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Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) throws to wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) during practice Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Carson, Calif. Michigan is scheduled to play against Alabama on New Year’s Day in the Rose Bowl, a semifinal in the College Football Playoff.
Months, hundreds of practices, a dozen games, and a conference championship have led to this: No. 1 Michigan taking on No. 5 Alabama in the 2023 Rose Bowl. The two programs meet in the College Football Playoff semifinals for the sixth time ever.
The top-ranked Wolverines enjoyed their second consecutive undefeated regular season in 2023. Michigan’s 14th-ranked offense scored at least 30 points in 11 of 13 regular season games, powered by running back Blake Corum. The senior scored 24 touchdowns this season to keep the pressure off quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Michigan’s defense finished the regular season first in the FBS in points allowed (9.5) and played at a historic pace for most of the season. The Wolverines allowed more than 20 points just twice in 2023.
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Alabama lost to then-No. 11 Texas in Week 2 of the college football season at home. The Crimson Tide spent the rest of the season working their way back into the College Football Playoff conversation. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Jalen Milroe improved in the second half of the season. He threw 13 touchdowns to five interceptions in his first seven games of 2023. In the five games after Alabama’s bye week, Milroe threw 10 touchdowns to just one interception. A clutch performance to beat Auburn in rivalry week preceded Alabama’s win over Georgia in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rose-bowl-2023-michigan-vs-064503764.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-01 06:45:03
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