TAMPA, Fla. — In a fitting conclusion to his initial season as head coach, Sherrone Moore led Michigan to a 19-13 victory against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl, marking a promising start for the future after taking over from Jim Harbaugh, who departed for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers. This win signifies a great team effort, a sentiment echoed by Moore, who believes that the foundation built through strong culture and teamwork will serve the Wolverines well as they look ahead.
Throughout the game, Michigan’s defense proved formidable, managing to sack Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe five times while forcing three critical turnovers. Jordan Marshall, named the ReliaQuest Bowl MVP, was instrumental to Michigan’s success, rushing for 100 yards over 23 attempts and helping the team maintain a dominant time of possession. Additional contributions came from Dominic Zvada, who successfully kicked four field goals, and Davis Warren, who connected with Fredrick Moore for a touchdown in the first half. With the victory, Michigan wrapped up the season with an impressive three-game winning streak that featured back-to-back upsets of their rivals, including Ohio State and Alabama.
Marshall reflected on the team’s performance, expressing optimism for the future despite the ups and downs of the season. “We were 5-5 and then we won some games, but it’s not the standard. We’re going to be better than this next year,” he stated confidently.
For Alabama, this loss marked the end of a challenging season, one that saw them fall to Michigan for the second consecutive year. During the last meeting at the Rose Bowl, Alabama also suffered defeat as Michigan continued on to claim the national championship. This latest loss has brought an end to Alabama’s impressive streak of 16 straight seasons with more than ten wins. Kalen DeBoer, facing the pressure to uphold the legacy left by legendary coach Nick Saban, expressed disappointment but also a sense of hope for future growth. “There’s a lot of things that you take from it,” he reflected, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes made throughout the season.
In the first quarter, Milroe struggled significantly, fumbling the ball and throwing an interception on three of Alabama’s initial four drives. The torrential rain also worsened conditions, leading spectators at Raymond James Stadium to seek shelter. Despite the setbacks, Milroe later managed to connect on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Ouzts and orchestrated a solid offensive drive, culminating in a field goal just before halftime that cut down Michigan’s lead.
As the game progressed, Michigan maintained their advantage with a field goal from Zvada, putting them up 19-10 in the fourth quarter. Alabama responded with a 51-yard field goal from Graham Nicholson, narrowing the game’s margin but ultimately falling short. Milroe ended the game with 192 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, showing resilience amid the challenges he faced.
Warren, who completed 9 of his 12 passes for 73 yards, exited the game early in the third quarter due to injury, leading to Alex Orji taking over as quarterback for the latter part of the game.
Looking ahead, Michigan is set to begin their next season on August 30 at home against New Mexico. The Wolverines will see fierce competition for the starting quarterback role, particularly with the arrival of top recruit Bryce Underwood and Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene. Meanwhile, Alabama will also be on the road starting their new season under DeBoer against Florida State on the same date, with the ongoing question of Milroe’s future at the quarterback position still up in the air as he considers his options.
