2024 Rose Bowl


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The 2024 Rose Bowl (officially known as the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the 2024 Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential for sponsorship reasons) was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2024, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The game was the 110th annual playing of the Rose Bowl and was one of the semifinals of the 2023–24 College Football Playoff (CFP). It featured two of the four teams selected by the CFP Selection Committee, the fourth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the SEC and the first-ranked Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten. Both teams were champions of their respective conferences. The game was one of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season. It began at approximately 2:00 p.m. PST and aired on ESPN.

2024 Rose Bowl presented by Prudential
College Football Playoff Semifinal
110th Rose Bowl Game
Alabama Crimson Tide Michigan Wolverines
(12–1) (13–0)
SEC Big Ten
20 27
Head coach: 
Nick Saban		 Head coach: 
Jim Harbaugh
APCoachesCFP
54T4
APCoachesCFP
111
1234OT Total
Alabama 730100 20
Michigan 76077 27
DateJanuary 1, 2024
Season2023
StadiumRose Bowl
LocationPasadena, California
Player of the GameJ. J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)[1]
FavoriteMichigan by 1.5[2]
RefereeMichael Vandervelde (Big 12)[3]
Halftime showMichigan Marching Band
Alabama Marching Band
Attendance96,371
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
ESPN Deportes
AnnouncersESPN: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (color), Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge (sidelines)
ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela (play-by-play), Pablo Viruega (analyst) and Katia Castorena (sideline)
Nielsen ratings(27.2 million viewers)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Dois (Brazil)
AnnouncersThiago Alves (play-by-play), Deivis Chiodini (analyst) and Giane Pessoa (rules analyst)
Rose Bowl
 < 2023  2025 > 
1 vs. 4 Seed CFP Semifinal Game
 < 2022 Peach  

Michigan won the game 27–20, shortly after Blake Corum's 17-yard touchdown run in overtime, and stopping Alabama on downs. Michigan advanced to face the winner of the Sugar Bowl, the Washington Huskies, in the CFP National Championship game on January 8.[4] With 27.2 million viewers on ESPN, the 2024 Rose Bowl was the most-viewed College Football Playoff semifinal game since 2014, as well as one of the top ten cable telecasts of all time.[5][6][7][8]

Background

The Rose Bowl was first played in January 1902, making it the oldest college football bowl game. It was then known as the Tournament East–West Football Game, reflecting its place as an event during the Tournament of Roses Parade. In the first playing, held at Tournament Park in Pasadena, Michigan defeated Stanford, 49–0.[9] The Rose Bowl Stadium was built in 1922 and hosted its first Rose Bowl Game in 1923, which saw USC defeat Penn State.[10][11] The Rose Bowl was included as part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) upon its installation in 1998 and hosted the BCS National Championship Game on four occasions: in 2002,[12] 2006,[13] 2010,[14] and 2014.[15] After the establishment of the College Football Playoff (CFP) beginning with the 2014 season,[16] it hosted CFP semifinal games in 2015 and 2018 prior to the 2024 contest.[17][18] Additionally, the 2021 Rose Bowl was a CFP semifinal but was played at AT&T Stadium due to COVID-19 restrictions.[19]

Prior to the game, Cliff Montgomery, Kirk Herbstreit, and Lincoln Kennedy were inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame.[20] Former congresswoman Gabby Giffords was the Rose Parade grand marshal.[21]

Rose Bowl Stadium pre-game

  • Stadium exterior

  • South end zone view

College Football Playoff

The four teams competing in the Playoff were chosen by the CFP selection committee, whose final rankings were released on December 3, 2023.[22] The committee selected No. 1 Michigan of the Big Ten Conference, No. 2 Washington of the Pac-12 Conference, No. 3 Texas of the Big 12 Conference, and No. 4 Alabama of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Each team was the champion of its respective conference. Michigan and Washington entered the playoff with undefeated 13–0 records while Texas and Alabama entered 12–1.[23]

Semifinals Championship
January 1 – Rose BowlRose Bowl, Pasadena
  1   Michigan (OT) 27  
  4   Alabama 20   January 8 – National ChampionshipNRG Stadium, Houston
 
      1   Michigan 34
January 1 – Sugar BowlCaesars Superdome, New Orleans     2   Washington 13
 
  2   Washington 37
  3   Texas 31  

Teams

The game featured Big Ten champions Michigan and SEC champions Alabama. This was the sixth meeting between the two teams, and Alabama entered with a 3–2 lead in the overall series. Their most recent meeting was in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, in which Alabama defeated Michigan, 35–16. Four of the teams' other meetings took place in the postseason, the first being an Alabama victory in the 1997 Outback Bowl. The teams entered the game as the two winningest programs in college football history, with Michigan at 1,002 wins and Alabama at 965.[24]

This was Michigan's 21st appearance in the Rose Bowl—they were 8–12 in prior editions. They lost their previous three Rose Bowl appearances, in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Their last Rose Bowl win came in 1998, when they defeated Washington State, 21–16, to win the national championship.[24] Alabama, meanwhile, made their eighth Rose Bowl appearance, with a 5–1–1 record in previous games. Their last appearance came in 2021 in a win over Notre Dame, and the Tide's last national championship was won the next game over Ohio State.[25]

Michigan

Michigan finished the regular season with a perfect 12–0 record, having concluded their Big Ten schedule with a rivalry win over Ohio State, 30–24. As Ohio State also entered the game undefeated, the Big Ten Conference East Division championship was on the line and Michigan's win and subsequent division title earned them a berth to the 2023 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the West Division champion Iowa.[26] They defeated Iowa in a 26–0 shutout to claim their third consecutive conference championship; the Associated Press said that Iowa "never had a chance" in the game and remarked that Michigan was likely to claim the No. 1 seed in the playoff,[27] which they ultimately did.[23] The Iowa win gave Michigan a 13–0 record entering the Rose Bowl.[24]

The game was played during an ongoing investigation into allegations of sign-stealing by Michigan Wolverines staff members.[28][29][30] The scandal was a major headline for the team throughout the season; it centered around an allegation and subsequent investigations by the NCAA and Big Ten as to whether Michigan violated an NCAA bylaw regarding the scouting of future opponents. Connor Stalions, a Michigan football staffer, was cited by allegations as having attended more than 35 games to scout future opponents. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, who denied knowledge of the scouting, was suspended by the Big Ten for the team's last three regular season games against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State. He had previously served a suspension for the team's first three games of the season, against East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green, as the result of a self-imposed sanction regarding recruiting violations.[31]

Alabama

Alabama went 11–1 in the regular season, with their only loss coming to Texas on September 9 by a score of 34–24.[32] They finished the season with a defeat of Auburn in the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game; this win came by way of a 31-yard touchdown pass on 4th & Goal.[33] Their 8–0 conference record gave them the SEC West Division championship and a berth in the 2023 SEC Championship Game,[34] where they faced No. 1 Georgia.[35] In the game, Alabama defeated the two-time defending national champions, 27–24, ending their 29-game winning streak.[36]

Game summary

The game's officiating crew, representing the Big 12 Conference, was led by referee Michael Vandervelde.[37] The game, which took place on January 1, 2024, was scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. local PST, though its actual start time was 2:11 p.m. Michigan entered as slim favorites to win the game, and the point spread was set at 1.5 points with an over–under of 44.5 points.[2] The pregame coin toss was won by Alabama, who deferred their choice to the second half, thereby giving Michigan possession of the ball to begin the game.[38]

First half

 
Will Reichard kicks off for Alabama to start the game

Second half

Scoring summary

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Alabama Michigan
1 9:41 4 44 2:11 Alabama Jase McClellan 34-yard touchdown run, Will Reichard kick good 7 0
1 4:23 10 75 5:18 Michigan Blake Corum 8-yard touchdown reception from J. J. McCarthy, James Turner kick good 7 7
2 3:49 8 83 4:37 Michigan Tyler Morris 38-yard touchdown reception from J. J. McCarthy, kick failed 7 13
2 0:07 10 52 3:42 Alabama 50-yard field goal by Will Reichard 10 13
4 14:30 8 55 4:14 Alabama Jase McClellan 3-yard touchdown run, Will Reichard kick good 17 13
4 4:41 9 35 5:49 Alabama 52-yard field goal by Will Reichard 20 13
4 1:34 8 75 3:07 Michigan Roman Wilson 4-yard touchdown reception from J. J. McCarthy, James Turner kick good 20 20
OT 2 25 Michigan Blake Corum 17-yard touchdown run, James Turner kick good 20 27
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 20 27

Statistics

Team statistical comparison[38]
Statistic Alabama Michigan
First downs 17 15
First downs rushing 13 5
First downs passing 4 10
First downs penalty 0 0
Third down efficiency 3–13 2–11
Fourth down efficiency 0–1 2–2
Total plays–net yards 66–288 59–351
Rushing attempts–net yards 43–172 32–130
Yards per rush 4.0 4.1
Yards passing 116 221
Pass completions–attempts 16–23 17–27
Interceptions thrown 0 0
Punt returns–total yards 1–0 3–9
Kickoff returns–total yards 5–325 4–256
Punts–average yardage 7–50.3 6–39.5
Fumbles–lost 5–1 3–1
Penalties–yards 3–15 2–25
Time of possession 32:19 27:41
Alabama statistics[38]
Crimson Tide passing
C–A Yds TD–INT
Jalen Milroe 16–23 116 0–0
Crimson Tide rushing
Car Yds TD
Jase McClellan 14 87 2
Jalen Milroe 21 63 0
Justice Haynes 4 31 0
Jam Miller 1 11 0
Roydell Williams 1 −1 0
TEAM 2 −19 0
Crimson Tide receiving
Rec Yds TD
Isaiah Bond 4 47 0
Jermaine Burton 4 21 0
CJ Dippre 2 15 0
Kobe Prentice 1 13 0
Jase McClellan 2 11 0
Amari Niblack 1 6 0
Jam Miller 1 2 0
Kendrick Law 1 1 0
Michigan statistics[38]
Wolverines passing
C–A Yds TD–INT
J. J. McCarthy 17–27 221 3–0
Wolverines rushing
Car Yds TD
Blake Corum 19 83 1
J. J. McCarthy 3 25 0
Donovan Edwards 4 11 0
Kalel Mullings 1 6 0
Semaj Morgan 1 6 0
Alex Orji 2 2 0
TEAM 2 −3 0
Wolverines receiving
Rec Yds TD
Roman Wilson 4 73 1
Tyler Morris 2 45 1
Blake Corum 2 35 1
Semaj Morgan 4 24 0
Kalel Mullings 1 19 0
Colston Loveland 2 13 0
Cornelius Johnson 2 12 0

Aftermath

The win improved Michigan's record to 14–0 and gave them a berth to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, where they faced Sugar Bowl champions Washington. Alabama's record fell to 12–2 and the Tide's season concluded upon the loss.[39] Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching job with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Post-game and celebrations

References

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  37. ^ Cite error: The named reference refs was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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