On New Year’s Eve, the Alabama Crimson Tide will take to the field for what is the final time during the 2024 season when the program faces the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
An opponent whom Alabama is familiar with, these two programs met just a year ago in a matchup that would certainly more high-profile than this one is shaping up to be. That is because the game was in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl, which is where Michigan handed Alabama a loss on their way to winning the national championship.
This year’s meeting between the two however will not take place in the CFP, instead featuring an Alabama team outside of the Top 10 against an unranked Michigan program.
Here are a few things that you need to know ahead of Alabama vs. Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl:
Who will Alabama play in the ReliaQuest Bowl?
The Crimson Tide are matched up against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Michigan is coming off a 7-5 regular season in which the Wolverines went 5-4 in Big Ten play.
How Alabama, Michigan match up
As indicated by the record above, Michigan did not have as good of a season as the year prior, but make no mistake, the Wolverines are a talented team.
Michigan’s resume is headlined by a road win at Ohio State, with their next biggest victory likely being against USC. The Wolverines’ losses have come against Texas, Washington, Illinois, Oregon, and Indiana, and have not been ranked since mid-October.
Stats-wise, Michigan’s strength comes on defense where they rank No. 25 in the nation at only 20.5 PPG allowed, while also sitting No. 112 nationally on offense at an average of 22.2 PPG.
Alabama is 9-3 overall this season with a highlight win over Georgia, while their losses came against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide rank No. 17 nationally with an average of 35.5 PPG offensively, as well as No. 10 in the nation in scoring defense at 17.2.
What bowl game will Alabama play in?
Alabama and Michigan will play in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which will take place Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. ET from Raymond Jones Stadium in Tampa, Florida.