Cam Goode: Michigan 'wasn't worried about Bama,' was 'more shocked' Florida State missed CFP
After coming up short in its last two trips to the College Football Playoff, Michigan finally got over the hump. The Wolverines gutted out an overtime victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday, punching their ticket to the national championship.
Hype built for the matchup immediately after the final rankings reveal, which saw some gasps during Michigan’s watch party in Indianapolis. It led some to wonder if Wolverines fans maybe didn’t want to play Alabama in the game.
According to Cam Goode, though, that wasn’t the case.
“We were more shocked that Florida State didn’t make it,” Cam Goode said after the game, sitting in the end zone after the celebration. “We wasn’t worried about Bama. I mean, you guys saw the results. We got the dub, and that’s all that matters, man. Roses smell real good.”
Much of the conversation around Michigan this year — well, the last two months — has been about the sign-stealing allegations against the Wolverines. Some said they shouldn’t be allowed to play in the CFP because of the scandal, and Jim Harbaugh served a suspension as a result of the situation.
Michigan channeled it into motivation, and Goode noted the Wolverines won the game “fair and square.”
“Hear me out. We beat Bama fair and square, that’s all I’m gonna say,” Goode said. “Fair and square. Y’all seen it. We beat the referees and Bama, how about that?”
Alabama struck first blood in Monday’s game, taking a 7-0 lead when Jase McClellan scored a first-quarter touchdown. But Michigan struck back right away as J.J. McCarthy hit Blake Corum to tie things up at 7-7. The Wolverines then took a 13-7 lead when Tyler Morris caught a 38-yard reception from McCarthy. A Will Reichard field goal cut it to 13-10 just prior to halftime.
After a quiet third quarter, Alabama jumped back out in front thanks in large part to a strong drive from Jalen Milroe. He set up McClellan’s second touchdown of the day which, thanks to the botched extra point earlier in the game, put the Crimson Tide up by four points, 17-13. The Wolverines failed to capitalize on a Milroe fumble, but got the ball back with just over four minutes left to try and make something happen.
They did just that. McCarthy found Corum on a 4th and 2 to extend the drive, and it ended with a Roman Wilson touchdown to tie things up at 20-20. That gave Alabama the ball back with 1:34 to play, but the Crimson Tide came up empty — and the game went to overtime. Corum took the second hand-off of the extra period in for a touchdown, and Michigan punched its ticket to the national championship with a 27-20 victory.