TAMPA, Fla. — A year after clinching the national championship, the Michigan Wolverines wrapped up their first season under coach Sherrone Moore with a strong showing in the ReliaQuest Bowl, defeating Alabama 19-13. This victory promises an optimistic future for the team.
Moore stepped in to coach after Jim Harbaugh moved on to the NFL, and he credited the win against a storied rival to the entire team’s effort. “We’ve got a great culture and great kids,” said Moore. “No single person wins a game. This is always going to be a team sport.”
The Wolverines’ defense was particularly impressive, as they sacked Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe five times and forced him into three turnovers. Jordan Marshall, who was named the game’s MVP, contributed 100 rushing yards, which helped Michigan control the game’s tempo.
Dominic Zvada added four field goals to the scoreboard, and quarterback Davis Warren connected on a touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore in the first half. With this win, Michigan concluded their season with a record of 8-5, notching a three-game winning streak that included significant upset victories against rivals Ohio State and Alabama.
Marshall reflected on the season, acknowledging improvement: “We were 5-5 but then we won some games. We expect to be better than this next year.”
This loss marked Alabama’s second year in a row ending their season against Michigan, having previously faced them in the College Football Playoff semifinal last season. Alabama, who finished the season with a 9-4 record, faced the disappointment of not achieving double-digit wins for the first time in 16 years.
New head coach Kalen DeBoer, who took over following the retirement of Nick Saban, expressed mixed feelings about his inaugural season. “It’s disappointing, but there are many lessons to learn from this,” he remarked.
In a challenging game played under rain at Raymond James Stadium, Alabama struggled early, with Milroe losing fumbles and throwing an interception. Their attempts to rally in the closing minutes fell short as they turned the ball over after reaching Michigan’s 15-yard line.
The Michigan defense maintained their lead thanks to Zvada’s solid kicking and the offense’s steady contributions, which allowed them to stay ahead by more than one score throughout most of the second half. Despite his struggles, Milroe managed to throw a touchdown and set up a field goal to narrow the gap.
As the Wolverines get ready for the next season, they will kick off at home against New Mexico, with a heightened competition at the quarterback position, including freshman Bryce Underwood and transfer Mikey Keene. Alabama, on the other hand, will face Florida State, keeping fans guessing about their quarterback situation as Milroe contemplates his future.
As both teams look ahead, anticipation grows over how they will address the lessons learned this past season.
