TAMPA, Fla. — With the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama a seeming afterthought — most didn’t anticipate a second-string Michigan beating a first-string Crimson Tide — most of the attention last week was on the early-enrollees.
Led by five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, there was a litany of high-profile players already working out with the team, including wide receivers Andrew Marsh and Jamar Browder, offensive linemen Andrew Babalola and Avery Gach, cornerback Shamari Earls, and defensive tackle Travis Moten.
After the ReliaQuest Bowl win, WolverinesWire asked freshman running back Jordan Marshall of his impression on Underwood and the group, and he didn’t mince words about how good the group may be.
“Bryce, Marsh, you got Avery at O-line, they’re gonna be monsters,” Marshall said. “They already came in and they were making statements big and taking coaching, andthat’s all it is, is taking coaching.You know how to play football.They all know how to play football, so the talent we have andthe guys that we have that didn’t get to play today,there’s some studs on our team, and Michigan’s in great hands.”
Michigan football fans are certainly happy with an uncharacteristic 8-5 season considering some of the wins. Victories over Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Northwestern (the latter three being trophy games) took away the sting of not being in the College Football Playoff for a fourth straight year.
With that in mind, Marshall says that he’s already been letting the early-enrollees know that this type of season cannot happen again given the team’s goals.
“We can say it’s a good season, but it’s not Michigan standard, andwe gotta get it back to the standard, which is bringing national championshipsback here,” Marshall said. “And like I told Bryce, right when we walked into the locker room,I was like, This isn’t happening again.We’re not playing — we’re playing for the chip. We’re playing for the whole thing, the natty, that’s what we want.”
Here’s what Kalen DeBoer had to say after Alabama’s 19-13 loss to the Michigan Wolverines.
The Alabama Crimson Tide ended their 2024 season in ugly fashion, falling 19-13 to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
Alabama finished 9-4, marking its first season with four losses since 2007. Michigan finished 8-5 and closed the year on a positive note with wins over both the Crimson Tide and Ohio State.
Here’s what Kalen DeBoer had to say after Alabama’s loss to the Wolverines.
Kalen DeBoer opening remarks after Alabama lost to Michigan
“Just congrats to Michigan here. Obviously, we dug ourselves in a hole in the first quarter. The turnovers gave them great field position. I thought our guys did did a good job on both of those drives holding them to field goals. They gave us a chance. I love the fight in our team at the end of the first half to gain some momentum. Just got to finish some drives there and at the end of the fourth quarter. That’s what it comes to: make a throw, make a catch.
“Guys played their hearts out, though. Never going to question the competitiveness. Some guys out there playing through a lot, even when it comes to just the physical pain that they’re trying to grind through and trying to finish this thing off right. So, I feel for those guys. I want the guys that are obviously going to be coming back here to remember this feeling and remember some of the feelings throughout the year, but we’ve got to keep building, continue to move forward.”
Kalen DeBoer explains fourth-down decision in final quarter
DeBoer opted to go for it on fourth-and-7 at the Michigan 34-yard line early in the fourth quarter with Alabama trailing 16-10 instead of trying a long field goal from Graham Nicholson that could have made it a one-score game. Here’s what DeBoer said of the decision.
“Yeah, you think about it. Felt like at the time — and obviously now we know he can kick the one at the end from that distance (51 yards) — I just felt like we were on the fringe of what the percentages were. Understanding who we are, and again, it sounds like you don’t have confidence in your kicker, which I do. But I just felt like we could convert a fourth-and-7. … And unfortunately we didn’t. Felt like the passing game, when we were executing — that’s the big part of it, right? — that we could find a way to convert and get the ball in the right guys’ hands and go make a play.”
DeBoer explains decision to stick with Jalen Milroe at QB after brutal first quarter
Milroe had three turnovers, one off an interception and two fumbles in Alabama’s first four drives against Michigan.
“Well, I think there are some elements. I know that even the pick, that’s a really nice play. You throw it maybe two inches out further and it’s a catch for us and I’m not sure if we run out of bounds there or what, but they made a nice play. You guys were there. You saw the elements on the snap. You’ve got to field it, you can’t turn it over. Fortunately for them, (Michigan) had the field position to where they didn’t have to really press until the rain moved through, but that certainly didn’t help us.
“We kind of dug ourselves a rut and had to play a kind of different style again. But hats off to our guys there at the end of the first half just understanding, ‘Hey, just get one score’ and then one score led to two. I wish we could have done something there I think in the end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth quarter where we get maybe a field goal, get some points on the board, put the ball in the end-zone.”
Kalen DeBoer’s answer when asked if he’d considered a change at quarterback
“No, I didn’t. I just felt like there’s things that we still did. We scored a field goal with (Milroe) using his legs. We went 95-plus yards in less than a minute, and so just that factor and what we needed with him and his mobility added to the run game. I felt that was ‘the swap’ right there. The interception early, and a lot of those situations happened in downs and distances early that weren’t favorable, or backs to the wall and we had to throw the ball at the end of the first half, end of the second half. So I know that gets away from you with the completion percentage, but I thought there were still a lot of good plays that he made, too. I saw a fighter, the fight in his eyes, and as long as I see that, I want to hang in there with the guys this program means a lot to.”
DeBoer when asked about Alabama not trying to run the ball more vs. Michigan
“I think that they were one of the top five rushing defenses, and I know that there was personnel on both sides that were different maybe from what you would see in the regular season. Both us and them. But I think there was certainly part of our game plan where we felt we needed to spit the ball out and get the ball in the right guys’ hands. We were trying to do that. Whether it was slipping or incomplete passes, some of those plays didn’t get executed the way that you practice them for the last two or three weeks.
“There were some runs where Jam (Miller) at the end of the game shored up in there. At the end of the first half, I thought he did a really nice job getting us from behind our end-zone there. He ran hard and I think just having a little bit of balance was importance for us in this game just because of who (Michigan) were and a little bit of what we felt we could do to attack them.”
Kalen DeBoer when asked if he felt Alabama’s 2024 season was ‘successful’
“I mean, every time you’re in the locker room and you have something like this, it’s disappointing. But I think there’s a lot of things that you take from it. I know that the guys that hung in there that probably played their last game in the Crimson and White, they wouldn’t have had it any other way as far as to show the grit, show the determinations, show the competitiveness. They stayed the course. There’s a whole lot more that I just think goes into the last 12 months. People see what happens on a Saturday, but it’s guys choosing to stay here; guys choosing to go from one week to the next when you’re on a little bit of a roller coaster through the middle of the season.
“As long as we learn from it, then to me it can be a success moving forward. We’re going to take all these things that happened — and there are some things that happened in the game today, too — that we’ve got to learn from and make sure that those mistakes don’t hurt us a year from now. I don’t care if it’s turnovers, penalties. It’s everything. So to me, it’s a success if we move forward and we take advantage of the lessons, even though we don’t want to learn those lessons sometimes because they’re hard. We’re going to learn from those lessons and move forward and be better next year because of it.
“I told the guys that played their last game how much I appreciate them. I know the teammates shared how much they appreciate them, as well, in the locker room. I know they’re going to make us proud when they move on to the next level, and I promised to them that we’re going to continue to make them proud with the fight and the standard of competitiveness that they instilled in this program here moving forward.”
Watch the rest of DeBoer’s postgame press conference here:
TAMPA, Fla. — No one, and we mean no one, thought Michigan football stood much of a chance in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama. The Crimson Tide were hoping for an invitation to the College Football Playoff and were looking for revenge against the Wolverines after the 30-24 win in the Rose Bowl a calendar year ago.
But wet and slippery conditions early, mixed with dominant defensive line play meant Alabama turned the ball over early and often. The Wolverines capitalized and then held on for dear life.
It came down to the end, much like the last meeting, and the maize and blue prevailed, winning the ReliaQuest Bowl, 19-13. They finish 8-5 in Sherrone Moore’s first year.
WolverinesWire’s Isaiah Hole was on the sidelines to capture the action. Here are our favorite pictures from the game.
Well, that is exactly what happened once again when the two teams met for the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday afternoon in Tampa, Florida with Alabama going on to fall to Michigan by a final score of 19-13 to conclude the 2024 season.
However, this game did not necessarily play out as the Crimson Tide might have wanted, as Alabama originally fell behind in the first quarter by a score of 16-0. Alabama would continue those same struggles as well, in particular on offense, which resulted in the Crimson Tide falling to end the year.
Let’s take a look back at some photos from Alabama vs. Michigan from the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida on New Year’s Eve.
With the result, Alabama concluded the season, Year 1 of the Kalen DeBoer era, with a 9-4 record.
This is unfamiliar territory for the Crimson Tide. Alabama has not had more than three losses in a season in a while. However, just when was the last time Alabama lost at least four games in a year?
You have to go all the way back to 2007, which was the first season of the Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa. That season, Alabama ended 7-6; a victory in the Independence Bowl gave the Crimson Tide a winning record that year.
The following year Saban and Alabama finished 12-2. Will DeBoer and the Crimson Tide take a similar next step in the 2025 season?
Alabama falls to Michigan in Tampa. Here’s how it happened.
The Alabama Crimson Tide committed three turnovers on consecutive possessions in the first quarter as the Michigan Wolverines raced out to an early lead and held on for a 19-13 victory in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
With the loss, Alabama (9-4 overall) officially closed out its first season with four losses since 2007, Nick Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa that ended with a 7-6 overall record.
To say it wasn’t a pretty start for the Tide would be far too generous.
Alabama drove to the Michigan (8-5) 45-yard line on its first drive of the game, but quarterback Jalen Milroe was sacked when coach Kalen DeBoer decided to roll the dice on 4th and 3.
Michigan got to the Alabama 28-yard line and settled for a 45-yard Dominic Zvada field goal for the game’s first points.
With an early downpour falling in Tampa, Alabama turned it over on first down after a fumbled snap from Milroe gave Michigan the ball at the 19-yard line. The Wolverines drove to the Crimson Tide 12-yard line, but Alabama’s defense bailed out the offense again by holding Michigan to another field goal for a 6-0 lead.
Things got even worse on Alabama’s next drive when Milroe was picked off at his own 19 yard line to give Michigan a short field at the 16. This time, the defense bent on third down when Fredrick Moore hauled in a 13-yard touchdown from Davis Warren for a stunning 13-0 Wolverines lead after the extra point with 4:15 to play.
Alabama’s next turnover came when Milroe was stripped from behind by defensive back Aamir Hall. Michigan recovered at the 6-yard line, but a Tim Smith sack forced Zvada’s third field goal. Alabama would close out a miserable first quarter down 16-0.
The Tide’s early woes led to them having five drives that resulted in three turnovers, a turnover on downs, and a punt.
Rico Scott gave Alabama its first spark of the day when he took a misdirection play for 28 yards to the Michigan 43-yard line with 5:56 to play in the first half.
Three plays later, Alabama got on the board when Milroe found tight end Robbie Ouzts for a wide-open 25-yard touchdown strike to make it 16-7 with 4:06 to play in the opening half.
Alabama’s defense, which had hunkered down under enormous strain, forced a punt with 1:07 to play. When Alabama started at its own 4-yard line, Milroe rushed for 41 yards on 3rd and 1 to the Wolverines’ 46-yard line. He hit Germie Bernard for a 40-yard gain to the Michigan 6-yard line with 17 seconds left.
Alabama had to settle for a 24-yard Graham Nicholson field goal to close the half trailing 16-10.
Both teams had key injuries early in the second half. Warren went down with an injury after being sacked by James Smith and would not return as Michigan turned to Alex Orji at quarterback.
Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell had to be helped off the field with what the team said was an upper-body injury after going down with 5:58 to play in the third quarter. He finished with 11 tackles in what was surely his last game in a Crimson Tide uniform before heading off to the NFL.
With 7:21 to play in regulation, Zvada drilled his fourth field goal — a 37-yard kick that put Michigan ahead 19-10.
Nicholson answered with a 51-yard field goal on Alabama’s next drive with 4:38 to play to cut the lead to 19-13 and keep hope alive. The drive covered 42 yards on eight plays, but Alabama chewed nearly three minutes of game clock and didn’t show much urgency.
After getting the ball back with one last chance to steal a victory, freshman Ryan Williams returned a punt 38 yards to the Alabama 44-yard line. Jam Miller caught a screen that went 25 yards to the 15-yard line with around 1:30 to play.
But Alabama went nowhere and on fourth down, Milroe’s pass fell incomplete around the goal line to seal the victory for Michigan, a double-digit underdog entering the game.
Alabama finished the day with only 260 yards of total offense and just 68 yards on the ground. Milroe was 16-of-32 for 192 yards. Michigan won despite totaling just 190 yards of offense.
There will be time for plenty of introspection, but it will be a long offseason for an Alabama program that struggled to find an identity in Year 1 of the post-Nick Saban era in Tuscaloosa.
The 2024 season concluded for the Alabama Crimson Tide on Tuesday afternoon with a matchup against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Alabama started very slowly, falling behind by 16 points early. Alabama continued some its struggles over the game’s final three quarters, and the Wolverines came away with a 19-13 win.
There were both positives and negatives for Alabama, so let’s take a look at some instant reactions from Alabama-Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl:
Alabama’s disappointing first quarter
This was likely the most disappointing first quarter Alabama has played in a very long time. The Crimson Tide trailed 16-0 at the end of one due to turnovers in three consecutive possessions and minus-2 yards of offense.
Jalen Milroe struggles in potentially last game at Alabama
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who is facing an NFL draft decision this offseason, struggled in what could have been his final game with the Crimson Tide. Milroe finished 16-of-32 passing for 192 yards with one score and an interception, while rushing for seven yards on 16 attempts with two fumbles.
Alabama defense solid
The bright spot for Alabama on Tuesday was undoubtedly the defense, which allowed 190 yards of offense to Michigan. Alabama’s defense held the Wolverines to 75 passing yards and 5-of-16 on third down conversions.
Younger players see action for Alabama
As expected, some of Alabama’s younger players played increased snaps Tuesday against Michigan as a result of either injuries or the transfer portal. Some of these names impressed. Zavier Mincey and Rico Scott among the most notable.
Alabama ends season at 9-4 overall
With this loss, Alabama ends the 2024 season 9-4. This is the first time Alabama has had four losses in a season since going 7-6 in 2007, which was Nick Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa.
TAMPA, Fla. — Michigan football is finishing 2024 the way it started — at least in terms of opponent.
The Wolverines started the year playing Alabama on Jan. 1 at the Rose Bowl. With both teams starting over with new coaches, they fell short of expectations and are playing again on Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve, at the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.
Both teams have several opt-outs, but for Alabama it’s more the outgoing transfers (such as Michigan commits Damon Payne and Justice Haynes) who have inhibited the Crimson Tide roster from being at full strength. Michigan will be without multiple high-level players who have declared for the NFL draft.
So who will play? Who’s injured? Below you can find a mix between the injury report and those who will not be partaking in the final game in 2024 on the maize and blue side of things.
Questionable
S Jaden Mangham
WR Amorion Walker
OT Jeff Persi
Out
TE Brady Prieskorn
Declared for NFL draft or did not travel with the team
Roll Tide Wire make their picks for the ReliaQuest Bowl between Alabama and Michigan.
After a lengthy break between games, the Alabama Crimson Tide take the field for the final time this season for a contest against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
So, before the Crimson Tide and Wolverines square off Tuesday afternoon, each member of our Roll Tide Wire staff picked the winner of the ReliaQuest Bowl and offered a few thoughts on the game.
When it comes to a potential difference maker in this contest, Alabama will certainly have the advantage when it comes to putting points on the board offensively. Because of this, I’m going with Alabama to come away with a victory to avenge last seasons playoff loss. Michigan will simply not be able to keep up on the scoreboard.
Alabama avoided the opt-out bug for the second time in three years and will have most of its stars from the 2024 regular season in Tampa for this season’s game with Michigan. Jalen Milroe, Jihaad Campbell, Tyler Booker and others look to have big games to improve their NFL draft stock. On the other side, Michigan will be without cornerback Will Johnson, tight end Colston Loveland and defensive tackles Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham, who opted out for draft purposes.
Remember, there’s also some pride at stake here for Alabama, which hopes to extend its streak of 10-win seasons to 17 straight years. I’m curious to see how Ty Simpson looks — assuming he gets to play — as Alabama’s likely starting QB going into next season. Kalen DeBoer closes his first season in Tuscaloosa on a good note.
A season ago, the Michigan Wolverines ended the Alabama Crimson Tide’s national title hopes in one of the most exciting Rose Bowls ever. Alabama is a much more talented team in 2024, but after missing the playoffs there is always a chance of a bowl game letdown. With it likely being Jalen Milroe’s final game for the Crimson Tide and the majority of draft eligible guys dressing, I think we are going to see an Alabama team play one of their best games of the season.
Road whites or home uniforms? Here’s what Alabama will wearing when they face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
We now know what uniforms the Alabama Crimson Tide will wear at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa when they face the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday.
Michigan football took to social media Monday to share the Wolverines would wear their classic home uniforms. By default, Alabama will wear its iconic white jerseys over white pants.
It’s essentially the same uniform combination as the 2024 Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day with one exception. Michigan will wear its traditional gold pants in Tuesday’s matchup; they wore blue jerseys over blue pants for the Rose Bowl playoff semifinal.
It will be the fifth time this season Alabama will wear its crisp white jerseys. While the Crimson Tide played five road games in the regular season, one was at LSU where the Tigers always wear white jerseys at home against Alabama.
Here’s a look at Michigan’s uniform combination as posted on the team’s social media accounts (note the official 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl patch near the shoulder of the jersey).
As we mentioned, the ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly the Outback Bowl) has pitted the SEC vs. the Big Ten every year since the 1995 season. Big Ten schools have been designated as the home team in even years (after the 2016 regular season, 2018, 2020, etc.), while SEC schools have been the home team in odd years.
Alabama (9-3 overall) is ranked No. 11 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. Michigan (7-5) is unranked. The Crimson Tide defeated Auburn, 28-14, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in their last game on Nov. 30. Jalen Milroe combined for four touchdowns as Alabama won its fifth straight Iron Bowl. That same day, Michigan stunned Ohio State, 13-10.
Kickoff for Alabama-Michigan is 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday. The game can be seen on ESPN.
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