12 p.m. | ESPN
Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida
THE SERIES
Overall: Seventh Meeting (Tied, 3-3) In Bowl Games: Alabama trails, 2-3 Current Streak: Alabama, Lost 1 Last Meeting: Jan. 1, 2024 – Pasadena (L, 20-27 (OT)) Series Notes: Alabama and Michigan will meet for just the seventh time in the history of the two storied programs on New Year’s Eve. The Wolverines evened the all-time series at 3-3 with a 27-20 overtime victory in last year’s College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup at the Rose Bowl. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is 0-1 against the Wolverines during his head coaching career, while Michigan’s Sherrone Moore will be making his first appearance against Alabama as a head coach.
Alabama Crimson Tide Notes
NEUTRAL SITES:
Alabama is 99-52-4 (.651) all-time in 155 neutral site contests. The list includes all Alabama-Auburn games not played on campus, including Legion Field from 1948-88. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has produced a 4-1 record in five career neutral site games at the FBS level.
AN OLD QUEST:
Alabama’s appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl marks its third postseason matchup in Tampa. It will also be the third time the Crimson Tide and Wolverines have met in Tampa for what was previously known as the Hall of Fame Bowl and Outback Bowl. The first pairing between the schools came in 1988 at the Hall of Fame Bowl with UM claiming a 28-24 victory. The two programs also met for the Outback Bowl following the 1996 regular season with the Crimson Tide defeating the Wolverines, 17-14, at Houlihan’s Stadium.
ALABAMA vs. THE BIG TEN:
The Crimson Tide is 41-18 (.694) all-time against the current member teams of the Big Ten Conference, including 1-0 in 2024 thanks to a 42-10 win at Wisconsin on Sept. 14. Alabama owns a winning record against 10 of the 13 total Big Ten teams that the Tide has matched up with, appended by a 3-3 mark against Michigan, an 0-1 mark against Minnesota and a 1-2 record against UCLA. The Tide’s most frequent opponent is Penn State, with UA owning a 10-5 (.667) advantage in 15 contests with the Nittany Lions. Alabama has never faced Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Oregon, or Purdue in its history.
ON THE CUSP:
Alabama will look to win its 10th game of the season to extend its streak of consecutive 10- win seasons to 17 in a row. The previous record was 14 straight 10-win campaigns by Florida State and head coach Bobby Bowden from 1987-2000. In the 16 previous 10-plus win seasons, the Crimson Tide finished with a 12-2 record in 2008, 2014 and 2023; 14-0 in 2009; 10-3 in 2010; 12-1 in 2011; 13-1 in 2012 and 2017; 11-2 in 2013, 2019 and 2022; 14-1 in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and 13-0 in 2020.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
PILING UP THE POINTS:
Jalen Milroe has accounted for 35 total touchdowns in 12 games of action this season, including 15 passing and 20 rushing. His 35 total scores lead the SEC and are the seventh-most in the FBS, while his 212 points are also tops in the conference and the seventh-best total in the country. Milroe’s 20 rushing scores are the second-most among quarterbacks in Division I, while his 15 passing touchdowns are ninth-most in the SEC.
THROWING THE BOMB:
Through 12 games this season, Jalen Milroe has completed 189-of-287 passes for 2,652 yards. Entering the postseason, Milroe is averaging 9.24 yards per pass attempt, the second-highest figure in the SEC and the fifth-best mark in the country. He has also accumulated 14.03 yards per completion which also ranks second in the conference and is 10th in Division I heading into bowl play.
HOME RUN HITTER:
Jalen Milroe’s passing touchdowns have typically come in the form of a big play during his time as QB1 at Alabama. Across 25 starts the last two seasons, he is averaging 34.7 yards per passing touchdown, accumulating 1,321 total yards on 38 scores. This season alone, the Katy, Texas, native has thrown for 15 total touchdowns with all but two scores coming from at least 16 yards or better. He has also recorded four touchdowns of 55-plus yards, highlighted by an 84-yarder in the season opener with Western Kentucky. As the starter in 2023, Milroe averaged 33.1 yards per score across his 23 passing touchdowns.
DUAL-THREAT JALEN:
Jalen Milroe has proven to be a threat with his arms and legs during his time at the Capstone. He has rushed for 33 total touchdowns during his career, the most by a quarterback and tied for the seventh-most by any player in program history. Milroe’s 20 rushing touchdowns this season are the most by an Alabama quarterback in a single season, surpassing Jalen Hurts’ 13 rushing scores in 2016 as the previous program benchmark. Milroe’s 20 rushing touchdowns are the second-most by a quarterback in Division I and are also tied for fifth-most at any position entering bowl play. In 2023, he totaled 12 rushing touchdowns which finished as the third-most by a quarterback in Alabama single-season history. Through 12 games, Milroe has produced 719 rushing yards, the fourth-most by a Crimson Tide signal-caller in Alabama single-season history while surpassing his previous career high of 531 rushing yards set in 2023. Jalen Hurts’ 954 rushing yards in 2016 stands as the program record by a UA quarterback.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
CERTIFIED SAFETIES:
Safety Bray Hubbard has accumulated 48 tackles, including one tackle for loss (-2 yards), to go with two pass breakups, three interceptions and one forced fumble. Hubbard’s 89.8 overall Pro Football Focus grade is the fifth-highest mark in Division I. Fellow safety Malachi Moore is responsible for 70 total tackles, three for loss (-6 yards), eight pass breakups, two interceptions, three quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one sack (-3 yards), and one fumble recovery. Moore has earned an overall PFF defensive grade of 86.0, the 15th-best figure among FBS safeties. Hubbard and Moore are the only safety duo in the country ranked in top-15 by Pro Football Focus entering bowl season.
CAN’T FORGET DOMANI:
Cornerback Domani Jackson is responsible for 48 tackles, including two tackles for loss (-2 yards), to go with two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble in 12 games. Jackson has been recognized by Pro Football Focus for his support at the line of scrimmage, with his 90.3 run defense grade standing out as the fifth-best grade in the nation prior to postseason play.
KEENAN III UP FRONT:
Defensive lineman Tim Keenan III has posted 6.5 tackles for loss (-24 yards) and 2.5 sacks (-16 yards) as part of his 36 total stops this season. The Crimson Tide’s interior defender has also contributed one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries in his 12 games. Keenan III’s 84.1 overall Pro Football Focus grade is ninth-best among interior defenders, while his 88.7 run defense grade is the eighth-best mark in the country heading into the postseason.
CREATING CHAOS:
The Crimson Tide has forced 27 total turnovers (11 fumbles, 16 interceptions) in its first 12 games, the most in the SEC and tied for the second-most in Division I entering the postseason. Alabama is one of just four teams to have forced at least 27 turnovers in 2024. Over the past seven games, the Tide has forced 19 takeaways (eight fumbles, 11 interceptions), tied for the most forced turnovers in the country in that span.
MARGIN FOR VICTORY:
Entering bowl season, Alabama’s +9 turnover margin is tied for the ninth-best ratio in the FBS and is the second-best figure in the SEC.
BUCKLING DOWN:
Through 12 games, the Crimson Tide defense is allowing just 17.3 points per game, good for fourth in the SEC and 10th nationally. Over the last five contests, Alabama’s defense has surrendered just 10.2 points per game.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS:
Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 122 of the last 139 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 222 turnovers (141 interceptions, 81 fumbles) and returned 43 of those miscues for touchdowns.
SHUTOUTS SINCE 2007:
Since 2007, Alabama has recorded 28 shutouts, including 13 in Southeastern Conference play. The Crimson Tide has produced two shutouts in 2024, including Alabama’s 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri on Oct. 26 and UA’s 63-0 win over Western Kentucky on Aug. 31. The Crimson Tide defense has 13 more shutouts than its nearest competitor, with Ohio State’s 15 shutouts the next-closest total in that span.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
BIG LEG BURNIP:
James Burnip has maintained his consistent form through 12 games. Called upon for 48 punts, Burnip has produced 17 punts of 50-plus yards, with 19 boots pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. Burnip’s 44.9 yards per punt is the 13th-best figure in the country and ranks fifth in the SEC prior to bowl play. Pro Football Focus has awarded Burnip a 88.5 punting grade this season, the third-best mark in the SEC and the third-best figure in the FBS.
BIG GAME JAMES:
Burnip was named to the Ray Guy Award’s “Ray’s 8” list on Oct. 28 for his showing during Alabama’s 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri. Burnip was called upon for five punts, averaging 49.2 yards per punt with a long of 54 yards. The recognition was Burnip’s fourth this season by the voting body, as the redshirt senior was also named the Ray Guy Punter of the Week on Sept. 17 for his punting prowess during UA’s 42-10 win at Wisconsin on Sept. 14. Burnip was also selected to the “Ray’s 8” list following his performances against South Carolina on Oct. 12 and Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.
IT ENDS HERE:
The Alabama punting unit is currently allowing just 1.00 yard per return, the top mark in all of Division I entering the postseason
Michigan Wolverines Notes
Game notes unavailable.
