A panoramic view of the Rose Bowl, January 2020 (File photo – Aaron Ames)
The Granddaddy of Them All will host the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines, champions of the Big Ten Conference, and the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide, champions of the Southeastern Conference.
By News Desk
This year will be Michigan’s 21st appearance in the Rose Bowl Game while Alabama will make its eighth trip to Pasadena.
This year’s Rose Bowl Game will be the sixth meeting of Michigan and Alabama in history. The two winningest teams in college football history have played five times with four of those matchups coming in bowl games. Alabama leads the all-time series against Michigan, 3-2.
Michigan won its third consecutive Big Ten Championship with a 26-0 victory over Iowa on Saturday. The Wolverines finished the season with a perfect 13-0 overall record and 9-0 mark in conference play. Michigan has played in 20 Rose Bowl Games with an 8-12 record, most recently the 2007 edition of The Granddaddy of Them All. Overall, Michigan is 21-29 in 50 bowl games.
Alabama won 11 consecutive games on its way to the SEC Championship. The Crimson Tide defeated Georgia on Saturday, 27-24, to finish the season 12-1 with an 8-0 record in the SEC. Alabama has a 5-1-1 record in seven trips to the Rose Bowl Game, among their nation-leading 70 bowl game appearances and 42 bowl wins.
Pasadena Tournament of Roses President Alex Aghajanian, said:
We are excited to host a College Football Playoff Semifinal, which will also be the first-ever matchup of Michigan and Alabama in a Rose Bowl Game. We are thrilled to welcome two storied football programs to Pasadena for The Granddaddy of Them All.”
Tidbits
– Pre-game festivities on January 1 will begin at 1:00 pm and it will be televised nationally on ESPN.
– Michigan will occupy the west sideline (press box side) and have their colors painted in the north end zone, while Alabama will occupy the east sideline and have their colors painted in the south end zone.
– Pasadena residents must use a credit card with a Pasadena area billing address (must have a Pasadena zip code to be eligible) when purchasing tickets to the game. Residents will be allowed to purchase a maximum of four tickets via Ticketmaster.com.
– Schedule of Events:
- 4:00 am: Rose Bowl Stadium Parking Lots open.
- 11:30 am: Rose Bowl Stadium Gates open.
- 1:00 pm: 109th Rose Bowl Game Pre-Game Activities.
– Public Transportation:
- Metro A Line (Gold Line) Light Rail Service:
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) operates a light rail service to Pasadena via the A Line (formerly known as the Gold Line). If you take the A Line to the game, exit the train at Memorial Park Station in Pasadena. Follow the signs for two blocks to the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game pick-up location at Parsons Parking Lot. The shuttle will take you directly to the Rose Bowl Stadium. After the game, simply reverse your route. (For help planning your MTA trip, call (323) 466-3876 or visit metro.net). - Drop-off/Taxi Zone/Rideshare Services:
The designated drop-off, pick-up, and taxi zone are on Holly Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and Arroyo Parkway. Passengers may take the free Rose Bowl Game Shuttle to the stadium. There are no provisions for drop-offs and pick-ups at the stadium. All taxis or passenger cars entering the Rose Bowl Stadium area will be required to pay the appropriate parking fee.
– Fans in search of tickets for the Playoff Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game can shop on the Official Fan-to-Fan Ticket Exchange via Ticketmaster.
Sources: Rose Bowl Game
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