Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines defensive end Derrick Moore (8) sacks Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe (4) during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Michigan forces 3 turnovers, tops No. 11 Alabama in ReliaQuest Bowl

Dominic Zvada kicked four goals and Davis Warren threw a touchdown pass before leaving with a knee injury as Michigan notched a 19-13 victory over No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Tampa, Fla.

The Wolverines (8-5) took advantage of three Crimson Tide first-quarter turnovers to build a 16-point lead en route to winning their third straight contest.

Jalen Milroe completed 16 of 32 passes for 192 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Alabama (9-4). But Milroe had just 7 yards on 16 rushes and he was mistake-prone in the first quarter with an interception and two lost fumbles.

The Crimson Tide rushed for just 68 yards, well below their season average (182.7).

This contest was a rematch of last season’s College Football semifinals when Michigan beat Alabama 27-20 in overtime. The Wolverines went on to beat Washington in the championship game.

Warren completed 9 of 12 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a right knee injury. He was replaced by Alex Orji, who was 2-of-3 passing for 2 yards with one interception.

Warren limped off the field after being sacked early in the third quarter and soon went to the locker room for evaluation. He returned to the sideline early in the fourth quarter on crutches and sporting a bag of ice on his right knee.

Jordan Marshall rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries for Michigan after its top two backs — Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards — opted out of the game to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Zvada’s fourth field goal, a 37-yarder, gave the Wolverines a 19-10 lead with 7:21 remaining. Alabama trimmed its deficit back to six on Graham Nicholson’s 51-yard field goal with 4:38 left.

The Crimson Tide’s final chance ended with a pressured Milroe throwing a fourth-down incomplete pass from the Wolverines’ 15 with 49 seconds left.

Michigan cashed in three Alabama first-half turnovers into 13 points and led 16-10 at the break.

Zvada opened the scoring with a 45-yard field goal before the Crimson Tide turnovers began.

Milroe’s fumble was recovered at the Alabama 19-yard line by Derrick Moore. That set up Zvada’s 30-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 5:52 left in the quarter.

Two plays later, Milroe was intercepted by Wesley Walker, who returned the ball three yards to the Crimson Tide 16. Three plays later, Warren tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Frederick Moore for a 13-point lead.

On Alabama’s next offensive play, Aamir Hall delivered a strip-sack of Milroe. Cameron Brandt picked up the ball and returned it 5 yards to the Crimson Tide 6, setting up Zvada’s 21-yard field goal to make it 16-0 with 2:04 left in the quarter.

Alabama got on the board when Milroe threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Robbie Ouzts with 4:06 left in the half. Nicholson tacked on a 24-yard field goal with four seconds left in the half.

–Field Level Media

Michigan Wolverines running back Kalel Mullings (20) runs past Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) during the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Michigan won 13-10.

Top Michigan RB Kalel Mullings declares for NFL draft

Michigan running back Kalel Mullings announced Friday that he is declaring for the NFL draft.

Mullings has a team-leading 948 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns this season.

Mullings didn’t say in his announcement whether he would play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama on Dec. 31, but multiple reports said he didn’t travel with the team to Tampa, Fla., on Friday. The school confirmed that Mullings didn’t travel.

“To the University of Michigan, the last five years at this University have shaped me into the man I am today,” Mullings wrote. “I am proud to be an alumnus of the greatest University in the world. I am excited to announce I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft.”

Mullings starred in his final outing for the Wolverines when he rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown in a 13-10 win over fierce rival Ohio State. It was his fourth 100-yard game of the season.

Michigan’s No. 2 rusher, Donovan Edwards (589 yards), previously opted out of the bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft.

Among the other Wolverines who are opting out of the bowl are defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore (13) tackles Auburn Tigers tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (13) during the first quarter at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

Alabama S Malachi Moore to miss ReliaQuest Bowl with injury

Alabama All-American safety Malachi Moore will undergo surgery and miss the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan on Dec. 31 in Tampa, Fla.

Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t reveal the nature of the surgery, but indicated Moore has been playing through it most of the season.

“He’s been going through an injury pretty much a lot of the season, and it just got to the point where he wasn’t going to be able to play,” DeBoer told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “He wanted to do everything he could to get out there. He was trying to wait it out so he could see if it would be something he possibly could be able to participate in.”

Moore had 70 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles this season.

The Crimson Tide are deeply shorthanded at safety with Keon Sabb also done for the season due to injury and the decision of DeVonta Smith to transfer to Notre Dame.

“It’ll be a mix and match,” DeBoer said. “(Moore’s decision to have surgery) literally just happened, it’s not like we’ve had a week or two to think and work through this. But it’ll be young guys.”

Moore has 214 tackles and seven interceptions in five seasons at Alabama.

–Field Level Media

Michigan running back Donovan Edwards (7) runs against Ohio State during the first half at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.

Michigan RB Donovan Edwards opts out of bowl

Running back Donovan Edwards is the latest Michigan player to opt out of the ReliaQuest Bowl against Alabama.

Already, defensive tackle Mason Graham, tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson have said they won’t play for the Wolverines (7-5) on Dec. 31 against the No. 11 Crimson Tide (9-3).

Edwards confirmed his decision to WXYZ-TV in Michigan on Saturday.

Edwards, a Michigan native, ends his four seasons as part of the Wolverines with 422 carries for 2,251 yards and 19 touchdowns. He added 86 receptions for 797 yards and four scores.

This season, he was second on the team to Kalel Mullings with 128 carries and 589 rushing yards.

Alabama television state WTVY reported Thursday that no members of the Crimson Tide are expected to opt out of the game in Tampa, Fla.

“We started the season out against Western Kentucky together, we’re going to finish the season together,” quarterback Jalen Milroe said. “I told him (coach Kalen DeBoer) that we’re going to finish the season on a bang, we’re going to come together as a group, and try to have the best gameplan we can to be the best version of ourselves.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier (13) throws the ball during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports

No. 13 LSU scores last, edges Wisconsin at ReliaQuest Bowl

Garrett Nussmeier filled in for Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels and passed for 395 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 13 LSU to a 35-31 victory over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday afternoon in Tampa, Fla.

Nussmeier oudueled Tanner Mordecai, who passed for 378 yards and three touchdowns for the Badgers (7-6), including two scores to Will Pauling, who finished with 143 receiving yards.

Nussmeier passed for 84 yards on a 98-yard drive that ended with his 4-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr., giving LSU (10-3) its only lead, 35-31, with 3:08 remaining.

Mordecai drove the Badgers to a first down at the Tigers 27, but he was sacked on three consecutive plays and Wisconsin turned the ball over on downs.

Daniels watched from the sideline after choosing to focus on the NFL draft, and Malik Nabers, who already was LSU’s all-time leader in career pass receptions, became the leader in career receiving yards in the first quarter before sitting out the second half.

Wisconsin received the second-half kickoff and Jackson Acker raced 33 yards for a touchdown that increased the Badgers’ lead to 28-14.

Nussmeier threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Thomas and he added a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hilton Jr. that tied the score.

The Badgers reached a first-and-goal at the Tigers 1 but settled for Nathaniel Vakos’ 21-yard field goal and a 31-28 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Badgers drove to a score on their first drive, which ended with Mordecai’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green, who finished with 105 yards, and a 7-0 lead.

Mordecai added a 53-yard touchdown pass to Pauling for a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

LSU finally scored when Harold Perkins Jr. rushed 1 for a touchdown early in the second quarter, and the Tigers made it two touchdowns in two possessions when Kaleb Jackson ran 12 yards to tie the score at 14.

Wisconsin came right back, and five plays later, Mordecai and Pauling teamed on a 9-yard touchdown pass that gave the Badgers a 21-14 halftime lead.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2023; Tampa, FL, USA; a logo for former Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach was painted on the field for the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl with Illinois Fighting Illini and Mississippi State Bulldogs at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Miss. St. honors late coach Mike Leach at ReliaQuest Bowl

Mississippi State will wear specially designed helmets in Monday’s ReliaQuest Bowl in tribute to their late head coach, Mike Leach.

Leach died Dec. 12 from a heart complication at age 61. No. 22 Mississippi State (8-4) will meet Illinois (8-4) in the bowl game at Tampa, Fla.

In tribute to Leach, who had an affinity for pirates and lived by the motto “swing your sword,” the Bulldogs will wear a white sticker on the side of their maroon helmets that shows a pirate logo with interlocking swords and the initials “ML.” The university unveiled the helmets on Monday before the game.

The grounds crew at Raymond James Stadium, which hosted the game Sunday between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, turned around the field for the bowl game and included the word MIKE, with a cowbell replacing the letter I.

In other tributes, the trademark pirate ship at the stadium has been outfitted with a floral arrangement and a photo of Leach. The Illini also will be wearing a helmet decal to honor the coach.

–Field Level Media

Last-minute preparations continue for the Mike Leach memorial service in Humphrey Coliseum at Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Tuesday, Dec. 20 2022.

Tcl Mike Leach Memorial

Emotions high for Miss. State, Illinois to open 2023

When the ReliaQuest Bowl matchup was set on the first Sunday in December, Mike Leach was Mississippi State’s head coach, Ryan Walters was Illinois’ defensive coordinator and both teams’ rosters were teeming with stars.

But almost nothing looks the same as the No. 24 Bulldogs (8-4) and Fighting Illini (8-4) prepare to play on the first Monday in 2023 in Orlando.

Leach, 61, passed away Dec. 12 due to complications from a heart condition. The 21-year head coach, who posted a record of 158-107 for Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, suffered what was termed a “personal health issue” at his home on Dec. 11. The Bulldogs promoted 36-year-old defensive coordinator Zach Arnett to head coach for the bowl game and beyond.

“We have tremendous guys in this program,” Arnett said at the team’s Signing Day news conference. “They are excited for this opportunity … it has been expressed and they understand that we are doing exactly what Coach Leach would have wanted. There is no better way for us to honor him and show respect to him and his family than to go out there and play a complete game and compete like he would have expected us to.”

“Mike and I were really, really good friends,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said on SiriusXM. “And this whole dynamic of this bowl game is at a level that no one can really describe. I can’t imagine the players’ emotions and coaches’ emotions on their side of the ball.”

Bielema signed a new contract in December that boosts his salary to $6 million through 2028. Among his first tasks, aside from the ReliaQuest Bowl, is to fill three spots on his staff.

Walters, who directed the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense (12.3 points per game), was hired as Big Ten West rival Purdue’s head coach on Dec. 13. Walters took associate head coach Kevin Kane, running backs coach Cory Patterson and multiple team analysts with him to West Lafayette, Ind.

Bielema promoted defensive backs coach Aaron Henry to defensive coordinator — and Henry will have to piece together a secondary to face Mississippi State’s “Air Raid” offense that doesn’t include All-American cornerback Devon Witherspoon and All-Big Ten safety Sydney Brown.

Both declared for the NFL draft and opted not to play in the bowl game — as has Sydney’s twin brother, Chase, who finished the regular season as the nation’s No. 2 rusher with 1,643 yards.

Mississippi State must deal with its own roster shortages as 10 players moved into the transfer portal. Sophomore wideout Rara Thomas, who led the Bulldogs with 626 receiving yards (on 44 catches with seven touchdowns) announced his transfer to Georgia on Dec. 22. Dillon Johnson, the team’s No. 2 rusher with 488 yards, announced his departure four days before Leach’s death.

This marks the 13th consecutive season Mississippi State has capped its season with a bowl game — and the Bulldogs hold a 7-5 record since 2010.

Illinois hasn’t played in the postseason since its loss in the 2019 Redbox Bowl. The Illini are searching for their first victory since the 2011 Fight Hunger Bowl, when defensive coordinator/interim coach Vic Koenning directed a 20-14 win over UCLA after the firing of Ron Zook.

–Field Level Media