Alabama star Jalen Milroe says Michigan won Rose Bowl 'fair and square'

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The Michigan football program has found itself in a sign-stealing controversy, and the speculators are ready to put an asterisk in the record books.

En route to winning the national championship, the Wolverines got by the Alabama Crimson Tide in a thrilling Rose Bowl, in which they stopped Jalen Milroe from scoring in overtime, which would have kept the game alive.

The stout Wolverines defense stopped the Alabama quarterback at the line of scrimmage, putting themselves in the national championship – where they would beat Washington.

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Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide is tackled by Makari Paige of the Michigan Wolverines during the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024, in Pasadena, California. (Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

The sign-stealing accusations came about during the season, so it would be understandable if Milroe had a sour taste in his mouth.

He does have that sour taste, but not because he feels cheated. In fact, it's the opposite.

Milroe said Michigan won "fair and square" and instead attributed the loss to missed "opportunities" on his team's end.

"We had opportunities that we should have seized in the game, and we didn’t play to the standard we play at," Milroe told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. 

"They won fair and square, they deserved to win the national championship, and that’s for us to reflect on things in 2024 we need to improve on. They deserved it, and they should have won."

Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in overtime against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Rose Bowl Stadium on Jan. 1,