Both Alabama and Michigan made their pilgrimage to Southern California. They were greeted Wednesday by Mickey and his Disneyland posse and now we’re done with the pleasantries, it’s time for football.

So let’s talk about that for a minute.

Whew.

This is fascinating in a few ways — classic uniform matchup in a historic setting aside — this Rose Bowl semifinal is a clash of cultures, styles, and eras.

Top-ranked Michigan is a throwback to the early Nick Saban years at Alabama. They want to grind the opponent down one 4-yard run at a time.

We’re talking classic Big Ten in the way generations understand it.

Alabama is perhaps closer to 2023 on the time machine dial, bringing the speed and athleticism more closely associated with the SEC.

It’s truly two worlds colliding.

Let’s take a look at a few ways Alabama and Michigan differ with a few similarities sprinkled in.

Let’s get right to the meat of this. Alabama has, at times, lived by the explosive passing game.

Michigan beat Penn State on the road without throwing a single second-half pass. Not one. Starting quarterback JJ McCarthy threw the ball eight total times in beating the offense-averse Nittany Lions, 24-15.

Example 2: Michigan beat an even more offensively allergic Iowa team in the Big Ten title game without completing a pass spanning more than 14 yards. They didn’t have to, not in the Big Ten or against the Group of 5 non-conference opponents.

In terms of passing plays covering 30 yards, Alabama’s No. 12 nationally with 28.

Michigan is 115th with 12.

Context is important here considering the Wolverines didn’t play a ranked opponent until Nov. 11 at Penn State. They’ve had one in the four-game span that included wins over ranked PSU, Ohio State and Iowa.

And it’s fair to say they haven’t seen too many explosive passing offenses. Here’s a rundown of the Michigan opponents and their national ranking in 30-yard passing plays.

• 12. Alabama 28
• 31. UNLV 23
• 40. Ohio State 22
• 46. Maryland 21
• 85. East Carolina 16
• 85. Bowling Green 16
• 102. Minnesota 14
• 102 Michigan State 14
• 108. Indiana 13
• 108. Purdue 13
• 120. Penn State 11
• 124. Nebraska 10
• 124. Iowa 10
• 130. Rutgers 7

You’re reading that correctly. Eight of the 13 teams Michigan played ranked 102nd or worse throwing downfield.

Here are Alabama’s opponents.

• 1. LSU 37
• 10. USF 31
• 17. Ole Miss 27
• 19. Georgia 26
• 19. Texas 26
• 40. MTSU 22
• 40. Texas A&M 22
• 71. Tennessee 18
• 77. Auburn 17
• 96. Arkansas 15
• 96. Kentucky 15
• 108. Mississippi State 13

So, just a small snapshot but it illustrates some of the differences in Alabama/Michigan and the SEC/Big Ten.

Both play The Killers song at home games.

Among the numbers that stand out comes in time form.

Twenty-three minutes, thirty-three seconds. (23:33 if you prefer numbers)

That’s exactly how long Michigan trailed in its 13 football games this fall. For perspective, the Wolverines trailed for 1:11:39 through 13 games of last year’s season that ended in a playoff semifinal loss to TCU.

It’s also worth noting Michigan never trailed at any point in the second half of games this season. One could argue a soft schedule and a top-heavy Big Ten created less resistance but Michigan took care of business and dominated bad teams. That’s what good teams should do.

Alabama’s taken a less linear path to Pasadena.

The Crimson Tide trailed in nine of its 13 games — six in the second half. It trailed Tennessee 20-7 at halftime before a 27-0 second-half outburst kept Alabama’s playoff life support hooked into the wall.

Both teams have them.

Michigan has been the standard at offensive line in recent years, winning the Joe Moore Award in 2021 while being named a finalist this year. In terms of the numbers, it was No. 32 in sacks allowed with 18.0 this year compared to No. 123 Alabama’s 43.0.

It’s worth noting Iowa had 3.5 in the Big Ten championship while pointing out the Hawkeyes’ only reason for being in Indianapolis was its defense.

Another note: Jalen Milroe was sacked four times in the SEC championship against Georgia, equaling the total from the previous four games combined as Alabama cleaned up some of the glaring early-season issues.

Turnovers also subsided for Alabama considering Milroe threw three interceptions in his first three games starting.

For the season, Alabama’s lost 10 turnovers to Michigan’s 7.

Turnovers gained: Michigan 24, Alabama 18.

Points off turnover is a little different.

Michigan’s scored after 19 of the 24 turnovers gained for a total of 113 points. Alabama’s scored 80 off the 18 takeaways.

Both have played in it previously.

Alabama’s is improved. Michigan’s is historic.

The Wolverines — fitting the late-2000s, early-2010s model — are on pace to do something no team since the 2011 Alabama defense accomplished. They’re allowing 9.5 points a game. No team since the Crimson Tide of 12 years ago surrendered single figures per game. That Alabama team gave up 8.2 a game with then-FCS Georgia Southern’s tin-horn 21 being the high-water mark.

Michigan’s allowed 24 twice (Maryland and Ohio State) with 14 total touchdowns in 13 games. Alabama’s surrendered 28 touchdowns

Tide opponents hit the 20-point mark eight times.

Michigan opponents failed to hit 10 points eight times.

Of course, there’s the strength of schedule that factors into this again.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.