This is as close as it comes to a traditional Rose Bowl Game in this day and age. No. 1 Michigan didn’t have to think twice when making its venue choice for this College Football Playoff semifinal. The Wolverines played in the first “Granddaddy of Them All” in 1902. Pasadena, California, has served as postseason home for this program 18 previous times. The longing has been great to get back; Michigan last played in the Rose Bowl in 2007 (vs. USC) as part of a Big Ten vs. Pac-10 tradition that lasted from 1947 to 2002.
Nowadays, between the old BCS system and the College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl has mostly been told: You’re taking who you’re given. So the Rose long ago opted out of its tradition so it could be part of the national championship picture.
No. 4 Alabama is no slouch in terms of this game’s tradition, either. The Rose Bowl is mentioned in the school’s fight song. With eight appearances, the Crimson Tide have played in more Rose Bowls than 12 schools combined in the Big Ten and Pac-12.
In this current configuration, the Rose Bowl is unlikely to host a CFP National Championship. That doesn’t mean being a national semifinal — or quarterfinal, as it will serve in 2024 — isn’t attractive. This one, for example, features two iconic coaches at the top of their games.
Of course, there is so much more to this year’s Rose Bowl than just a beautiful sunset over the San Gabriel Mountains. So, what are the keys to winning the game when the Rose Bowl kicks off on Monday? Let’s take a look.
College Football Playoff cases: No. 1 Michigan | No. 2 Washington | No. 3 Texas | No. 4 Alabama
Keys to the Rose Bowl semifinal
1. Michigan’s easy path
This is a polite way of saying the Big Ten was subpar this season. Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State were good, sure. The rest of the league? Not so much. That’s not to take anything away from the Wolverines, which became a legitimate No. 1 seed after capturing their third consecutive conference title. They just haven’t had many games like this. Alabama matches up well across both lines. At his best, Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe does things Wolverines QB J.J. McCarthy simply cannot. Michigan running back Blake Corum’s output has decreased this season. His team has played three ranked programs, all since Nov. 11. Alabama has played five such teams stretching back to September.
The question seems to be whether…
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