No. 1 Michigan to Face No. 4 Alabama in College Football Playoff at ...
• CFP Bound: How We Got Here
PASADENA, Calif. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan football team will be heading to Pasadena, Calif., over the holiday season to square off against No. 4 Alabama in the 2024 Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. This will be the Wolverines' 21st appearance in the "Granddaddy of Them All."
The College Football Playoff semifinal game pitting the Wolverines (13-0) against the SEC Champion Crimson Tide (12-1) will kick off at 2:10 p.m. PST from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The New Year's Day bowl matchup will be televised nationally by ESPN.
The Wolverines will make their league-leading 21st appearance in the "Granddaddy of Them All" on New Year's Day. U-M has appeared in more Rose Bowls than any other Big Ten school, and trails only Southern California (34) in overall appearances by both conferences. Michigan has compiled an 8-12 overall record in Rose Bowl games.
U-M heads into the Rose Bowl looking to claim 14 wins for the first time in the 144-year history of the program; the record is 13 victories achieved last season. The Wolverines enter the Rose Bowl matchup with the Crimson Tide fresh off a 26-0 victory over No. 18 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday (Dec. 2). Michigan won its third straight Big Ten title and the program's 45th overall conference crown. U-M advanced to the conference title game following a 30-24 victory over No. 2 Ohio State at Michigan Stadium (Nov. 25) to claim the Big Ten East Division Championship.
Michigan posted a 9-0 mark during the Big Ten regular season, winning all five conference road games and its four home league contests. The Wolverines have won 25 consecutive Big Ten games dating back to 2021, the longest streak in program history and third longest in conference history; the Big Ten does not recognize the two conference championship games, so U-M's streak sits at 22 games in the league's record book.
The Maize and Blue have been one of the most complete teams in college football this season, ranking among the top 15 in both scoring offense (14th, 36.7 avg.) and scoring defense (1st, 9.5 avg.). Michigan ranks in the top 25 of 33 NCAA statistical categories, including top 10 in 26 areas.
The Wolverines had 28 players recognized with All-Big Ten honors this season, which includes nine offensive, eight defensive and two specialists being recognized with first-, second- or third-team honors. Nine players earned first-team all-conference honors: Blake Corum, Mason Graham, LaDarius Henderson, Will Johnson, Colston Loveland, J.J. McCarthy, Drake Nugent, Mike Sainristil and Zak Zinter. Corum was named the Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year for the second straight season as McCarthy became the first Wolverine to be selected as the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year.
Michigan enters the College Football Playoff for the third consecutive season. This will be the first time the Wolverines enter as the top-ranked team in the country after finishing the regular season listed as the No. 1 team in the CFP rankings as well as the Associated Press and AFCA Coaches polls. The Wolverines ranked second for 14 of the 15 polls this season while listing third for the Ohio State game.
U-M is ranked No. 1 in the polls for the first time since 1997.
Following is some background on Michigan's bowl game history:
• Michigan will be making its 51st all-time bowl appearance, which is the 11th-highest total among FBS schools.
• Michigan will be making its 40th all-time bowl appearance in the month of January.
• Michigan has played in 12 different bowl games during its history, winning 21 bowl games, which is the 17th-highest total among FBS schools.
• The Wolverines are playing in the Rose Bowl for 21st time in school history; 8-12 record.
• Michigan's last appearance in the Rose Bowl came during the 2006 season, a 32-18 setback against USC on Jan. 1, 2007.
Ticket Information
The Michigan ticket allotment for the Rose Bowl is sold out. Football season ticket holders and athletic donors had the opportunity to pre-request tickets and will be notified of their status on Sunday, Dec. 3. Rose Bowl Ticket Packages are still available through On Location, the official Rose Bowl hospitality and travel provider.
Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential Facts
Date: Jan. 1, 2024
Time: 5:10 p.m. EST (2:10 p.m. PST)
Television: ESPN
Site: Pasadena, Calif.
Facility: Rose Bowl Stadium
Capacity: 89,702
Surface: Natural grass
Website: tournamentofroses.com
