Two major storylines for playoff semifinals
When the defense of No. 1 Michigan takes the field in the Rose Bowl on Monday (5 p.m., ESPN), one of the key questions will be whether the Wolverines can contain the running of Jalen Milroe, the quarterback for No. 4 Alabama.
On one of the Wolverines’ last trips to the Rose Bowl, in 2005, Texas quarterback Vince Young was unstoppable, willing the Longhorns back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 38-37. Young carried the ball 21 times for 192 yards and four touchdowns, and Michigan fans have had nightmares ever since.
Milroe may be the closest thing as a runner at the quarterback position that we’ve seen since Young, and it’s Michigan’s job to make sure he doesn’t take over the game like he did when he ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Louisiana State.
For Michigan, the Vince Young game wasn’t an isolated occurrence. It has struggled with mobile quarterbacks for decades (it is no coincidence that Urban Meyer’s Ohio State offenses consistently blew by the Wolverines).
Michigan’s defense is a veteran unit that has seen a lot and won’t be shook up by anything — but the Big Ten schedule has not supplied it with any dynamic playmakers at quarterback.
The Wolverines’ physical and deep front should acquit itself well against designed quarterback runs. The bigger question will be how it guards against Milroe scrambling or pulling the ball down when a passing play breaks down. If Michigan’s safeties pay too much attention to Milroe running, he has the massive arm and speedy receivers to punish them over the top.
— LOS ANGELES TIMES
High scoring expected in Sugar Bowl:
A
pair of high-powered offenses created the matchup between No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Monday (8:45 p.m., ESPN), so plenty of points are expected in this semifinal.
Washington is riding a 20-game winning streak that extends back to Oct. 15, 2022, and could have easily been ranked No. 1 heading into the playoffs.
The Longhorns had the season’s benchmark road win at Alabama and have won seven straight games, including a 49-21 victory over then-No. 18 Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game.
During the regular season, both teams averaged more than 469 yards of total offense per game, with Texas ranking ninth nationally and the Huskies 10th.
Washington, spurred by record-setting quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr., led the nation in passing yards per game (343.8), while the Longhorns were more balanced, finishing the regular season in the top 23 in both rushing and passing.
The Huskies’ offensive line won the Joe Moore Award for the best in college football; Texas counters with massive defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat, the Outland Trophy winner for best interior lineman, and linebacker Jaylan Ford, who led the Longhorns in tackles this season with 91.
“I’m not going to lie, their D-line is good,” Penix said. “But at the same time, they haven’t played our O-line.”