Michigan entered New Year’s Eve as 13.5-point underdogs to Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Wolverines were in a similar role not too long ago when Michigan was nearly a three-touchdown underdog to Ohio State in Columbus. But in both games, as heavy dogs, the Wolverines prevailed.
Michigan notched its eighth win of the 2024 season after it beat Alabama 19-13 to end the 2024 season. The Wolverines scored a quick 16 points in the first quarter due to Bama turning it over three times, and even though the Michigan offense stalled for the rest of the game, the Wolverines’ defense was lights out. Playing without multiple stars on the defense, Wink Martindale coached the Michigan defense to a gem performance.
True freshman Jordan Marshall did shine for the Michigan offense, however. In his first career start, the former Mr. Ohio rushed for 100 yards on the day and looked to flash a little Blake Corum. The Wolverines’ offense totaled 190 yards in the game and Marshall will get plenty of credit for the win.
Following the game, social media went to clowning Alabama while giving Michigan praise on the win.
Michigan was a combined 36pt underdog vs Alabama and Ohio State
They held them to 23 total points
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) December 31, 2024
Congrats @UMichFootball on a big win!! Huge for them and the @bigten
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) December 31, 2024
Sherrone Moore’s first season as Michigan’s head coach included:
– Keeping all trophies in Ann Arbor
– Beating Michigan State and Ohio State
– Beating Alabama
– Getting to 8 wins
– Signing the No. 1 overall recruit and No. 9 class— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) December 31, 2024
Michigan has beaten Ohio State and Alabama a combined 4 times in the last 402 days.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) December 31, 2024
Kudos to the #Michigan defense! Take a bow gentleman! Helluva job! All the opt-outs, and still balled out! @Big8DMoore @tjgxy7 @ajtheshow just a few of the standouts. And @CoachWinkUM, @UMichCoachEspo, @luc_brian, @CoachLMorgan — coached their ASSES off!!
— Sam Webb (@SamWebb77) December 31, 2024
Michigan began 2024 by beating Alabama in Pasadena and ended 2024 by beating Alabama in Tampa.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 31, 2024
Michigan just played without 4 first round picks and a starting safety on defense. Played without their top 2 RB’s. Played without their first round draft pick at TE. Bama was allegedly a playoff team. LOL. THAT WAS COMICAL.
— Jordan Strack (@JordanStrack) December 31, 2024
How the year started versus how it ended this was a successful season.
Sherrone Moore and this staff has a bright damn future and I can’t wait to see it.
Going to miss Michigan football man 😩
— BluePrintJay (@BluePrintJay) December 31, 2024
Bowl games are only meaningless when you lose
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) December 31, 2024
The SEC will not be breathing the same air as the Big Ten for the next decade. Just witnessed Michigan, with several draft picks sitting out, lose its only QB on the roster and still beat a “playoff team” in Alabama.
— Brandon Justice (@BrandonJustice_) December 31, 2024
Jan 1, 2024: Michigan defeats Alabama
Dec 31, 2024: Michigan defeats Alabama
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 31, 2024
“NEW ROLES
SAME F***’N MICHIGAN”
– Lou Esposito— Abigail O’Connor (@A_OConnorRD) December 31, 2024
Here’s a simple but crazy stat.
Second half points:
Alabama 3
Michigan 3— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) December 31, 2024
Wins over Michigan State, Ohio State, and Alabama in Sherrone Moore’s first season as head coach of Michigan.
Successful season. The bar for 2025 will be National Championship
— Trevor Woods (@WoodsFootball) December 31, 2024
I hope Ohio State never fires Ryan Day. But if they do, all I ask is that they replace him with Kalen DeBoer.
— Scott Bell (@sbell021) December 31, 2024
EERILY similar to the rose bowl 365 days ago… @UMichFootball W! Happy New Year! 〽️
— Braylon Edwards (@OfficialBraylon) December 31, 2024
What a season…
▪️Flipped Bryce Underwood from LSU
▪️4th consecutive win over Ohio State
▪️2nd consecutive win over AlabamaMichigan just capped off the greatest 8-5 season in college football history.
Can’t wait for 2025.〽️#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/goi6SVWg3I
— The Winged Helmet (@TWH_Chris) December 31, 2024
The good thing for Bama is they won the important matchup- the Vegas point spread. It’s not their fault that a depleted Michigan team missing all of its best players beat them today- remember that game doesn’t matter.. it’s the hypothetical that matters and Bama already won that.…
— Jake Butt (@Jbooty88) December 31, 2024
– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –
Takeaways: Michigan takes down Alabama for the second time in 2024
Kalen DeBoer answers on Michigan landing two Alabama transfers in front of Sherrone Moore
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