Michigan stuns Alabama again, wins 19-13 in ReliaQuest Bowl

TAMPA, Fla. – So often this season, the Michigan Wolverines have had to win with all hands on deck. U-M ended the 2024 calendar year the same way it started, with a win over the Alabama Crimson Tide, this time by a score of 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Playing without almost all of their NFL Draft prospects, the Wolverines were able to grit through the game, forcing three turnovers to spot themselves a 16-0 lead in the first quarter, and did just enough to hang on for another signature win. Freshman running back Jordan Marshall was the game’s MVP, rushing 23 times for 100 yards.

Here is the recap from Tampa.

First quarter

Michigan won the opening toss and deferred, starting the game on defense. A kick out of bounds by Dominic Zvada gave Alabama the ball at its 35-yard line to start the game. The Crimson Tide went 9 yards in six plays, but turned the ball over on downs at their 44-yard line with 12:16 on the clock. The Michigan offense took over and got on the board first, going 17 yards in seven plays and getting a 45-yard field goal from Zvada to go up 3-0 with 8:15 remaining.

On the first play from scrimmage on the following drive, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Derrick Moore at the 19-yard line. Four plays and 7 yards later, the Wolverines added another Zvada field goal, this time from 30 yards out. That would extend the Michigan lead to 6-0 with 5:52 to go. Two plays later, Milroe threw an interception to safety Wesley Walker at the 15-yard line, giving possession back to the Wolverines. Michigan would score a touchdown three plays later on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Davis Warren to wide receiver Fredrick Moore, extending the lead to 13-0 with 4:15 remaining.

The turnover party did not stop. On the next play from scrimmage, another fumble from Milroe led to a recovery by defensive lineman Cam Brandt, giving the Wolverines the ball back at the Alabama 6-yard line with 4:08 to go. U-M would settle for another field goal, though, to extend its lead to 16-0 before the quarter expired.

Michigan 16, Alabama 0

Second quarter

The second quarter was a punt-fest between the two teams. Alabama and Michigan traded punts on the first four possessions of the quarter, leaving the score at 16-0 in favor of the Maize and Blue with 5:56 to go. The Crimson Tide woke up from there, scoring on a quick four-play, 71-yard touchdown drive to register their first points of the day, on a 25-yard pass from Milroe to tight end Robbie Ouzts with 4:06 to go.

Michigan’s response was a seven-play, 34-yard drive that ended in a punt down to the Alabama 4-yard line with 58 seconds left on the clock. It appeared Alabama would be content to run out the half and get to the locker room down 16-7, but a timeout on third-and-1 called by Michigan set up back-to-back 41-yard plays for the Crimson Tide. They would settle for a field goal after an eight-play, 90-yard drive to bring the score to 16-10 in favor of Michigan. The Wolverines sat on the ball and went into the locker room.

Michigan 16, Alabama 10

Third quarter

The second half started with four straight punts from the two teams, with Michigan having the ball first coming out of halftime. During that stretch, Warren went down with a leg injury and was removed from the game, leading to a QB switch to Alex Orji. On Michigan’s third possession of the quarter, it would run five plays for 9 yards before an Orji interception, giving the Crimson Tide the ball at midfield.

The third quarter would end with Alabama facing a second-and-1 from the Michigan 41-yard line.

Michigan 16, Alabama 10

Fourth quarter

Alabama was able to drive the ball down to the Michigan 34-yard line, but after a third-down stop from Brandyn Hillman, the Crimson Tide faced a fourth-and-7. They elected to go for it instead of taking the points, but the Wolverines held defensively and took back over on downs at the 34-yard line with 12:38 to go. Michigan went 47 yards in nine plays and tack another field goal on the board, pushing the lead to 19-10 with 7:21 remaining.

The Crimson Tide would match with a field goal drive of their own, going 42 yards on eight plays to get a little closer at 19-13 with 4:38 left on the clock. Michigan’s offense was unable to get much going on its next possession, going 19 yards in four plays before punting back to Alabama with 2:18 to go.

The Tide started their last drive from their own 44-yard line and went 41 yards in nine plays, before being thwarted by another fourth-down stop by the Michigan defense, much like in last season’s Rose Bowl. After getting the ball back with 49 seconds left, the Wolverines kneeled it out to grab win No. 8 in the final game of the season.

FINAL: Michigan 19, Alabama 13

Final Michigan vs. Alabama box score