Michigan has lost one regular-season game in the last three seasons, but postseason success still eludes the Wolverines.
Jim Harbaugh’s group was non-competitive against Georgia in the semifinals two years ago, and an upset loss to TCU in the semis last season overshadowed one of the all-time great seasons in Michigan history.
There arguably has never been a better opportunity than now for the Wolverines to return to the pinnacle of college football. To get there, a win over a disciplined, motivated Alabama team led by legendary coach Nick Saban is the next step.
MORE: Watch the College Football Playoff semifinals live with Fubo (free trial)
Few expected Alabama to be in this position early in the season, when the Crimson Tide struggled to find much momentum offensively after a home loss to Texas. Even if it wasn’t always pretty, all Alabama did was win, win and keep winning, all the way through the SEC championship against reigning national champion Georgia.
Breaking down a tough Michigan defense could be one of the biggest challenges Alabama has faced this season. Quarterback Jalen Milroe has impressed with his mobility down the stretch, but the Wolverines are allowing less than three yards per carry. On the other side, Michigan’s inconsistent passing game led by J.J. McCarthy is in for a major test against Kool-Aid McKinstry and Alabama’s secondary.
After a tumultuous few months for Harbaugh, who served two separate suspensions and was caught up in a sign-stealing scandal that never shook Michigan’s confidence on the field, the ninth-year coach has a chance to ensure the Wolverines’ 2023 season is defined by a trophy rather than a scandal.
MORE: How Michigan, Alabama stack up all-time
The Sporting News is tracking live updates and highlights from Alabama vs. Michigan in the College Football Playoff semifinals. Follow along with the Rose Bowl action below.
Alabama vs. Michigan score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Alabama | 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Michigan | 7 | – | – | – | – |
Alabama vs. Michigan live updates, highlights from College Football Playoff semifinal
(All times Eastern)
6:00 p.m. — Milroe makes up some yardage on 3rd & 23, but it’s not nearly enough. Michigan’s defense gets off the field quickly for the second consecutive drive.
5:59 p.m. — Make it FOUR sacks for Michigan, as Milroe gets brought down on back-to-back plays. It’s 3rd & 23.
5:58 p.m. — Michigan’s defense gets Milroe again, and it was a direct shot. Alabama’s offensive line missed that one.
5:57 p.m. — Kool-Aid McKinstry makes a great play to prevent Semaj Morgan from getting the first down, so Michigan punts it back to the Tide.
End of first quarter: Alabama 7, Michigan 7
5:53 p.m. — An unnecessary roughness penalty on Max Bredeson turns what would’ve been a Michigan first down into a 2nd & 11.
5:51 p.m. — Right now, Michigan’s running game is overpowering Alabama. The Tide have excelled at adjusting in-game, so it will be interesting to see how much longer the Wolverines are able to have this kind of success.
5:50 p.m. — Semaj Morgan picks up a first down to give Michigan a little more breathing room.
5:48 p.m. — Alabama’s punter takes a hit at the end of the play, and the Tide faithful are frustrated with no flag on the field. James Burnip walks off gingerly, so that’s something to monitor the rest of the way.
HE RAN RIGHT THRU JAMES BURNIP#PMSCFBRoseBowl pic.twitter.com/vsT4XREOu2
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 1, 2024
5:47 p.m. — Milroe takes off on 3rd & 11 and appears to slip three yards before the first down marker, so Alabama will be forced to punt. Michigan’s defense with a quick response after allowing the touchdown on the last drive.
5:45 p.m. — Welcome to the College Football Playoff, where a touchdown is followed by a commercial break, a fruitless kickoff, and then another commercial break.
Alabama 7, Michigan 7
5:38 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — What a response by Michigan. Corum gets free and walks into the end zone on a pass from McCarthy, and the Wolverines have quickly gone down the field to tie this game.
Blake Corum TD. Alabama 7 – 7 Michigan pic.twitter.com/HxeYFbTV2v
— FootballSZN (@FtballSZN) January 1, 2024
5:36 p.m. — McCarthy looks like he’s starting to gain some confidence, evading Alabama’s pass-rush and finding Kalel Mullings along the sideline for a first down.
5:35 p.m. — Corum leaves no doubt and surges ahead for the first down. Michigan is getting closer to field goal range, but Jim Harbaugh is looking to match Alabama’s touchdown.
5:34 p.m. — A designed run takes J.J. McCarthy right up to about the first down marker, but he didn’t get there. Michigan figures to go for it here, needing only a yard.
5:31 p.m. — Blake Corum bullies his way into Alabama territory. Both of these teams seem to be figuring out that running the ball is the path to success offensively.
Alabama 7, Michigan 0
5:27 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — No one could keep up with Jase McClellan, who goes untouched for a huge early touchdown. Alabama leads, 7-0.
Touchdown, Alabama
Jase McClellan takes it in, capitalizing off the Michigan turnover. Wolverine defenders were shook on that play pic.twitter.com/JE4iJIClyJ
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 1, 2024
5:26 p.m. — Alabama barely picks up another first down to keep the drive alive. Milroe was pushed just far enough past the marker.
5:22 p.m. — Milroe scampers for a first down, and Michigan has a player down.
5:20 p.m. FUMBLE — What a disaster for the Wolverines, as Semaj Morgan muffs the punt with no one around him and Alabama recovers. This game has been defined by mistakes so far.
BAMA RECOVERS THE MUFFED PUNT 😳#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/egw7R9mNEU
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2024
5:19 p.m. — Michigan’s pass-rush gets Milroe again on third down! This game has been dominated by defense on the opening drives. Alabama will punt.
5:17 p.m. — Milroe is sacked for a huge loss on Alabama’s first offensive snap. Michigan’s defense brought the pressure, and the Tide’s offensive line just couldn’t hold up.
5:16 p.m. — McCarthy throws incomplete on third down, so the Wolverines will start the day with a punt. Preventing Alabama from gathering momentum with a scoring drive will be critical for Michigan.
5:14 p.m. — The ruling is NO interception, as Downs was out of bounds before coming back in and intercepting the ball. A huge break for Michigan just seven seconds in.
5:12 p.m. — McCarthy is picked off by Caleb Downs on the first play of the game! If McCarthy is going to make mistakes like that, this is going to be a long day for Michigan.
JJ McCARTHY’S FIRST PASS GETS PICKED BY CALEB DOWNS#RollTide | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/9YmOJ5ZHBg
— Depressed New York Fan (@JudgeEnjoyer) January 1, 2024
5:10 p.m. — Michigan will start with the ball, looking to make an early dent in Alabama’s defense.
5:00 p.m. — We’re still about 10 minutes from kickoff as the festivities take place.
4:57 p.m. — Alabama is a popular pick in this game, but there was a large portion of the season when the Tide just didn’t look the part offensively. The big test will be whether the offense can get into an early rhythm against one of the nation’s toughest defenses.
4:45 p.m. — The Harbaugh brothers have a chance to make 2024 a magical year, as this appears to be Jim’s best shot at a national championship while John has led the Ravens to the best record in the NFL.
4:35 p.m. — Michigan didn’t have Blake Corum during last year’s CFP loss to TCU. Expect the running back to be the focal point of the Wolverines’ offense today, if they can keep this game where they want it.
Last year, Blake Corum was in LA after knee surgery.
This year, the Rose Bowl and the biggest game of his life. pic.twitter.com/AkfgpuB72w
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) January 1, 2024
11 a.m. — Michigan’s pregame video is voiced by Lions star and former Wolverine Aidan Hutchinson:
This is our time. We were born for this moment.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/ndg1UCNX76
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 1, 2024
10:31 a.m. — Alabama is first with the game-day hype video, narrated by former running back Mark Ingram. He won a title and a Heisman Trophy with the Tide in 2009 and, coincidentally or not, grew up in Michigan.
Remember the Rose Bowl. 🌹@markingramII #RollTide pic.twitter.com/MQEa8izDSZ
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 1, 2024
Alabama vs. Michigan start time
- Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT)
The Rose Bowl is set to kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 1. It is the first of the two Playoff games, with the Sugar Bowl between No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas kicking off at 8:45 p.m. ET.
What channel is Alabama vs. Michigan on today?
- TV network (national): ESPN
Alabama vs. Michigan will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Chris Fowler (play-by-play) and Kirk Herbstreit (color analyst) will be on the call from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
ESPN is also rolling out its Megacast for the College Football Playoff, once again providing alternate broadcasts across its family of networks with just about the same setup as last season’s semifinals.
| Telecast | TV channel |
| Field Pass with The Pat McAfee Show | ESPN2 |
| Command Center | ESPNU |
| Skycast | ESPN News |
| Spanish-language | ESPN Deportes |
How to live stream College Football Playoff games
- Live streams: ESPN App, Fubo
Both College Football Playoff semifinals will be available to stream live on all of the network’s digital platforms, including ESPN.com and the ESPN App.
Cord-cutters have several live streaming options, including Fubo, which offers a free trial:
| Streaming option | Cable subscription needed? | Free? | Cost | Free trial? |
| ESPN.com/ESPN App | Yes | Yes | – | – |
| Fubo | No | No | $75/month | Yes |
| AT&T TV Now | No | No | $70/month | Yes |
| Hulu Plus Live TV | No | No | $76/month | Yes |
| Sling TV | No | No | $40/month | No |
| YouTube TV | No | No | $73/month | Yes |
College Football Playoff schedule
| Date | Bowl | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl (CFP semifinal) | No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama | 5 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Jan. 1 | Sugar Bowl (CFP semifinal) | No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas | 8:45 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
| Jan. 8 | CFP National Championship Game | TBD vs. TBD | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo |
