In a surprising turn of events, the Alabama Crimson Tide will be facing off against the Michigan Wolverines in the highly anticipated Rose Bowl. The journey to this point has been anything but smooth for Alabama, as they faced setbacks early on in the 2023 college football regular season.

It all started in Week 2 when the Texas Longhorns managed to defeat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, ending the Crimson Tide's impressive 21-game home winning streak. This loss raised concerns among fans and the national media alike, questioning whether this marked the decline of Nick Saban's dominant reign at Alabama.

The following week, Alabama's offense struggled against South Florida, earning a victory but drawing criticism from the national media. The Georgia Bulldogs, on the other hand, were starting to be seen as the new powerhouse in the SEC, further fueling the conversation around the end of Saban's era at Alabama.

However, Saban and his team quickly silenced the doubters by going on an impressive 11-game winning streak, securing their spot in the College Football Playoff. Their resilience and determination proved why Saban is widely regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time.

As the Crimson Tide prepares to face Michigan, there are a few key players to watch. One of them is Jalen Milroe, a sophomore quarterback who has been instrumental in Alabama's success. With the departure of Bryce Young to the NFL Draft, Milroe took on the challenge of leading the team's offense.

At the start of the season, Saban had three quarterbacks competing for the starting position, but Milroe eventually emerged as the clear choice. Since then, he has been a force to be reckoned with, throwing for an impressive 2,269 yards, 18 passing touchdowns, and 10 rushing scores. Milroe's ability to extend plays with his legs and arm has made him a formidable threat on the field.

Michigan's defensive coordinator, Jesse Minter, admitted that shutting down Milroe will be a challenging task. Minter compared Milroe's playing style to Taulia Tagovailoa at Maryland, highlighting his involvement in the run game and his ability to make off-schedule plays. The Wolverines will have to come up with a solid game plan to contain Milroe and disrupt Alabama's offense.

Another key player for Alabama is senior wide receiver Jermaine Burton. While the Crimson Tide's offense may not rely on shoot-outs, they have the capability to move the ball down the field effectively. Burton has been a reliable target for Milroe, and his contributions in the passing game will be crucial in the Rose Bowl matchup.

As the stage is set for the Alabama-Michigan clash in the Rose Bowl, fans eagerly await the outcome of this highly anticipated game. Will Alabama's explosive offense prove too much for Michigan's defense to handle? Or will the Wolverines find a way to shut down Milroe and disrupt Alabama's game plan? Only time will tell as these two college football powerhouses battle it out on the field.