Michigan defense suffocates Alabama for 19-13 upset in 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl: ‘That was awesome’
As the skies opened and the deluge of rain began Tuesday afternoon, the Alabama sideline stood and stared while those on Michigan football’s bench waved towels, jumped up and down and all but formed a mosh pit.
The water seemed to nurture the Wolverines while it drenched the Tide. U-M forced three turnovers during the first-quarter rain and used that to set up short fields, get out to an early lead and ultimately hold on to finish 2024 the same way it began: with a postseason win over Alabama, this time 19-13 in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
Michigan (8-5) became the first program in history to defeat Alabama twice in a calendar year.
“A lot of people doubted us going into this game and going into next season as well,” Derrick Moore told the Free Press walking off the field. “We just told the world no matter who we got, we always gone be dogs at the end of the day.”
Alabama (9-4) started its final drive from its own 44, after a 38-yard punt return by 17-year-old freshman sensation Ryan Williams just before the two-minute warning.
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The Tide drove to the Wolverines 15, but defensive coordinator Wink Martindale drew up blitz after blitz against Jalen Milroe, and on fourth-and-10 with 56 seconds left, the final pass fell harmlessly to the turf. They sacked Milroe five times.
“Think about the fourth down stops, too, and that’s six turnovers,” Martindale said to the Free Press at midfield postgame. “These kids are outstanding.”
As Martindale basked in the afterglow of a second consecutive victory holding a top-15 offense to 13 points or fewer, players and coaches chimed in.
“If you keep calling plays like that, man,” linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary laughed. “This guy’s kind of a big deal.”
“Worth every penny,” added sixth-year safety Quinten Johnson, who Martindale said “ran the whole show” in the final game of the season.
Freshman running back Jordan Marshall rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries and was named game MVP in his first start for the Wolverines, giving coach Sherrone Moore back-to-back upset wins over Ohio State and Alabama.
Michigan quarterback Davis Warren left in the third quarter with a knee injury and was seen on crutches in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by backup Alex Orji, who a few weeks ago put his name in the transfer portal.
The other option would’ve been four-star true freshman Jadyn Davis, once thought to be the future of the position at Michigan before Bryce Underwood was signed to top the 2025 recruiting class.
