Tag: Michigan sign-stealing

Michigan will be without another threat for ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Alabama

Michigan player opts out of bowl matchup with Alabama.

The Michigan Wolverines will be down a running back when they face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Senior tailback Donovan Edwards announced Sunday that he would opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup, ending his college career after four seasons in Ann Arbor.

Edwards rushed for 589 yards on 128 carries (4.6 AVG) this season, good for 19th overall in the Big Ten. He was second on the team in rushing behind Kalel Mullings (185 carries, 948 yards).

A season ago, Edwards ran for 497 yards on 119 carries behind starting tailback Blake Corum during the Wolverines’ 15-0 national championship season.

Michigan (7-5) has had some notable players out of its bowl matchup with Alabama (9-3). Tight end Colston Loveland declared for the NFL Draft over the weekend, as did star defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson.

Kickoff for Alabama vs. Michigan is at 11 a.m. CT on New Year’s Eve in Tampa. The game will be televised on ESPN.

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Nick Saban, Alabama ‘not concerned’ about Michigan sign-stealing scandal

Nick Saban comments on the Michigan sign-stealing scandal

Perhaps the biggest storyline of the 2023-24 college football season has been the Michigan football sign-stealing scandal. Of course, the topic would once again come up on Sunday when [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] and Jim Harbaugh held their joint press conference the day before the two square off in the Rose Bowl.

Coach Saban was asked if he and the Crimson Tide were worried about the sign-stealing leading up to the College Football Playoff semifinal matchup on New Year’s Day.

“No, we’re really not concerned about that. Integrity in the game I think is really, really important, and our team has had every opportunity to prepare for this game just like they have every other game.”

Saban would quickly deflect and move the conversation to how his team has to quickly adjust in-game because of the no-huddle offense.

 “I think that especially when you’re a no-huddle team, you’ve got to adapt and adjust how you communicate with the quarterback. Hopefully, one day we’ll get to the NFL system where you can just talk to the guy in his helmet. I think that would be a lot better.

“But for now, we just have to adapt to how we communicate with the quarterback, and we’ll change it up and try to not put our players at a disadvantage in any way.”

Coach Saban, as always, handled the question with great integrity and refused to throw any sort of shade at Harbaugh or the Wolverines.

Kickoff between Alabama and Michigan is at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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