Tag: Rose Bowl

Alabama QB Ty Simpson sustained cracked rib in Rose Bowl loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson said he cracked a rib in the first half of the Crimson Tide’s 38-3 College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday.

The hit came when Simpson was drilled by Indiana’s D’Angelo Ponds while scrambling for a first down late in the second quarter, a run that ended in a fumble recovered by the Hoosiers.

“Felt like I had a good thing going on that drive when I got hit,” Simpson said. “It kind of changed the momentum for sure. … The competitor in me wanted to make sure I got the first down. Got more than the first down, and then should have been smart and just got down.”

Simpson said an X-ray at halftime confirmed the injury. He returned to start the second half but quickly opted to yield to backup Austin Mack after one series.

“I made an executive decision and thought (about) what gave us the best chance to win,” Simpson said. “I thought Austin being 100% could help us win.”

Simpson finished 12 of 16 for 67 yards. Mack, a sophomore, went 11 of 16 for 103 yards and led the Crimson Tide to their only points with a third-quarter field goal.

“(Simpson) went out there and tried to battle, and that’s who he is,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “There’s no way he let us down.”

Simpson finished his junior season completing 305 of 473 passes (64.5%) for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions while guiding Alabama to an 11-4 record.

–Field Level Media

No. 1 Indiana rolls at Rose Bowl, hands No. 9 Alabama worst bowl loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fernando Mendoza threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns to lead top-seeded Indiana to a 38-3 blowout of ninth-seeded Alabama in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena, Calif.

The Hoosiers advance to the semifinals and will take on fifth-seeded Oregon on Jan. 9 in the Peach Bowl.

Indiana (14-0) became the first top-four seed to win a game in the 12-team CFP, after teams with a bye went 0-6 to start the expanded playoff era, including fourth-seeded Texas Tech’s loss to Oregon earlier Thursday.

The victory was the Hoosiers’ first in a bowl since the 1991 Copper Bowl and their first-ever Rose Bowl victory.

Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner, threw more touchdowns than incompletions, going 14 of 16.

Indiana had more rushing yards (215) than the Crimson Tide had total yards (193).

The Hoosiers’ Kaelon Black rushed for 99 yards and a touchdown while Roman Hemby ran for 89 yards and a score. Both scored touchdowns early in the fourth quarter.

The bowl loss was the biggest in Alabama history. The Crimson Tide (11-4) had not lost a bowl by more than 32 points. It was also their largest loss of any kind since 1998.

Indiana controlled the game from the start, forcing Alabama to punt on its first drive before the Hoosiers engineered a 16-play drive that lasted nearly nine minutes, ending in a Nicolas Radicic 31-yard field goal.

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer then decided to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Crimson Tide 34 moments later in the second quarter, with Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy stopping Germie Bernard just short of the first-down marker.

Four plays later, Mendoza hit Charlie Becker for a 21-yard touchdown for a 10-0 lead and kept the momentum firmly on Indiana’s side.

Late in the quarter, D’Angelo Ponds delivered a big hit on Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson, knocking the ball out and appearing to injure Simpson. Jones recovered the ball and Mendoza led Indiana on an 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive.

The drive ended on Mendoza’s 1-yard scoring pass to Omar Cooper in the closing seconds of the half, putting the Hoosiers up 17-0.

Simpson returned for the opening drive of the second half but after the Crimson Tide went three-and-out, and Mendoza led a nearly six-minute touchdown drive to make it 24-0, Simpson was replaced by Austin Mack.

Simpson completed 12 of 16 passes, but had just 67 yards through the air, with just two of his completions going for longer than eight yards.

Mack threw for 103 yards, going 11 of 16 in relief of Simpson.

Alabama finally got on the board late in the third quarter on Conor Talty’s 28-yard field goal.

–Field Level Media

No. 1 Indiana going against No. 9 Alabama, history in Rose Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Blue blood meets new blood when Alabama and Indiana square off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl on Thursday in Pasadena, Calif.

Though the ninth-seeded Crimson Tide have a storied history, they are the underdogs coming in with something to prove.

The Hoosiers entered the season as the losingest program in college football history, but they assume the Goliath role as the No. 1 playoff seed and college football’s lone undefeated team, with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza in tow.

“I want to stop quarterbacks, whether they’ve won the Heisman Trophy or not,” Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said.

The Hoosiers-Crimson Tide winner will take on either No. 4 Texas Tech or No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

The Hoosiers (13-0) are not only trying to continue to break long-term precedent in continuing their best season in school history — ahead of 2024’s 11-2 mark — but also break recent precedent set last season in the first edition of the 12-team playoff.

All four first-round winners beat the top four seeds last season.

“Would I prefer to play earlier? Yeah, I probably would, to be quite honest with you,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “But that’s not the case. We’re excited about playing.”

Mendoza has thrown for 229.2 yards per game, with 33 total touchdowns and just six interceptions. He also has rushed for six touchdowns.

The Crimson Tide have had plenty of success slowing down quarterbacks this season, entering with the No. 10 passing defense in FBS at 168.4 yards allowed per game.

Alabama (11-3) is coming off a 34-24 road win over Oklahoma in the first round on Dec. 19.

Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson struggled late in the season but had a bounce-back game against the Sooners. He averages 250 passing yards per game and has tallied 28 touchdowns and five interceptions.

The biggest difference in the offenses comes in the ground game, where Indiana is in the top 10 nationally with 221.2 rushing yards per game, while Alabama has struggled with just 109.9 rushing yards per game (118th).

“I look at (the Hoosiers’) skill around the offensive line, they just all complement each other,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “They go make plays. When the opportunities are there, they get it done.”

Indiana has been in the Rose Bowl just once before — losing to Southern California to end the 1967 season.

Alabama is in the game for the ninth time, going 5-2-1 with their most recent appearance coming in a 27-20 overtime loss to Michigan in the CFP semifinal two seasons ago. The Crimson Tide also won the 2009 national title with a win over Texas in the then-BCS Championship Game in the historic stadium.

Cignetti was Alabama’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for that championship team.

While Cignetti has an appreciation for Alabama’s history, DeBoer also can recognize how far Indiana has come under Cignetti. DeBoer was the Hoosiers’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2019.

Mendoza figures to have one of his favorite targets back Thursday.

Hoosiers receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who suffered a right leg injury early in the Big Ten title game on Dec. 6, is cleared to play in the Rose Bowl. Cooper, a redshirt junior, leads Indiana with 58 catches for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Alabama also figures to get a key piece back with the return of edge rusher LT Overton.

Overton, a senior, missed the Southeastern Conference championship game and the first-round win over Oklahoma due to an illness.

–Field Level Media

Pasadena sues to block UCLA’s move to SoFi Stadium

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The city of Pasadena is suing to block the reported move of UCLA football games from the Rose Bowl to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.

The Bruins have played home games at the historic Rose Bowl venue since 1982 and have a lease that runs through 2044. However, Bruin Report Online reported Sunday that the school is finalizing plans to play at SoFi Stadium — joint home of the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers — as soon as next season.

Pasadena officials applied for a temporary restraining order Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent UCLA from relocating, Front Office Sports confirmed.

A Pasadena spokesperson declined to comment on Monday’s filing but referred to a previous statement issued after an initial lawsuit was filed on Oct. 29.

“The City of Pasadena took the unfortunate but necessary step of filing a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court to enforce a lease agreement between the Rose Bowl Stadium and UCLA,” the statement said. “That lease agreement is unambiguous, explicitly stating there is no option for UCLA to terminate the lease prior to its expiration in 2044. Notwithstanding the clear language of the lease, a representative from UCLA has notified the City and the Rose Bowl of UCLA’s intent to take steps that will breach the agreement.”

UCLA does not pay rent at the Rose Bowl but also does not receive any revenue from the sales of luxury suite tickets and stadium sponsorships. The school presumably would seek both at SoFi Stadium, which opened in 2020.

The Bruins (3-6, 3-3 Big Ten) have averaged 37,098 fans at the 90,000-seat Rose Bowl this season, according to Front Office Sports. The Rose Bowl is 25 miles from campus, about twice as far as 70,000-seat SoFi Stadium.

–Field Level Media

Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; General view of the stadium before the game between the UCLA Bruins and the New Mexico Lobos at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Report: Rose Bowl, city sue UCLA over SoFi games plan

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UCLA has a lease to play its home games at the Rose Bowl through 2044, but according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the City of Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company, the university has been “unequivocally expressing its intent to abandon the Rose Bowl Stadium and relocate its home football games to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.”

Calling the university’s alleged plan “a profound betrayal of trust,” the complaint said UCLA’s outside legal counsel told the city and Rose Bowl Operating Co., which runs the 103-year stadium, earlier this month that the Bruins would cease playing there after “UCLA leadership, lawmakers in Sacramento, and other decision-makers had vetted and approved the decision.”

According to Pasadena officials, taxpayers have forked over more $150 million toward Rose Bowl renovations along with another $130 million refinanced in bonds for other improvements to the stadium, at which UCLA has played its home games since 1982.

“This lawsuit arises in an era when money too often eclipses meaning and the pursuit of profit threatens to erase the very traditions that breathe life into institutions,” the filing reads. “Some commitments are too fundamental to be traded away.”

UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications Mary Osako told the Los Angeles Times in a statement: “While we continue to evaluate the long-term arrangement for UCLA football home games, no decision has been made.”

In response to Pasadena’s attorney seeking confirmation earlier this week that UCLA would honor its lease, Jordan McCrary — an outside attorney for UCLA — responded that the Bruins intend to keep playing “for the remainder of the football season.”

Included in the filing was a letter from UCLA disputing the allegations, stating that “preliminary discussions” regarding a potential move “do not constitute a material breach for which RBOC would be entitled to a legal or equitable remedy.” UCLA outside counsel David L. Schrader wrote the letter in March to Nima Mohebbi, Pasadena’s attorney, adding that UCLA “continues to evaluate strategic goals and how to be fiscally responsible and best fulfill its mission.”

The lawsuit seeks a court order to force UCLA to honor the remainder of its lease, stating that the monetary damage “could easily exceed a billion dollar (or more)” for the city and its residents.

The Bruins are on track for an all-time low home attendance at the Rose Bowl this season, drawing an average of 35,253 for its four home games in the 89,702-seat stadium. The Rose Bowl is 26 miles away from UCLA’s campus, which has led to two-hour round trips for students and other fans.

Only Maryland and Northwestern drew fewer fans in the Big Ten last season, with UCLA averaging approximately 46,805 to its home games.

SoFi Stadium, which has held home games for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Chargers since opening in 2020, holds 77,000 fans and contains more than 260 luxury suites. It’s approximately 13 miles from UCLA, half the distance of the Rose Bowl, but driving there can also be troublesome due to the city’s congested and busy freeways.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2025; Pasadena, CA, USA; General view of the second half between the Oregon Ducks and the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2025 Rose Bowl college football quarterfinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

CFP dates, times locked in; Rose Bowl moves up one hour

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The College Football Playoff announced game times for the 2026 quarterfinals and semifinals and the national championship game on Tuesday.

The CFP championship, to be played in Miami Gardens, Fla., will be played on the third Monday in January for the second straight year, Jan. 19, with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.

The quarterfinals will be split between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. After the Cotton Bowl is played Dec. 31 at 7:30 ET, Jan. 1 will see a tripleheader of the Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl and the Sugar Bowl.

Notably, the Rose Bowl kicks off at 4 ET/1 PT, one hour earlier than it’s traditionally played. Famous for its midgame sunset over the stadium, the game’s new time means the sunset may occur much later in the game, or after the game ends altogether.

The Orange Bowl will kick off the tripleheader at noon ET, and the Sugar Bowl will begin at 8 ET.

The Fiesta and Peach Bowls will take their turns as semifinal hosts in 2026. The Fiesta Bowl will be played Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 ET, and the Peach Bowl will come Friday, Jan. 9 at the same time.

–Field Level Media

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) rushes during the second half of the College Football Playoff first round game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Dec. 22, 2024. Ohio State won 42-17.

No. 8 Ohio State seeks redemption vs. No. 1 Oregon in Rose Bowl

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If not for Will Howard’s final-play blunder against Oregon on Oct. 12, Ohio State might be the higher-seeded team entering a much-anticipated rematch in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Howard certainly is focused on redemption when the No. 8 seed Buckeyes get another chance against the No. 1 seed Ducks in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at Pasadena, Calif.

Ohio State trailed 32-31 and was driving toward a possible game-winning field-goal attempt in Eugene, Ore., in October as a scrambling Howard was on the run and intentionally slid at the Oregon 26-yard line.

One big problem — time had expired. There would not be a field-goal try.

“The way that last one ended doesn’t sit right with me. It still doesn’t,” Howard said after Ohio State’s 42-17 home thumping of No. 9 seed Tennessee in a first-round CFP matchup on Dec. 21. “Still bugs me.”

Howard will look for a different result when the Buckeyes (11-2) try to end the perfect season of Oregon (13-0).

Howard, who transferred from Kansas State after last season, has delivered a solid season by passing for 3,171 yards and 29 touchdowns against nine interceptions. But the mental gaffe against Oregon seems to overshadow everything else.

“I’m excited. It’s going to be a heck of an opportunity for all of us,” Howard said. “I think we’ve all been looking forward to this one, and for another crack at these guys.”

The heavyweight matchup will feature two prolific offenses, with Ohio State averaging 36 points per game and the Ducks at 35.9. Former Oregon coach Chip Kelly is the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator.

Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel has completed 73.2 percent of his passes while throwing for 3,558 yards and 28 touchdowns against just six interceptions this season. The third-place finisher in Heisman Trophy balloting will make his 63rd career start.

Gabriel transferred from Oklahoma after last season. He has thrown 153 career touchdown passes, two off the FBS record held by Houston’s Case Keenum (2007-11).

“I’ve been really impressed with Dillon’s poise,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “It doesn’t matter if there’s just a couple seconds left in the clock or if it’s fourth-and-9, I feel like he treats those plays the same as first-and-10 at the beginning of the game.”

The quarterback matchup was even in the mid-October game between Oregon and Ohio State. Gabriel passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for one TD, while Howard threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns and also had one score on the ground.

Both teams will dissect the first matchup and see how the opponent has evolved since then while formulating their game plans.

“You look at what worked, you look at what didn’t work, you look at how your teams change, and you try to play again through your strengths,” Lanning said. “You look at how your opponent’s teams change. So there’s going to be some differences in this game from the last game, for sure.”

The Ducks are the lone unbeaten team in the nation and have scored more than 30 points on 11 occasions. Running back Jordan James complements Gabriel, having rushed for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns this season. He has six 100-yard outings.

Ohio State lost to Michigan 13-10 in the regular-season finale. The Buckeyes have topped 30 points on 10 occasions.

Howard has two big-time targets in Emeka Egbuka — 65 receptions for 824 yards and nine touchdowns — and Jeremiah Smith (63 for 1,037, 12 scores).

The Buckeyes allow an average of 11.4 points per game compared with Oregon’s 17.8.

Who knows — another close game with a quarterback called on to execute during a final drive could be in play again.

“Will, I know, is excited to have an opportunity to play Oregon again,” Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said.

Ohio State leads the series 9-2, but the Ducks have won the past two games.

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2024; Pasadena, CA, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum (2) scores a touchdown past Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Deontae Lawson (32) and defensive back Caleb Downs (2) in the 2nd quarter of the 2024 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 Michigan rallies to beat No. 4 Alabama in OT Rose Bowl thriller

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Blake Corum ran for the winning touchdown in overtime and top-seeded Michigan advanced to the College Football Playoff national championship game with a 27-20 overtime victory over fourth-seeded Alabama on Monday in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Corum rushed for 83 yards and also caught a touchdown pass as Michigan (14-0) won a CFP contest for the first time. J.J. McCarthy completed 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolverines.

Michigan will face either second-seeded Washington or third-seeded Texas in the national championship game on Jan. 8 in Houston. The Huskies and Longhorns meet later Monday night in the Sugar Bowl.

The Crimson Tide (12-2) had an opportunity to force a second overtime but Jalen Milroe was stopped for a gain of 1 on a fourth-down keeper from the 3-yard line, prompting Michigan to go wild celebrating its victory.

Jase McClellan rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns for Alabama. Milroe was 16-of-23 passing for 116 yards and added 63 yards on the ground.

Corum handled the ball on both of Michigan’s overtime plays. He ran for 8 yards on the first carry before bursting through on the go-ahead 17-yard scoring run.

Tyler Morris and Roman Wilson also caught touchdown passes for Michigan. Braiden McGregor had two sacks for the Wolverines, who outgained the Crimson Tide 351-288.

Alabama took a 17-13 lead on the second play of the fourth quarter when McClellan scored from the 3.

The Crimson Tide later worked the clock for 5:49 and took a 20-13 lead when Will Reichard kicked a 52-yard field goal with 4:41 left in regulation.

The Wolverines converted on fourth-and-2 from their own 33 on the tying eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. McCarthy capped it with a 4-yard scoring pass to Wilson with 1:34 remaining to set up the third overtime game of the CFP era.

Michigan outgained Alabama 197-96 in the first half en route to a 13-10 lead at the break.

The Crimson Tide struck first after their touchdown was set up on a fumbled punt return by the Wolverines’ Semaj Morgan. Quandarrius Robinson recovered at the Michigan 44-yard line. Four plays later, McClellan broke loose for a 34-yard scoring run with 9:41 left in the first quarter.

Michigan tied the score five-plus minutes later when McCarthy tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Corum.

The Wolverines took a 13-7 lead when McCarthy hit Morris on a 38-yard scoring play. However, William Wagner’s errant snap got past holder Tommy Doman to leave Michigan up by six with 3:49 left in the half.

Reichard booted a 50-yard field goal with seven seconds left in the half to bring Alabama within three.

–Field Level Media

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy celebrates a touchdown against Indiana scored by running back Blake Corum during the first half of U-M's 52-7 win over Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in Ann Arbor.

Motivators fuel No. 1 Michigan, No. 4 Alabama in CFP semifinal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jalen Milroe’s benching after Alabama’s Week 2 loss to Texas is well known, and so is his ensuing rise to one of the top players in the nation.

The chip on the shoulder of the Crimson Tide quarterback is pronounced as he leads No. 4 Alabama into the College Football Playoff semifinal contest against No. 1 Michigan on New Year’s Day at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Milroe has often heard he should switch positions. But watching those words come from the mouth of then-Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien (2021-22) was particularly irritating.

“My own offensive coordinator, Bill O’Brien, told me I shouldn’t play quarterback,” Milroe said Thursday. “The biggest thing was to stay true to myself. I had a bigger purpose than anyone’s opinion. (O’Brien) told me a bunch of positions I could’ve switched to, but look where I’m at, so who has the last laugh?”

Milroe looks to add more enjoyment to his spectacular campaign when the Crimson Tide (12-1) face the Wolverines (13-0) for a spot in the national championship game. No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas meet in the other semifinal.

Milroe has passed for 2,718 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions while also rushing for 12 scores. The Crimson Tide have won 11 straight games — including all 10 since he was restored to the starting gig.

The signature moment was the fourth-and-31 pass to Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds left to beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl.

“He’s a different quarterback than we’ve seen all year,” Michigan defensive end Jaylen Harrell said. “Freaky athletic, can make all the throws, big throws.”

Michigan has its own solid quarterback in J.J. McCarthy. He owns a 25-1 record as a starter, but that lone setback came in last year’s CFP semifinals when the Wolverines lost 51-45 to TCU. That setback stretched Michigan’s bowl losing streak to six. Now the pressure is higher.

“I think for the outside observer, it’s the biggest game in Michigan history, one of the biggest games in college football history,” McCarthy said Friday. “But to us it’s just another football game that we’re going to go out there and try to execute, play with physicality, and lock into all the little details that are going to show up in these big games.”

McCarthy has completed 74.2 percent of his throws this season for 2,630 yards and 19 touchdowns against four interceptions. Star running back Blake Corum (1,028) has topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season while setting a school mark with 24 rushing touchdowns.

The Michigan defense entered the bowl season as the nation’s leader in scoring defense (9.5 points per game) and No. 2 in total defense (239.7).

The Wolverines have thrived despite coach Jim Harbaugh missing six games due to two different suspensions. But Michigan’s reputation for falling short in big games includes an 0-2 mark in CFP semifinal appearances.

“I think everyone wants to change the narrative of Michigan football or how we can’t win postseason games or we haven’t won a (national title) in forever or whatever it may be,” Wolverines center Drake Nugent said.

On the other hand, Alabama is a stellar 6-1 in the CFP semifinals and has won three national titles during the CFP era. Few people thought the Crimson Tide would be back after a dismal Week 3 effort when a last-minute touchdown was needed to put away South Florida. Milroe was reinstated as starter the following day.

“After Week 3, I don’t think anybody thought we would be in this position,” Alabama defensive end Justin Eboigbe said. “But just truly each and every game, each and every practice, we just came together, understood that it’s us. And I feel like truly we became close as a team through all the doubts, the adversity that happened, and we truly understood that we still controlled our own destiny.”

Crimson Tide running back Jase McClellan (foot) said he’s good to play. He missed the victory over Georgia in the Southeastern Conference title game.

Alabama is 44-26-3 (plus one win vacated due to NCAA violations) in bowl games, while Michigan is 21-29. The teams have met five times with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-2 edge.

–Field Level Media

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and head coach Jim Harbaugh take the field for warmups before the Big Ten championship game vs. Iowa at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

Rose Bowl: Preview, Prop Pick and Prediction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The only college football game with the gravity of Monday’s Rose Bowl matchup between Michigan and Alabama will kick off a week later in Houston, with either Michigan or Alabama the likely favorite over Texas or Washington in the College Football Playoff national championship game.

It might be the getting there that proves to be more difficult.

The Wolverines are a slim favorite against the Crimson Tide in this epic playoff pairing (apologies to Florida State) in Pasadena, Calif.

We have a few betting angles for consideration as New Year’s Day nears.

THE ROSE BOWL
No. 1 Michigan Wolverines vs. No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide

Date, time: Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET.
Site: Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Line: Michigan -1.5; total 44.5 (FanDuel).

The Michigan program, coached by the narrative-friendly Jim Harbaugh, is among the elite iconic brands in college football history.

But does it approach the gravitas owned by the University of Alabama, especially during the incredible run of success under the direction of coach Nick Saban?

The Wolverines players, at least to some degree, will take a moment to watch Alabama before the game, perhaps fighting off the urge to be impressed.

THE ‘A’ AGAINST THE ‘M’
If there is an edge with regard to intimidation, Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe believes it comes from Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

“A hundred percent,” Milroe said in advance of the Rose Bowl. “This ‘A’ means a lot to people. We take a lot of pride in wearing the ‘A.’

“(When) it comes to opponents, it’s a hard task to beat down Alabama. It’s a credit to Coach Saban, how well he coaches, the supporting cast he has with his coaching staff and his medical staff and everyone that’s all a part of it, his recruiting staff, as well.”

Milroe takes care of this offense but has the ability to lift his team, as evidenced by his 177.48 pass efficiency rating, fourth in the country and tops among the final four teams left standing.

THE ADJUST FACTOR
There undoubtedly figure to be details that need attention or halftime adjustment, and Alabama has been elite in that area this season. The Tide allowed their nine SEC opponents to average only a shade more than eight points during the second half.

Credit the strength of this coaching staff and the players’ belief in that instruction.

THE PLAN AFTER OHIO STATE?
The Wolverines hope to contend with the Tide’s speed, depth and skill. It wasn’t too much to succeed with the schemes for Ohio State, but Alabama is a different animal.

Milroe is not only mobile, he’s blessed with running back skills.

This facet of football was not a concern for Michigan against Ohio State, whose quarterback Kyle McCord carried once for minus-3 yards. Nor was it a problem in the Big Ten title game (Iowa’s Deacon Hill carried six times for minus-16 yards).

Milroe rolled for 155 rushing yards against LSU and 107 against Auburn.

RISK AND REWARD, THE QB MATCHUP
Milroe takes care of the ball. That includes big games. He had two touchdowns and no interceptions in the SEC title game victory over Georgia, and isn’t likely to be asked to exit his comfort zone unless Alabama finds itself in a deep hole early in the game.

Michigan’s JJ McCarthy may feel a tap on his shoulder and a demand to elevate his game Monday. The Wolverines haven’t needed him to exceed expectations because running back Blake Corum and the ground attack have sufficiently stifled Big Ten competition.

The increased demands on McCarthy have the potential for chaos if Alabama can stuff the Michigan run game.

McCarthy isn’t as skilled at improvisation as Milroe.

If McCarthy succeeds in making the big plays largely by himself, we’ll see him in Houston. If he’s pressured into mistakes and Alabama seizes a win in the turnover battle, Milroe will be the QB in the winner’s circle.

MISMATCH IN COACHING AND DEPTH
There’s not much doubt regarding Harbaugh’s imagination and quirky genius but there’s really no doubting Alabama coach Nick Saban’s planning expertise – especially with a month to prepare.

No bowl victories in the past six tries for Michigan?

Saban contributed to Harbaugh’s winless mark, rolling the Wolverines 35-16 in the Jan. 1, 2020, Citrus Bowl.

It’s easier to coach a team with more NFL talent, and that season’s Saban team included receivers Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith, running back Najee Harris, quarterback Mac Jones and a fearsome defense including cornerback Patrick Surtain II and defensive lineman Raekwon Davis.

It’s more of the same for Saban, and the Alabama depth could swing the late-game storyline.

THE BET
Despite the No. 1 ranking, Michigan is second in talent and depth, not to mention coaching. The halftime adjustment factor is real, so it opens up an opportunity for a plus-money parlay.

Parlay Alabama +1.5 third quarter spread with Alabama +3.5 for the full game (+112 at FanDuel).

–Field Level Media