CNN –
The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies have qualified for the College Football Playoff National Championship, where they will meet in the title game on January 8th in Houston.
In Monday's two semifinals, No. 1 Michigan beat the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 in overtime in the Rose Bowl, while No. 2 Washington beat the No. 3 Texas Longhorns 37-31 in the sugar bowl.
Here are some of the highlights from Monday's semifinals.
In a hard-fought matchup, Michigan and Alabama were tied 20-20 after regulation time, forcing the contest known as “the granddaddy of them all” into overtime for the second time in the game's illustrious history.
After Michigan running back Blake Corum scored a touchdown to give his team the lead, the Wolverines' defense stopped Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe at the 3-yard line on fourth down, advancing to the national championship game on January 8th Houston before.
Michigan, which earlier this season became the first college football program ever to reach 1,000 wins, is seeking its first national championship since 1997, when the Wolverines shared the title with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The NCAA credits Michigan with nine football championships, while Michigan claims eleven.
This is the third straight season the Wolverines have reached the College Football Playoff, but Michigan hasn't made it past the semifinals the last two years.
A national title for Michigan would cap a memorable, controversial season.
Earlier in the year, head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the team's first three games, a self-imposed sanction by the Michigan athletics department due to NCAA recruiting violations. The NCAA, which is currently investigating the matter, could potentially impose additional penalties in this case.
The NCAA opened a second investigation into the Wolverines in October over alleged sign stealing, which led to the suspension and subsequent resignation of Michigan football analyst Connor Stalions, and linebackers coach Chris Partidge was fired.
Harbaugh has denied knowledge of a plan to steal other teams' signs, but accepted a three-game suspension – bringing his total number of games away from Michigan's sidelines to six.
Both NCAA investigations into Michigan remain ongoing.
Michigan (14-0) was led Monday, as it has been all season, by quarterback JJ McCarthy, who threw three touchdown passes against Alabama. The potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft completed 17 of 27 passes.
Corum also scored the Wolverines' first touchdown and Michigan's defense frustrated Milroe by sacking him five times in the first half and six times total.
Still, the Wolverines needed a 75-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter to force overtime, with Corum repelling the offensive heroics and the defense making the game-winning stop as Milroe couldn't find a way out as he went into the middle of the line ran.
The Crimson Tide finished the season 12-2.
Washington never trailed in the first half and took the lead three times. But Texas had an answer for every result and both teams entered halftime tied 21-21.
Led by Michael Penix Jr., the nation's best passing quarterback, the Huskies scored 13 unanswered points in the second half and held off a late rally by the Longhorns to secure the thrilling win at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers found himself trailing by six points with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter. He drove the offense into the redzone, but his fourth-and-11 pass attempt failed on the final play of the game.
Heisman Trophy finalist Penix Jr. completed 29 of his 38 pass attempts and finished the game with 430 passing yards and two touchdown passes. His 430 yards are the second-most ever in a College Football Playoff semifinal, behind Joe Burrow's 493 yards in 2019.
Like Michigan, the Washington Huskies reached the semifinals with a 13-0 record and much of their success can be attributed to Penix Jr.
Penix went into the Sugar Bowl confident before the team's victory.
“I’m not going to lie, their D-line is good. But at the same time, they didn’t play our O-line,” Penix told reporters before his game against the Longhorns Brett McMurphy. “They play good ball, but I wouldn’t say we’re playing against the 49ers’ D-line or the Eagles’ D-line, so we’ll be good.”
The Huskies will next play the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on January 8th at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Washington, which will leave the Pac-12 Conference after the season, will compete for the program's first national championship since 1991, when the Huskies shared the title with the Miami Hurricanes. The NCAA credits Washington with one football national championship, while the Huskies claim two.