ReliaQuest Bowl Recap
Oftentimes when Big Ten and SEC blue bloods get together to play football, the games are knockdown, drag-out, heavyweight battles. Doubly so for bowl games and postseason play.
The 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl (which is no longer the Outback Bowl, RIP) was not one of those games.
Instead, we saw a modest Michigan team force a hitherto Playoff Adjacent Alabama team into the same kind of slog we saw Ryan Day wallow in last month. The result: an extremely improbable Wolverine victory, 19-13.
The Tide were favored by anywhere from 12 to 17 points heading into this matchup. Thus, we must ask: what happened?
Rain On Alabama’s Parade
The early goings were fairly ho-hum, as Michigan got a big fourth down stop on Alabama’s first possession. A thunderous tandem sack from TJ Guy and Derrick Moore brought Jalen Milroe down and the punter out. That turnover became the first of four Dominic Zvada field goals.
Then, it started to rain. A lot.
Milroe fumbled the very next snap. Michigan ran four quick plays before another Zvada sighting. 6-0, Michigan.
Two snaps later, Milroe threw an interception to Wesley Walker, Michigan ball at the Alabama 16. On third-and-seven, Davis Warren found Fred Moore for a toe-tap touchdown. 13-0 Michigan. Can’t get much worse for the Tide, right?
Wrong.
Still sloshing around in the downpour, Milroe took a sack and lost the ball. Michigan lineman Cam Brandt scooped it up and gave Michigan possession at the Alabama six-yard line. Another Zvada field goal brought it to 16-0 for Michigan.
The rain started to let up by this point, but Alabama’s first six possessions went turnover on downs, fumble, interception, fumble, punt, punt. A brutal start for the erstwhile playoff hopefuls. Alas, cries of SEC dominance must abate, for now.
The rest of the game proceeded more or less as a punt-off, give or take an Alex Orji interception, and a few field goals. The story was almost entirely written during the fateful first quarter when Michigan capitalized on major Tide mistakes. There’s something to be said, though, for Michigan’s defensive efforts.
Wink Martindale Figured It Out
The Wolverines did not have cornerback Will Johnson, defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, and Edge Josaiah Stewart. It didn’t matter. Michigan’s defensive coordinator put the pieces he did have in position to succeed the rest of the game.
They got beat a few times. Milroe broke contain for a 41-yard gain at one point. Germie Bernard hauled in a nice 40-yarder. Tight end Robbie Ouzts was quite open on the Tide’s only touchdown of the day.
Otherwise, it was a third straight winning formula for Martindale, who had (rightfully) come under fire early in the season for ill-timed blitzes and blatant coverage busts. To his credit, he settled into the college game quite nicely and adapted his style to fit his personnel, no doubt learning a thing or two from predecessors (and protégés) Jesse Minter and Mike Macdonald.
All told, the Michigan defense held Alabama to their second-lowest point total of the year. It generated the aforementioned turnovers and gathered five sacks, plus six tackles-for-loss. A fantastic stat line made even more so by the fact that large chunks of the lineup were filled with backups and newcomers. A hat tip to Martindale for evolving as the season progressed.
Tidbits For Next Season
Number one with a bullet, for Michigan, is a glaring need for some sort of passing game. Beating Alabama with only 75 yards in the air is nothing if not funny, but it’s also not sustainable. Warren got injured and had to leave the game in the second half, and what little air attack there was immediately evaporated when Orji took over. Bryce Underwood beckons, but Michigan may need Mikey Keene to bridge the gap between him and Warren in the interim. Something to watch in Spring ball and Fall camp. Also, the lack of Jadyn Davis snaps feels a bit ominous. There was an understanding between him and the team that he’d redshirt his freshman year, but a few live snaps in the last half of the season would’ve preserved that. Here’s hoping he can at least put his name in the conversation as Michigan sorts out next year’s starter.
Otherwise, Jordan Marshall! A wonderful afternoon for the highly touted freshman, who ran for 100 yards on 23 carries. Backup Ben Hall didn’t do as much – only 28 yards on his 16 carries – but squint at him and you can see a Kalel Mullings-lite. Moore had 37 yards and a score on three catches, which in this offense constitutes a veritable explosion. He’ll need to make a leap next year, hopefully, one made more possible by stability at quarterback.
On defense safety Brandyn Hillman pops whenever he’s on screen. When he hits people, they stop moving. He also had a good pass breakup and should help keep the back end of the defense secure in 2025. Up front, Brandt made some big plays on the edge and should be an effective rotational end alongside Dominic Nichols. They’ll back up returnees Moore and Guy, who look ready to take over as defensive focal points in Graham and Grant’s absence.
What Now?
There’s still some portal movement to be expected before the dead period begins, and as teams exit the Playoff we should see more options become available. Michigan could use some offensive line help and would do well to try and keep Tyler Morris on board to bolster the receiver room.
Otherwise, Sherrone Moore has plenty of feathers in his cap in a weird, up, down, and ultimately satisfying 8-5 first year at the helm. Wins over USC, Michigan State, Ohio State, and an 11th-ranked SEC power in a bowl game? Check. The future secured at quarterback with a top-overall recruit? Check. A 2024 calendar year bookended by victories over the Alabama Crimson Tide? You know that’s a Check.
Put together the other half of the offense and return this offensive line to the Joe Moore Award-winning glory days and the Wolverines could be back in contention very quickly.
There’s plenty of offseason to sort all that out, though. For now, Moore, his team, and the Wolverine faithful can put the 2024 season to rest with smiles on their faces.
Happy New Year to all. What do we say same time next year?
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