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Michigan will face Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas12/08/24Balas_Wolverine
Sherrone Moore and Michigan hope for a better year in 2025. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Sherrone Moore and Michigan are headed to a bowl game. unfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Michigan’s win at Ohio State comes with a bigger reward for the bowl season — a matchup against an 9-3 Alabama in the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa. It will be a rematch of last season’s Rose Bowl semifinal at the College Football Playoff, a 27-20 Wolverine win. Action Network’s Brett McMurphy was first to report.

Michigan finished the season 7-5 with victories over rivals Michigan State and OSU, saving the best for last — a 13-10 win in Columbus. Just making a bowl game wasn’t the goal this year, but head coach Sherrone Moore said weeks ago it was critical for the development of the program and the younger players.

“I think it’s huge,” he said. “It’s huge for the program, obviously playing another game, getting another chance to play with your team. but building on the future … getting more practices — it’s like another spring ball for the young guys. It’s more football for the guys that keep getting better at football, so it’s huge for us and huge for the program.”

There are several players who could benefit from another game, the Michigan coach continued.

“Guys like [edge] Dom Nichols, start up front with him because he’s just showing flashes here and there and he’s played. It would be great for him,” Moore said. “[Safety] Mason Curtis has just been a tackling machine out there. He’s going to be a star. [Cornerback] Jo’Ziah Edmond is another guy on defense, and I think [linebacker] Cole Sullivan.

“Offensively, I’ve talked about [tackle] Andrew Sprague, watching him blossom and seeing what he’s done. [Receiver] Channing Goodwin is another guy. Then the backs, Jordan Marshall and Micah Ka’apana. We’ll start to see a little bit more of those guys. You saw more of Jordan last week or last game as a kick returner, but Micah Ka’apana, he has dynamic speed.”

Michigan will very likely have some seniors opt out, of course. We’ll have more on that and from Moore on the match-up in the hours to come.

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