It wasn’t the outcome Alabama fans wanted, but the Rose Bowl delivered another classic college football game at the historic site in Pasadena this week.

The Crimson Tide fell 27-20 in overtime to the top-ranked Michigan Wolverines, led by polarizing head coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, in a match-up that may haunt fans, players and coaches a like for the entire off-season.

But as Bama quarterback Jalen Milroe said during this post-game press conference, you win some and you lose some. Fortunately, for the Tide faithful, they’ve certainly won more than they’ve lost. But as even Nick Saban has said in the past, it’s the losses you think about the most — the ones that got away.

AL.com was there to document the entire Rose Bowl experience for the Alabama football team, who appeared confident and jovial in the days and seconds leading up to kickoff in California. Let’s look back at what we saw through our camera lens up until the moments following the final play that sent the Tide back to Tuscaloosa, just short of their national title hopes.

MEDIA DAY

The Crimson Tide and Wolverines enjoyed Media Day festivities ahead of the New Year’s Day matchup in the College Football Playoff semifinal. For most players, it was time to cut loose, with teammates seated at circular tables filled with UNO cards, Jenga sets and playing cards to pass each hour in a hurry. For head coaches Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh, plus star players like Jalen Milroe, J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner and Blake Corum, it was all business, as they set up on small stages for extended individual press conferences to preview Monday’s in one of college football’s classic venues.

TENSE PRESS CONFERENCE

The competitive tension was palpable during Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh’s final press conference before the game, held at the Sheraton Grand hotel in downtown Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. Each coach looked as though he’d rather be anywhere else, simply ready to kick off the long-anticipated game after a long break filled with practices, media obligations and other distractions. The coaches traded compliments, but things got awkward when Saban was asked if he and Alabama had any concerns over the Michigan sign-stealing controversy that ultimately resulted in a multi-game suspension for Harbaugh, whose body language became a quick focus on social media.

FASTEST PLAYER ON THE TEAM?

During the Media Day session, I asked Alabama football players a simple question: Who is the fastest guy on the team? While we heard several names from Alabama’s star players, it really came down to one or two guys their peers thought had the best burners on the squad.

STRONGEST GUY?

The Bama starters also dished on the strongest player on the roster, most of them agreeing on one guy in particular a teammate labeled “a miniature hulk.”

GETTING CHEWED OUT BY SABAN

Ever wondered what it feels like to get chewed out by legendary football coach Nick Saban? The 7-time national title-winner has always had a fiery demeanor on the sideline or at practice, never shying away from teaching his players necessary lessons and delivering those messages in his own special way, aka “butt-chewings.” Crimson Tide stars explained how they take the tongue-lashings in the moment, and how it helps them improve as players and young men.

A TASTE OF HOME

Jeff Allen (Alabama’s Associate Athletics Director, Sports Medicine) on Sunday posted on X photos of Jalen Milroe, Terrion Arnold and Caleb Downs posing with a pan of biscuits from the historic Tuscaloosa restaurant The Waysider, sent by owner Linda Smelley. The trio would visit the local eatery every Friday during the 2023 season. So if they could not enjoy their weekly tradition in T-Town, someone would ship it to them cross-country.

TAILGATING IN CALI

Crimson Tide and Wolverine fans smothered the grassy and still somewhat muddy tailgate area to grill some meat, toss the football and take as many selfies as possible before the Granddaddy of Them All to decide half of the College Football Playoff final. Others crossed a nearby walking bridge to a fan fest area where they could play some games, buy some official merch and just kill time before kickoff. Everyone appeared to get along, some divided households waking together while other larger groups locked arms and smiled big for group photos while marveling at the historic venue.

TOUGH LOSS

Then came the game. Alabama fans felt confident, as they often do, but the Crimson Tide struggled offensively throughout. The defense made one stand after another, but Michigan came through with a huge fourth quarter drive to tie it at 20-20 and send the instant classic to overtime where they scored on their first possession and then stuffed Jalen Milroe on fourth down to end it.

While they fell short, Bama can hold their heads high after another remarkable season. After losing to Texas during the second week, few thought the Tide could or would recover to reach the College Football Playoff. But Saban reinforced his belief in Milroe, who improved with every rep, and they marched to the SEC Championship Game where they beat undefeated and two-time defending national champs Georgia to secure a spot in the tournament.

Never the photos Alabama fans want to see, but it was quite the sight to see Saban and standout players like Will Reichard, Terrion Arnold, Jermaine Burton, Caleb Downs and others walking off the field dejected and emotional as maize and blue confetti rained from the sky and Wolverine players waved roses around and held the “LANK” hand signal upside down. Bama rarely loses games on these stages, when the stakes couldn’t be higher. So when it does happen, it hits the team and the fan base like a ton of bricks.