Michigan advances to the National Championship Game after beating Alabama 27-20 in Overtime

Michigan Wolverines #9 J.J. McCarthy (QB) is rolling out of the pocket to his right and looking for an open receiver downfield to throw the football to. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

 PASADENA, CA - The No. 1 rank Michigan Wolverines, with a sold-out crowd, had to hold off the No. 4 rank Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime to escape with a thrilling 27-20 victory in the College Football Semifinals at the Rose Bowl.

J.J. McCarthy kept his poise and was named the Offensive Player of the Game, passing for 221 yards and three touchdowns to lead their come-from-behind victory.

"Everything that we went through this entire year made us unbreakable, and in the biggest moments, we were going to show up," said McCarthy.

Jim Harbaugh, the head coach for Michigan, and his coaching staff did a marvelous job getting them to the Rose Bowl and shared his thoughts about the game.

"Glorious. That was glorious," Harbaugh said. "It was a tremendous football game."

The Michigan Wolverines started their first offensive series with an interception by their quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, and the head referee reviewed the play and reversed the call, and the defender stepped out of bounds.

Alabama Crimson Tide #2 Jase McClellan (RB) braking free for a 34-yard touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines defense. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

The Alabama Crimson Tide scored on their first possession with a 34-yard touchdown run by Jase McClellan, and the extra point by Will Reichard was good to take a 7-0 lead. Michigan's second offensive possession, Blake Corum, had a big run for 21 yards to Alabama's 48-yard line.

Michigan would go 75 yards and tie the game 7-7 after McCarthy threw an 8-yard touchdown to Corum, and the extra point was good by James Turner was good.

Michigan would take the lead in the second quarter, 13-7, when McCarthy threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Morris with 3:49 left before halftime. Michigan led at halftime 13-10 after Reichard kicked a 50-yard field goal.

Alabama took the lead in the fourth quarter, 17-13, after going 75 yards and eight plays with a 3-yard run by Jase McClellan. Michigan, on defense, came up with a turnover with 12:47 left in the game when Jalen Milroe for Alabama fumbled the football at their 49-yard line and recovered by Josh Wallace (CB).

Turner had a chance to have Michigan trail by one point but missed a 49-yard field goal to give the ball back to Alabama. Moments later, Reichard kicked a 52-yard field goal to give Alabama a 20-13 lead with 4:41 left in the game.

• Michigan Wolverines #2 Blake Corum (RB) 17-yard touchdown run in overtime against the Alabama Crimson Tide’s defense. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Michigan's offense had one more chance to get back in the game, and they delivered after driving downfield 75 yards with eight plays, capped off when McCarthy threw a 4-yard touchdown to Roman Wilson, tying the game 20-20 to help send the game into overtime.

The Wolverines would score first in overtime when Corum ran into the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown to give them a 27-20 lead.

The Michigan Wolverines’ defense stopped the Alabama Crimson Tide on offense on fourth and goal to seal their victory at the Rose Bowl. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Alabama had a chance to score and send the game into another overtime period when Michigan's defense stopped them cold on fourth and goal at their two-yard line to punch their ticket into the National Championship Game next Monday in Houston.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban, after the game, gave praises to his team for being able to make it to the Rose Bowl after going through some rough challenges this season.

"We just didn't finish the last four minutes of the game like we would like to, and we're all very disappointed," Saban said. "But one thing I told them in the locker room, this is one of the most amazing seasons in Alabama football history in terms of where this team came from and what they were able to accomplish."

The top rusher for Michigan was Corum, with 83 yards and one touchdown, and another touchdown receiving with two catches for 35 yards. Wilson led them in receptions with four catches for 73 yards and one touchdown, and Tyler Morris with two catches for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Jalen Milroe completed 16 of his 23 passes for 116 yards for Alabama, and Jase McClellan ran for 87 yards and two touchdowns.