The Alabama Crimson Tide no longer has national championship aspirations this season as they just narrowly missed out on the last spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Instead of fighting for a title, the Tide will have one last game of the season in a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa Bay to end year one of the Kalen DeBoer era.
Despite speculation that some players may opt out due to the fact there are no championship implications, by the sounds of it Alabama will have their lineup at full strength. Quarterback Jalen Milroe, widely expected to enter the NFL Draft, said on Thursday that he is going to play:
Alabama Quarterback Jalen Milroe says he “will be playing” in Alabama’s bowl game vs Michigan.
“The mission right now is to complete the season. We have one more mission ahead, which is attacking Michigan…” pic.twitter.com/O4ifY957wx
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) December 12, 2024
“The mission right now is to complete the season,” Milroe said. “We have one more mission ahead, which is attacking Michigan. That’s the whole thought process right now, being our absolute best. We can take care of our business when it goes to playing in Tampa, so it’s all about going 1-0 and preparing the right way and that’s where my focus is at…I will be playing.”
During the same press conference, Milroe was asked a sly question about how the quarterback room sets up for next year and may have inadvertently let it slip that he’s not planning on being in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s going to be a really talented group that’s gonna be in position to do a lot of special things next year,” he said via Charlie Potter. “I’m excited for those guys for the opportunity that’s presented to them.”
The way Milroe phrased his point, it certainly sounds like he is planning on the bowl game being his last game in an Alabama uniform.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
