It's a good day for Dave Portnoy.
The Barstool Sports founder is $1 million richer and can now watch his alma mater, Michigan, compete for a national championship.
Portnoy was in Pasadena for Monday's dramatic tilt between Michigan and Alabama in the Rose Bowl, where he drove to just short of the goal line in overtime to help the Wolverines win.
But Portnoy may have been the night's biggest winner, having broken his gambling retirement last month and bet $1 million on Michigan beating Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
“Oh my god, I'm a million dollars richer. We're going to beat Houston,” Portnoy said in a video from inside Rose Bowl Stadium after the Michigan win. “Finally the Big Ten punched the SEC in the mouth. We're watching their teeth get broken. In the back-and-forth story, we were dominant in the first half, they were dominant in the second half. …Everything was at stake. It was the Michigan players who stood up and made plays when we needed to.”
Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy led an eight-play, 75-yard drive late in the game to tie the score at 20, and the Wolverines reached the end zone in just two plays in overtime, running back Blake – Collum ran for 17 yards in this game. -The winning touchdown.
Michigan's defense then made a stop on fourth-and-goal from 3 yards to snatch the victory.
Warning: Adult language
Portnoy suffered a series of gambling misfortunes this year that ultimately led to him temporarily retiring from gambling.
But the University of Michigan alum seemed more satisfied with seeing the Wolverines advance to the national title game than with the huge prize money he would receive from his wager.
“It's not over yet. This is about a national title,” Portnoy said. “Yeah, I'm a million dollars rich. I don't care. This is about Nattie.”
Portnoy expressed some sympathy for the University of Alabama, adding that he likes the program and would come back.
He even offered to pay off the remainder of Alabama superfan Roll Tide Willie's home.
“That's not just a lie. I do it because I love the people of Alabama,” Portnoy said.
Michigan State will play the winner of Washington State and Texas State next Monday in Houston for the national title.
