Alabama vs. Michigan kickoff time, TV network for ReliaQuest Bowl.
So this is where Bama going to play the bowl game?
Alabama football has its bowl destination. The Crimson Tide is on the way to Tampa, where it will face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the schools and game announced on Sunday.
With the matchup set, Alabama also learned time and television designations for the final game of its 2024 season. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. CT, Tuesday Dec. 31, at Raymond James Stadium.
The matchup will be aired on ESPN. It’s a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff Rose Bowl semifinal, which Alabama lost before Michigan went on to win the national championship against Washington, which was led by current Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama was the first team out of the CFP field this year. The Crimson Tide was spurned in favor of SMU, after the Mustangs narrowly lost the ACC championship game to Clemson, which earned the Tigers an auto-bid and bounced UA.
Alabama finished the 2024 regular season at 9-3, and flaunted its wins over Georgia and South Carolina, pointing to its strength of schedule as a reason to get in over SMU. However, the Crimson Tide also had two losses against unranked teams, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, which ultimately cost it the position.
“We looked at the number of wins Alabama had against ranked opponents,” Manuel said. “We looked at SMU’s schedule. They were undefeated in-conference. Their losses were to ranked teams. But we also looked at Alabama’s losses to unranked teams. It was quite a debate.”
Alabama last played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, then known as the Outback Bowl, after the 1996 season, beating Michigan 17-14. The Tide also played in the game once when it was known as the Hall of Fame Bowl, falling 28-24 after the 1987 season, also against Michigan.
So this is where Bama going to play the bowl game?
Alabama football has its bowl destination. The Crimson Tide is on the way to Tampa, where it will face Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the schools and game announced on Sunday.
With the matchup set, Alabama also learned time and television designations for the final game of its 2024 season. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. CT, Tuesday Dec. 31, at Raymond James Stadium.
The matchup will be aired on ESPN. It’s a rematch of last year’s College Football Playoff Rose Bowl semifinal, which Alabama lost before Michigan went on to win the national championship against Washington, which was led by current Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer.
Alabama was the first team out of the CFP field this year. The Crimson Tide was spurned in favor of SMU, after the Mustangs narrowly lost the ACC championship game to Clemson, which earned the Tigers an auto-bid and bounced UA.
Alabama finished the 2024 regular season at 9-3, and flaunted its wins over Georgia and South Carolina, pointing to its strength of schedule as a reason to get in over SMU. However, the Crimson Tide also had two losses against unranked teams, Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, which ultimately cost it the position.
“We looked at the number of wins Alabama had against ranked opponents,” Manuel said. “We looked at SMU’s schedule. They were undefeated in-conference. Their losses were to ranked teams. But we also looked at Alabama’s losses to unranked teams. It was quite a debate.”
Alabama last played in the ReliaQuest Bowl, then known as the Outback Bowl, after the 1996 season, beating Michigan 17-14. The Tide also played in the game once when it was known as the Hall of Fame Bowl, falling 28-24 after the 1987 season, also against Michigan.
