3 takeaways as Michigan football breaks Alabama's heart in the Rose Bowl

That's what a College Football Playoff game should look like. As much criticism as the committee got, we should thank those guys for putting this game together.

Alabama gave No. 1 Michigan everything it could handle. For most of the second half, it looked like the Tide would win and that would usher in another national title chance for Nick Saban.

Instead, J.J. McCarthy engineered an epic game-tying drive. McCarthy wasn't spectacular for most of the game but in key moments, he was as elite as they come. The Wolverines tied the game and won it in overtime with an epic Blake Corum run, as well as a goal-line stand.

Michigan football is now one win away from its first outright national championship since 1948 and here are three takeaways from the 27-20 win for the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl.

Jim Harbaugh proves people wrong again

This win was about much more than Jim Harbaugh. But man, the dude just lives to prove people wrong. Since he was nearly fired after the 2020 season, Michigan football has won three Big Ten titles, won three straight over Ohio State and Penn State, made three playoff appearances, and now, U-M has its first College Football Playoff win.

Jim Harbaugh is the only head coach to take a team the Super Bowl and College Football Playoff national title game. He's also beat Nick Saban and the SEC to get there. All the things people said Jim couldn't do -- he's done. Save one.

And he can cross that off his list with a win next Monday.