Michigan missed the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020, but the Wolverines’ matchup against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl will have a distinct CFP flavor.
Alabama (9-3) was the first team left out of the inaugural 12-team field. Michigan (7-5) is trying to continue its late-season turnaround and finish Sherrone Moore’s first season on a three-game winning streak. Here are three initial thoughts on the Wolverines’ matchup against the Crimson Tide in the ReliaQuest Bowl, which kicks off at noon on Dec. 31 from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
CFP storylines abound
This isn’t a Playoff game, but for Michigan, it comes with plenty of CFP echoes. The Wolverines will be facing Alabama 365 days after beating the Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl on a dramatic stop of quarterback Jalen Milroe on fourth down in overtime. The coach on the opposite sideline, Kalen DeBoer, was on the losing end of Michigan’s victory against Washington in the CFP title game a week later.
Michigan and Alabama have changed a lot since their meeting a year ago in Pasadena. Both programs had to replace legendary coaches, as Nick Saban retired and Jim Harbaugh left for the NFL. As you might expect, replacing two program-defining figures has come with some bumps in the road. That’s why the Wolverines and Crimson Tide are meeting in Tampa and not in the CFP.
Michigan’s Playoff hopes went out the window by midseason. Alabama’s were alive until the final reveal Sunday morning. Neither team is going to be thrilled with how this season turned out, but Alabama’s disappointment is fresher. Since falling to 5-5, Michigan has been looking for ways to make something positive out of this season. Beating Northwestern to get bowl-eligible was Step 1. Upsetting Ohio State and planting another flag at the Horseshoe was Step 2. Winning a bowl game against a storied program like Alabama would be Step 3.
Michigan vs Alabama
New Year’s Eve at the @ReliaQuestBowl in Tampa.
Game Info » https://t.co/kwCtIrIv05
Bowl Central » https://t.co/Kv9c97zPG4#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/wKWIv2TLXd— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 8, 2024
The future starts now for a few Wolverines
As of Sunday, none of Michigan’s top NFL Draft prospects had announced plans to opt out of a bowl game. Through a combination of injuries and potential draft opt-outs, the team facing Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl will likely be a younger team than the one Michigan put on the field for most of this season.
“We want all the guys to play in the bowl that want to play in a bowl,” Moore said. “Obviously, there will be guys that will say, ‘Hey, I want to go train.’ (The message is:) ‘Love ya. You’ve done a lot for the University of Michigan. I’m not going to be mad at you.’ It’ll just give opportunities for those young guys to play.”
Freshman running back Jordan Marshall got a few carries late in the season and could have a bigger role depending on the health of Donovan Edwards, who was injured against Ohio State. Freshman Channing Goodwin saw his first snaps at wide receiver against Northwestern and Ohio State and could play more, with Tyler Morris announcing plans to enter the transfer portal. Getting snaps for defensive lineman Enow Etta, the top prospect in Michigan’s 2023 class, could help the defense prepare for life after Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, though neither player has formally declared for the draft. Safety Mason Curtis, edge Dominic Nichols and offensive tackle Andrew Sprague are three other freshmen who worked their way onto the field and could benefit from the bowl game.
“We want all the best players to play, but it’s a great opportunity to have some young guys play,” Moore said. “I’m excited about these young guys. I’m excited about this freshman class. I’m excited about a lot of the guys that have been able to play in spots but now get some full-time roles.”
Beating Bama would be another trophy win
If Michigan fans had known back in August that their team would have a chance to beat USC, Michigan State, Ohio State and Alabama, they probably would have assumed the Wolverines were headed for a successful season. Although Moore’s first season hasn’t gone the way Michigan would have drawn it up, the Wolverines are stacking some solid achievements and can add another by beating Alabama.
It’s a point of pride that, even in a down year, Michigan won its three trophy games against Minnesota, Michigan State and Northwestern. The Wolverines don’t need a trophy to remind them what it means to beat Ohio State, and beating Alabama under any circumstances is an achievement, especially if it comes with a bowl trophy.
Before last year’s meeting in the Rose Bowl, Michigan had played Alabama four times in bowl games, including twice in Tampa. The 2019 Wolverines lost to Alabama in the Citrus Bowl, and Tom Brady led the 1999 team to an epic comeback against Alabama in the Orange Bowl. The 1996 team lost 17-14 to Alabama in the Outback Bowl, and the 1987 team beat Alabama 28-24 in the Outback Bowl’s predecessor, the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Alabama was the better team in the regular season, with wins against Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri and LSU. The Crimson Tide would be in the CFP if not for losses against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, a pair of 6-6 teams. Though the Wolverines didn’t have the season they imagined, they can say they played four teams that made the CFP — Texas, Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State — and finished 1-3.
A season that seemed to be going nowhere got a burst of rocket fuel in late November thanks to the commitment of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood and the upset of Ohio State. Win or lose, Michigan will walk away from the ReliaQuest Bowl feeling optimistic about 2025. But if the Wolverines want to lock in the positive momentum, beating Alabama would be a good way to do it.
(Photo of Kalel Mullings: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
