Gut reactions to incredible Rose Bowl win for Michigan football

What a night, Michigan football fans.

In one of the greatest Rose Bowl games in history, Michigan football rallied from a seven-point deficit in the final minutes to force overtime.

The Wolverines made clutch play after clutch play down the stretch. When everything was on the line, J.J. McCarthy was at his absolute best. First, he connected with Blake Corum on a fourth-and-two. Then, after two completions to Roman Wilson, the Wolverines were in the end zone with a game-tying touchdown.

Blake Corum did the work in overtime. He got two carries in the extra frame and maybe completed the greatest run in Michigan football history to give the Wolverines the lead. The defense came up with a goal-line stand and now, they are one win away from a national title.

The defense allowed 20 points but was spectacular, sacking Jalen Milroe six times. McCarthy threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, plus zero interceptions. Corum rushed for 83 yards and also caught two huge passes for 35 yards, as well as finding the end zone twice.

It took every single player. It wasn't a clean game by any means but Michigan survived and will play for the national championship next Monday. Here are the gut reactions.

Gut reactions to Rose Bowl win over Alabama

• J.J. McCarthy is a Michigan legend. He wasn't elite all game but he was elite when he had to be. That last touchdown drive will go down in the history books.

• Blake The Great is the best running back in Michigan football history. The Wolverines don't win this game without his heroics. It's as simple as that.

• Special teams nearly cost this team a national title. Holy cow that was a mess. Luckily, Jake Thaw didn't lose his head on that last punt return. That would have been trouble with the snap x a million.

• Kudos to the offensive line. Those guys were special in the Rose Bowl. U-M ran for 130 against Alabama while surrendering just one sack, which I believe was on Alex Orji.

• I want to see less Alex Orji in the national championship game. In fact, I don't want to see that wrinkle at all. It wasn't effective and took U-M's best player off the field.

• I loved the trick-play calls. The timing was the perfect. The execution was not.

• Jesse Mihter and Sherrone Moore had great nights.

• If Michigan wins next week, Jim Harbaugh is the greatest head coach and J.J. McCarthy is the greatest QB in U-M history. There will be no debate. They probably are already.

• This is a 1997-level defense. Can't give those guys enough praise for what they did.

• This is the most important non-Ohio State win in Michigan football history. Now, they just need one more.

• GO BLUE