When the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines face off within the Rose Bowl on New Yr’s Day, many will merely contemplate the sport one more matchup between two of school soccer’s blue bloods.
After notching this system’s 1,000th victory this yr, Michigan is the winningest program within the sport’s historical past. And who’s that ranked second? None aside from the Crimson Tide with 965 wins.
So why did the Michigan staff and their supporters appear to gasp when Alabama was introduced as their opponent within the Faculty Soccer Playoff? It is probably a matter of current historical past.
The 2 packages first met on the sector in 1988 and have solely performed 5 occasions. Alabama holds a slim 3-2 benefit, however these final two video games had been each Crimson Tide wins that got here in demoralizing trend.
To kick off the 2012 season, Alabama and Michigan met in Dallas, the place the Tide cruised to a 41-14 win over the then-No. 8 Wolverines.
After which on Jan. 1, 2020, a Tide squad that fell wanting its nationwide title hopes confronted off in opposition to No. 14 Michigan within the Citrus Bowl, and sadly for the Wolverines, Alabama’s pent-up frustration was targeted on them.
The sport’s first play from scrimmage was an an all-too-easy 85-yard landing catch and run by Jerry Jeudy, and Alabama ended up profitable by three scores, 35-16.
Whereas the Michigan gamers probably do not bear in mind it, the Wolverines have a heartbreaking win of their very own. Within the 2000 Orange Bowl, a Tom Brady-led Michigan upset the No. 5 Tide 35-34 in extra time.
If Michigan takes down the Tide in Pasadena on New Yr’s Day, they will do extra than simply tie a younger rivalry between storied packages. They’re going to reset the current narrative that Michigan (and, by extension, the Huge Ten) cannot grasp with Alabama (and, by extension, the SEC).
So do not be shocked if this one’s as shut as Michigan vs. Alabama was on the flip of the millennium. Not solely are each groups taking part in for a shot at a nationwide title, however that is the Granddaddy of Them All. A method or one other, historical past might be made.