What they're saying about Michigan's bowl win over Alabama

The Michigan Wolverines closed out their 2024 season in grand fashion with a 19-13 win over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Sitting at 8-5, the program now has a ton of momentum heading into the offseason in hopes that they are playing once more for bigger prizes.

There were plenty of takeaways from the win from local and national voices. Here are some of the best.

Ryan Van Bergen, The Wolverine postgame show

Podcast: A stunning win and a promising future for Michigan football

“It was a great job by Sherrone Moore,” Van Bergen said on the show. “Great job by Wink Martindale and great job by these guys. I’m sure they heard just like we all did about how lopsided this could potentially be and seeing the 39 sit-outs that where I think between the two teams that there may not be a lot of emphasis or importance placed on this game. But watching that game, there’s no doubt in my mind it was important to these guys. It was important to these guys. It was important to Moore because it kind of sets a precedent and sets the tone, not just for the end of this season, but I think also acts kind of as a catalyst for where you’re going as a program.

“And to me, what you saw today, you saw some depth and development. You saw some guys on the defensive line that maybe you hadn’t heard their last name before, but showed up today and played really well. Same thing in the secondary. I mean, all over the field, we could go position by position, as I’m sure we will, but all across the board, guys that had probably been chomping at the bit guys that have probably grinded week in week out, just waiting for an opportunity, got opportunities today.

“I think they played against Bama’s best. I think we got a good Bama team and they had a lot of guys playing that maybe otherwise wouldn’t have played if it wasn’t an important bowl game. So Very excited for this team and to see the intensity, the passion, the physicality the brand of football that was played today has me all sorts of excited about what next year is gonna hold for us.”

Chris Balas, The Wolverine

Michigan 19, Alabama 13: Notes, quotes, and observations — it sure felt like it mattered

With five minutes remaining in a 19-13 Michigan win over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl (the Wolverines’ second victory over the vaunted Crimson Tide this year — but who’s counting?), media was allowed to make their way to the field. Dominic Zvada had just nailed his latest field goal, a 37-yarder that gave U-M a 19-10 lead, but there was still a sense that there was a lot of football to be played, drama to play out. 

And when the Wolverines gave the ball back on a punt following an Alabama field goal, you could feel the butterflies from both fan bases and the energy from both sidelines after what had been an unbelievably physical battle. 

“This one might not be so meaningless after all,” we said to each other when the Tide started its final drive

Because that’s how it had been advertised, many of us in the media included. Michigan, after all, had several of its starters out, including almost a handful of potential first round picks. They were on the sidelines in street clothes supporting their teammates, but there was no Mason Graham, no Kenneth Grant or Josaiah Stewart to terrorize Alabama Jalen Milroe again … no Will Johnson or Rod Moore in the secondary.

That the Wolverines didn’t need them was the most surprising part of Saturday afternoon in Tampa minus a first quarter pouring rain that hadn’t been in the forecast. It was right about then, after an outstanding start by the Michigan defense fueled turnovers and an early 16-0 Michigan lead, that it was clear Sherrone Moore had his team ready to play ‘up’ against another blueblood.

Austin Meek, The Athletic

Michigan stuns No. 11 Alabama in ReliaQuest Bowl: How shorthanded Wolverines shut down Tide

Michigan’s season started with uncertainty at quarterback and ended the same way after Davis Warren left the game with an injury in the third quarter. Alex Orji, who has already announced plans to transfer, took over for Warren and completed 2 of 3 passes for two yards with an interception.

Sticking with Orji over freshman Jadyn Davis was a curious move. Davis was viewed as Michigan’s potential quarterback of the future when he signed with the Wolverines in the Class of 2024, though that title has since been claimed by Underwood, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025. Underwood participated in bowl practices as an early enrollee and attended Tuesday’s game, though he wasn’t eligible to play.

Now that the season is over, Michigan will turn its attention to 2025 and a new-look quarterback competition. Michigan signed Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene from the transfer portal to compete with Underwood, and coach Sherrone Moore said Warren is leaning toward using his fifth year of eligibility at Michigan. Warren completed 9 of 12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown before his injury.

Andrea Adelson, ESPN

College football bowl season: Takeaways, storylines and players to watch

Michigan used an overwhelming defensive effort — despite missing its five best players — to upset double-digit favorite Alabama. The Crimson Tide had its streak of 16 consecutive double-digit win seasons broken in Year 1 under Kalen DeBoer, who replaced Nick Saban. Jalen Milroe had a game to forget, with three first-quarter turnovers — two fumbles and an interception — that led to 13 Michigan points, and ultimately made the difference in the outcome. Still, Alabama made its way back into the game in the second half and had a chance to win it at the end. But Milroe threw incomplete on fourth-and-10 from the Michigan 15. The win puts a huge bow on a season that felt like a letdown at times after winning the national championship. But the Wolverines beat rival Ohio State and then Alabama — the team they beat in the CFP semifinals a year ago — to give first-year coach Sherrone Moore two more signature victories. In addition to forcing the three turnovers, Michigan had five sacks and held the Crimson Tide to 68 yards rushing and 260 total yards despite missing opt-outs CB Will Johnson, DL Mason Graham, DL Kenneth Grant and DL Josaiah Stewart.

MVP: Derrick Moore. Moore had two sacks and a fumble recovery to lead the Michigan defensive effort.

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press

Michigan football grades vs Alabama: Defensive masterclass in ReliaQuest Bowl

For the second game in a row absolutely nobody gave Michigan a chance, yet once again the Wolverines were the better team on the field essentially from start to finish.

The credit for the coaching gem goes all the way around, but it starts with Sherrone Moore for getting his team to buy in despite missing half the starters from both sides of the ball. Next, it goes to Martindale, who figured out how to connect with this team and get his defense to understand what was asked of them. Last but not least, Casula came in as interim offensive coordinator and even though he lost Davis Warren in the third quarter (essentially rendering the passing game useless) he leaned on Jordan Marshall (who proved to be the best player on the attack) to grind out the win.

The staff set the tone for the season-ending win, now it goes into the offseason with incredible momentum.

Angelique Chengelis, The Detroit News

No Mullings or Edwards? No worries as Michigan’s Marshall rushes for 100 vs. Alabama

Michigan edge Derrick Moore had finished his post-game interviews when he looked across the room and started chanting, “MVP! MVP!”

He was directing the message to freshman running back Jordan Marshall, who, in the absence of leading rushers Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards, carried the Wolverines’ rushing attack in a 19-13 upset of No. 11 Alabama on Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

Marshall, in his first extensive playing time, had a game-high 100 rushing yards on 23 carries and was voted the game’s most valuable player.

“I wish I would have gotten in the (end) zone, but whatever I can do to help the team is what I’m gonna do,” Marshall said on the field after the game. “I wanted to put everything out on display and show the world we’re gonna be a problem to be reckoned with next year.”

Edwards and Mullings opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft. Running back Ben Hall had 16 carries for 28 yards.

In the lead-up to the game, Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore said he believes Marshall will be a “special back” for the Wolverines. But it was another message Marshall was given before the game from running backs coach Tony Alford that stuck with him.

“Coach Alford told me before the game, ‘You’re gonna win MVP for this game,’” Marshall said. “It’s kind of that mental thing. I like to take a long shower the day before games and just think, prepare, picture myself making plays, picture myself running down the field and picture myself winning MVP. No matter what, you’re going to play as the MVP in your heart, and that’s what matters most.”