the sport away. Within the final momentum shift earlier than additional time, Michigan muffed one other punt inside its five-yard line which extinguished any hope for a game-winning drive in regulation, which compelled the sport to go to additional time.
Conversely, Alabama made 50-yard and 52-yard subject targets, averaged greater than 50 yards per punt and recovered a punt that hit an Alabama participant who was blocking a return — the insertion of Caleb Downs at punt returner was felt greatest Monday evening. — Smith
Required studying
(Picture: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Pictures)