The dust of the Rose Bowl game has settled and came out on top were the favorites Michigan Wolverines.
Coach Jim Harbaugh's squad won against the Alabama Crimson Tide, 27-20, in a game that needed an overtime period.
Michigan will next face the Washington Huskies who triumphed over the Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl.
The game was filled with almost everything people expected from both sides. From unnecessary physicality, to chess moves from the two coaches, the game had it all.
Here are the three key takeaways from the Rose Bowl game:
1. JJ McCarthy should be a first-rounder in NFL.
Scouts from the professional league are observing McCarthy and he showed one of his best games of the season in the Rose Bowl.
Chatters have it that McCarthy will be picked by the second round of the NFL draft in April this year.
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Against Alabama, McCarthy showed out in crunch time. In the game, he made 17/27 in passing for 246 total yards, three touchdowns, and without an interception.
Running back Donovan Edwards decided to pass the ball to McCarthy but it was too high. His QB somehow caught the ball and immediately passed it to Roman Wilson to gain 20 years into the Alabama field.
What a crazy play by Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy. Catches the bad pass with one hand, throws the ball as he's about to get rocked, and connects with his receiver. pic.twitter.com/ysgoX6lVgT
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 1, 2024
The duo connected again in the dying moments of the game when they were down 13-20. McCarthy tracked Wilson with 1:35 remaining in the clock for a four-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
This game should be presented by McCarthy's agents to NFL teams. He showed toughness and ability to adjust under pressure, something that many franchises could use.
2. Alabama belongs to the Top 4.
Nick Saban's and Alabama's season come to a close with just two losses and a three-year title drought.
People were not convinced though that their campaign should be extended to the Rose Bowl as they thought they were undeserving of the College Football Playoffs spot.
Naysayers were proven wrong despite the loss. Michigan needed an overtime to win the match. In fact, the Rose Bowl could have been Crimson Tide's.
Saban is proud of his boys despite the loss.
"We just didn't finish the last four minutes of the game like we would like to, and we're all very disappointed, and the players are disappointed, as well," he told reporters after the game.
"But one thing that I told them in the locker room after the game, this is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from, what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to do, winning the SEC Championship, and really, really proud of this group."
3. Special teams should improve.
Both Michigan and Alabama had their special teams make fumble in the game and it is not a stretch to say that it dictated the outcome.
Alabama will have time to figure this out in the off-season but Michigan should do something about it quick for the finals.
First major error from the special teams of Michigan was when Semaj Morgan muffed a punt that led to the first touchdown by Alabama.
There was another in the final minute when the Wolverines decided to have Jack Thaw back deep. It did not pay off as he fumbled the punt near the goal line.
The Michigan Wolverines' special teams and the offensive coaching staff are spared of the blame since they won.
Related article: Michigan Football: 3 Problems Wolverines Need to Fix to Win National Title
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