PASADENA, Calif. — Top-seeded Michigan outmatched No. 4 Alabama in a 27-20 overtime win at the Rose Bowl on Monday that clinched the Wolverines' first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Blake Corum rushed for a 17-yard touchdown on the second snap of overtime and Michigan's defense ended only the second overtime game in the 110 editions of the Rose Bowl when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was emphatically stopped as he attempted to sneak up the middle on fourth down from the Michigan 3.
For the better part of the past 15 years, Nick Saban's Alabama teams have represented not only college football's paragon, but also the sport's most physically dominant entity.
But during a season in which the Tide were forced to constantly survive rather than impose their will, Michigan (14-0) proved to be their end game.