Michigan to face No. 11 Alabama in ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve

(CBS DETROIT) On New Year’s Eve, Michigan will play No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

The matchup on New Year’s Eve is a rematch of the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff Semifinal from the previous year, where Michigan won 27–20 in overtime to win the eventual national championship.

In addition to the Crimson Tide (9-3, 5-3 SEC) being the first team eliminated from the expanded 12-team College Football Playoffs, the defending national champion Wolverines (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) are on a two-game winning streak, including an unexpected 13-10 victory over rival Ohio State to end the regular season.

In a press release, first-year Michigan coach Sherrone Moore stated, “We are thrilled and honored to represent the University of Michigan and the Big Ten Conference in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa.” “This is a fantastic chance for our team to play Alabama, a fantastic SEC opponent, to close off the season. It will be exciting to play Coach Kalen DeBoer’s highly regarded Crimson Tide.

This was Michigan’s 53rd bowl game overall and its seventh appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, formerly known as the Outback Bowl (1996–2022) and the Hall of Fame Bowl (1986–1995). In the 2017 season, Michigan made their final appearance in the ReliaQuest Bowl, losing to South Carolina 26–19. It defeated Florida 38-30 in the 2002 season, which was its most recent victory in the Tampa bowl game.

In the two previous meetings between Michigan and Alabama in Tampa, the Wolverines won the 1988 version and lost the 1997 match. During the bowl season, the two teams have faced off five times overall, with Michigan leading the series 3-2.

The Wolverines’ record versus SEC opponents is 26-13-1 overall.

Michigan fired quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell earlier this week. Steve Casula, the tight ends coach, will take over as offensive coordinator in the meantime.

At noon, the game will kick off from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Joe Buczek works for CBS Detroit as the manager of digital content and promotion. The Leader and the Kalkaskian, the Oakland Press, the Morning Sun, the Grand Traverse Insider, and WWTV were among his prior employers.

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