Every Monday, we present “Tide Takes”, where we’ll get into a different topic on the Crimson Tide, break down the previous game, preview the upcoming game, and everything in between.

To the chagrin of many loyal fans, the Alabama Crimson Tide are not going to the College Football Playoff this season. Instead, they will be heading to Tampa to take on the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl in what will be a rematch of last year’s Rose Bowl, albeit with two different coaches on the sidelines. 

For the Crimson Tide, everything moving forward from this point on should be with a focus on next year. As Kalen DeBoer navigates his first full transfer portal window while trying to prepare his team for Michigan, there’s still business to take care of this season but it appears the collective page has been turned. 

That mindset leaves the quarterback situation for Alabama in a precarious position. Jalen Milroe has said definitively that he is going to play in the game and has indicated that he has no intention of coming back next season. 

Milroe has earned the unquestionable right to finish his career at Alabama with one last victory. Nobody can question that. With that being said, the best thing for the program moving forward would probably be for Milroe to sit out as they look forward to next season. 

Additionally, questions remain about the quarterback room as a whole, but one thing that looks fairly likely – barring Keelon Russell immediately being the best in the room before taking a college snap – is that Ty Simpson and Austin Mack are going to be battling for the job. Neither has really taken serious meaningful snaps in college and a bowl game with no real stakes on the line especially against a good defense like Michigan is a wonderful opportunity to do just that. 

If Milroe wants to play, he should play. However, DeBoer should consider letting him compete for the first few series or quarters of the game, allowing his curtain call,  and officially turning the page to 2025 by getting some other guys an opportunity.