The Michigan Wolverines are preparing for a matchup with the Arizona Wildcats in the Final Four on Saturday in Indianapolis. Today, I want to talk about how this Final Four matchup has all the similarities to the 2024 Rose Bowl between Michigan and Alabama, with the key factor being this game feels like the de facto title game. The 2024 Rose Bowl carried an extraordinary weight for a semifinal game, and there were several converging reasons why it felt like the real National Championship. But it’s not just coaching philosophies that draw ties to the 2024 Rose Bowl. The sheer density of NFL-caliber talent on the field in Pasadena dwarfed what was on display in the Sugar Bowl.

Source: New York Times April 02, 2026 17:56 UTC