Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl Game live updates, score: Follow Wolverines vs. Crimson Tide in College Football Playoff semifinal
General view of the Rose Bowl exterior before the 2018 Rose Bowl in a college football playoff semifinal game between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Georgia Bulldogs.
After weeks of controversy and debate, it’s time for the College Football Playoff semifinals, and the New Year’s Day slate will start off with a No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama in the “Granddaddy of Them All”: the Rose Bowl Game.
Despite the ongoing investigation into its sign-stealing scandal, the Wolverines are back in the playoff for the third straight season, finishing the regular season as one of three undefeated teams (Washington and Liberty). Michigan will be trying to achieve a program first of a College Football Playoff win, with its last two appearances resulting in semifinal losses.
It was one of the most controversial choices in playoff history, but Alabama is back in the picture after a one-year absence. The Crimson Tide, who capped off a dominant second half of the season with a win against defending champion Georgia, will be making a record eighth appearance in the playoff. They are also the first team to be ranked No. 7 or higher entering conference championship week and still make the College Football Playoff.
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The two college football powerhouses will meet in Southern California Monday afternoon, with a spot in the national championship game in Houston on the line in what is the final season of the four-team playoff.
USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout semifinal action. Follow along from Pasadena, California:
Michigan vs. Alabama score
- Michigan: 0
- Alabama: 7
This section will be updated after each scoring play.
Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl live updates, highlights
USA TODAY Sports will be tracking updates, highlights and more from the 2024 Rose Bowl below.
Alabama strikes first after Michigan muffs punt
The first official mistake of the game comes from the Wolverines.
After forcing Alabama to punt on its opening drive, Semaj Morgan couldn’t cleanly secure the ball on the catch. A massive dogpile ensued, and Alabama’s Quandarrius Robinson came up with the ball to give the offense possession at the Michigan 44-yard line.
The offense was much more efficient this time around, doing all of its damage on the ground, capped off with a Jase McClellan run for 34 yards into the end zone. The Crimson Tide now lead 7-0 just over five minutes into the semifinal.
Michigan sacks Jalen Milroe twice on opening drive
The Michigan defensive line broke right through the line, and Braiden McGregor sacked Jalen Milroe for 13 yards on the Crimson Tide’s first offensive play.
The pressure got to Milroe again a few plays later, with Josaiah Stewart getting an 11-yard sack to force a three-and-out. – Jordan Mendoza
Alabama opening interception reviewed, reversed
The Crimson Tide almost had the perfect start.
Michigan began the Rose Bowl with the ball, but it appeared to be a disaster to start as J.J. McCarthy was picked off Alabama’s Caleb Downs on the first play of the game.
However, the play was reviewed, and Downs was out of bounds on the catch, giving the Wolverines a big break. They weren’t able to do much, going three-and-out on the opening drive and punting it to Alabama. – Jordan Mendoza
How to watch Michigan vs. Alabama in the College Football Playoff at the Rose Bowl
Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Like most years, ESPN will have a megacast of all the action from the semifinal, giving viewers different ways to watch the game. Options include Field Pass with “The Pat McAfee Show,” which will have alternate commentary and guests on the game, and the skycast camera just above the field. Here are the other options to watch the game, and where to watch it:
- ESPN: Main broadcast
- ESPN2: Field Pass with “The Pat McAfee Show”
- ESPNEWS: Skycast – above the field and typically behind the offense
- ESPNU: Command center – a multi-angle presentation with stats
- ESPN App: All-22 camera
- ESPN App: Michigan home radio broadcast
- ESPN App and SEC Network: Alabama home radio broadcast
What New Year’s Day college football games are on today?
Here are the kickoff times and TV info for the Jan. 1 bowl games, including the College Football Playoff matchups.
- ReliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin vs. No. 13 LSU, ESPN2, 12 p.m.
- Citrus Bowl: No. Iowa vs. No. 23 Tennessee, ABC, 1 p.m.
- Fiesta Bowl: No. 20 Liberty vs. No. 8 Oregon, ESPN, 1 p.m.
- College Football Playoff semifinal (Rose Bowl): No. 4 Alabama vs. No. 1 Michigan, ESPN, 5 p.m.
- College Football Playoff semifinal (Sugar Bowl): No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington, ESPN, 8 p.m.
BOWL LINEUP: Complete schedule/results for every postseason game
Alabama vs. Michigan picks
Here are our College Football Playoff semifinal expert picks:
- Scooby Axson: Alabama
- Jace Evans: Alabama
- Paul Myerberg: Alabama
- Erick Smith: Alabama
- Eddie Timanus: Alabama
- Dan Wolken: Alabama
College Football Playoff: Rose Bowl odds
The Michigan Wolverines are favorites to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide, according to BetMGM odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps, including the new ESPN BET app.
- Spread: Michigan (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Michigan (-120); Alabama (+100)
- Over/under: 44.5
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. Our college football betting guide can help you get started, and we have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with the online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
Is Jim Harbaugh coaching in the Rose Bowl?
The Wolverines will have their head coach in the semifinal matchup, as Jim Harbaugh will be on the sidelines in Pasadena.
Harbaugh has missed six games this season due to suspension, starting with Michigan’s first three games of the season against East Carolina, UNLV and Bowling Green. The suspension was self-imposed by Michigan, as Harbaugh reportedly faces punishment from the NCAA over the investigation into possible recruiting violations and misleading NCAA investigators. He returned for the Big Ten opener against Rutgers.
As a result of the sign-stealing scandal, Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten for the final three games of the regular season, missing the contests against Penn State, Maryland and rival Ohio State, all of which were wins. The 59-year-old coach returned for the Wolverines in the Big Ten Championship Game against Iowa.
What uniforms will Michigan, Alabama wear in the Rose Bowl?
Two traditional blue bloods will sport their traditional threads inside the Rose Bowl on Monday. Alabama will sport its red helmet with white jersey and pants, while Michigan will don its classic blue and maize helmet with blue jerseys and maize pants. Michigan is also going with a retro detail with the Rose Bowl patch on the shoulder pads in honor of the 1998 national championship team.
How did Michigan get into the College Football Playoff?
Even with all of the scandals surrounding the program, Michigan didn’t lose focus en route to a perfect season that was capped with a third-straight Big Ten title.
In their 13-0 season, the Wolverines have been dominant on both sides of the ball. The offense’s 36.7 points per game is 14th in the country, while the scoring defense is first with only 9.5 points per game allowed, and the only team giving up less than 10 points per game. Michigan has won its games by an average scoring margin of 27.2 points, the best in FBS.
Michigan defeated previously unbeaten Ohio State 30-24 in the regular season finale for its third-straight victory over its rival and clinched a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game. There, the Wolverines shutout Iowa 26-0.
With Georgia’s loss in the SEC Championship Game, Michigan moved up to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff ranking, its first time being ranked first since 1997.
How did Alabama get into the College Football Playoff?
The odds seemed slim, but Alabama was able to get back into the playoff after a less-than-ideal start to the season.
Alabama fell to Texas and had quarterback issues early in the season, but the team righted the ship with Jalen Milroe taking over the starting duties heading into SEC play. The Crimson Tide rattled off 11 straight wins after the 1-1 start, capturing another SEC West title to face the back-to-back defending champion Georgia Bulldogs.
In the SEC Championship Game, Alabama stunned Georgia by knocking off the Bulldogs. The win proved to be the difference in the College Football Playoff, with the Crimson Tide going from No. 7 in the rankings to sneaking in at No. 4, the first time a team ranked higher than sixth heading into the final rankings release made it in.
Michigan College Football Playoff history
The Rose Bowl will mark Michigan’s third-straight appearance in the playoff, but its luck hasn’t been the best. The Wolverines are 0-2 in playoff games, losing to TCU in the Fiesta Bowl last season.
Here is the history of Michigan in the College Football Playoff:
- 2021 Orange Bowl (semifinal): Loss to Georgia, 34-11
- 2022 Fiesta bowl (semifinal): Loss to TCU, 51-45
Alabama College Football Playoff history
Since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, no one has been more than Alabama.
The Crimson Tide will be making a record eighth appearance in the playoff, as they’ve been in every edition of it except for 2019 and 2022. Alabama also has nine wins in the College Football Playoff and three championships, the most in the playoff’s history.
Here is what Alabama finished in each College Football Playoff appearance:
- 2014-15: Loss to Ohio State in semifinal
- 2015-16: National championship
- 2016-17: Loss to Clemson in national championship game
- 2017-18: National championship
- 2018-2019: Loss to Clemson in national championship game
- 2020-21: National championship
- 2021-22: Loss to Georgia in national championship game
Michigan vs. Alabama series history
The 2024 Rose Bowl will be the sixth time Alabama and Michigan have met on the football field, with the Crimson Tide holding a 3-2 advantage in the series.
The two school’s have mostly met in bowl games, including their most recent meeting in the 2020 Citrus Bowl. Alabama won that game 35-16. Here is the series history between the two powerhouses:
- 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl: Michigan 28, Alabama 24
- 1997 Outback Bowl: Alabama 17, Michigan 14
- 2000 Orange Bowl: Michigan 35, Alabama 34
- 2012: Alabama 41, Michigan 14 in Arlington, Texas
- 2020 Citrus Bowl: Alabama 35, Michigan 16
Monday’s matchup will also be between the schools with the most wins in college football history. Michigan has the most with 1,002 wins, while Alabama is second with 965.
Jim Harbaugh has led Michigan to arguably its biggest heights
Winners of three outright Big Ten championships in a row, something never before achieved in program history.
Three wins in a row against rival Ohio State for the first time since 1995-97.
Three consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff.
Win or lose in the Rose Bowl matchup on New Year’s Day against Alabama, three top-five finishes in a row for the first time in the poll era.
Even without a national championship on the ledger, it’s possible to view this as the most accomplished three-year run in the modern era of Michigan football.
– Read more from Paul Myerberg here.
Alabama maintains secrecy ahead of Michigan matchup
The Connor Stalions effect is apparently still affecting Michigan’s opponents.
During Thursday’s media session to kick off College Football Playoff semifinal week at the Rose Bowl, multiple Alabama players said that the coaching staff had been restricting them from bringing their iPads home to review practice film and were only watching collectively in position groups as a security precaution.
It’s unclear exactly why Alabama is going to such lengths, as the sign-stealing allegations against Michigan this season centered on Stalions deploying a network of associates to film the sidelines of opponents and potential opponents during games in an attempt to decode signals. In-person scouting is prohibited by NCAA rules.
But Alabama’s departure from its normal preparation is notable, given the focus on Michigan’s alleged espionage capabilities during the season.
– Read more from Dan Wolken here.
College Football Fix
There was controversy when the College Football Playoff semifinals pairings were announced earlier this month, but the matchups might be the best in the playoff era.
The first showdown on New Year’s Day will see Michigan face off with Alabama in the Rose Bowl. The nightcap has Texas and Washington clashing in the Sugar Bowl. Which teams will prevail and advance to the national title game in Houston on Jan. 8?
Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan vs. Alabama Rose Bowl Game live updates, score: Follow Wolverines vs. Crimson Tide in College Football Playoff semifinal