No. 11 Alabama got here into the ReliaQuest Bowl in opposition to Michigan with loads of consideration after ending the yr as the primary crew out of the expanded 12-team School Soccer Playoff. With a primary spherical stuffed with blowouts, the dialog rapidly shifted as to if the Crimson Tide ought to have been included within the bracket.
However from the opening snap in Tampa, Florida, Alabama seemed like the identical disastrous crew that misplaced by three touchdowns to lowly Oklahoma. The Tide turned the ball over on three straight early possessions in a 19-13 loss to the Wolverines, who completed seventh place within the Huge Ten at 5-4 in league play.
The loss places an exclamation level on what has been a irritating, inconsistent season for the Tide, and underscores why this system was disregarded of the CFP. These points begin with quarterback Jalen Milroe, who was depressing with an interception and two fumbles throughout an early torrential downpour to assist spot Michigan with a 16-0 lead it by no means relinquished. Milroe completed his season with 18 turnovers — 11 interceptions and 7 fumbles misplaced.
Many pointed to Alabama’s win over Georgia in October as proof that the Tide may deal with anybody within the CFP, particularly in distinction to SMU and Indiana. (Notably, Indiana beat Michigan and held the Wolverines to solely 69 yards on the bottom.) However the inconsistency on show Tuesday was utterly according to what the Tide have been all season lengthy. Alabama beneath Nick Saban had just one loss in opposition to an unranked opponent since 2008. In 2024, Kalen DeBoer’s Tide had three losses in opposition to unranked opponents.
Would Alabama have been extra aggressive in video games in opposition to the most effective of school soccer? Maybe, however that is a hypothetical.
The loss snaps a streak of 16 straight seasons with no less than 10 wins, set completely beneath Saban. However greater than that, the loss solely emphasised simply how far this system is from the height glory days of the Saban period. Alabama misplaced 4 video games in 2024. Three of them have been in opposition to groups that completed a mixed 10-17 in convention play (Oklahoma and Vanderbilt within the SEC, Michigan within the Huge Ten).
After all, Alabama was with out a number of key gamers. 4 vast receiver contributors entered the portal, together with operating again Justice Haynes. Secondary contributors DeVonta Smith and Malachi Moore have been additionally out. On the similar time, although, Michigan was with out tight finish Colston Loveland, defensive deal with Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson, all potential first rounders who didn’t play. Primarily, the Wolverines’ whole trenches have been hollowed out and Alabama nonetheless could not meet the second.
Bowl outcomes are solely price a lot with the variety of opt-outs and NFL Draft declarations. Nonetheless, laying yet one more egg on nationwide tv in opposition to Michigan’s backups does not assist the argument that issues would have routinely been completely different within the CFP.
