Which game is more memorable — Michigan’s Rose Bowl win over Alabama or their National Championship victory against Washington? We asked fans this question earlier in the week and now the results are in.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Michigan Wolverines fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week we asked Michigan fans what game was more memorable — Michigan’s Rose Bowl win over Alabama or their National Championship victory against Washington. The results are in and the voters made a decisive choice.
82% of voters feel Michigan’s 27-20 overtime Rose Bowl win over Bama was more memorable than their 34-13 National Championship over Washington. Of course, if Michigan lost the National Championship, the OT thriller against Alabama would carry much less significance, therefore without one you cannot have the other.
This poll isn’t meant to diminish the National Championship Game in any way, but it truly doesn’t get more exciting than what transpired in the Rose Bowl. It was the last College Football Playoff to feature just four teams before expanding to eight, it was Nick Saban’s last game before retiring, it was one of Jim Harbaugh’s finest hours as head coach and his second-to-last game before becoming the Los Angeles Chargers head coach.
A college football classic and grand way to begin 2024.
Throwing it back to one of the greatest games in Michigan history, our 27-20 Rose Bowl victory.#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/mpA99g9rym
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 26, 2024
I made the point when the survey was released that Michigan’s win over Alabama reminded me of the Green Bay Packers Ice Bowl victory against the Dallas Cowboys in the 1967 NFL Championship Game. People remember the Ice Bowl and Bart Starr’s QB sneak to win the game in the waning seconds more than Super Bowl II a couple weeks later, where the NFL Champion Packers beat the AFL Champion Oakland Raiders 33-14. In some ways, the pageantry and theater of Michigan’s win over Alabama felt like that of a Super Bowl.
How did you vote this week? Let us know what you think of the results.