TAMPA, Fla. — The University of Michigan soccer staff will head south throughout the vacation season and face Eleventh-ranked Alabama within the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. The Wolverines will likely be making their Big Ten-leading seventh look within the ReliaQuest Bowl, beforehand referred to as the Outback Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl.
The ReliaQuest Bowl is held at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., dwelling of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The matchup pitting the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten) in opposition to the SEC’s Alabama Crimson Tide (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will kick off at midday. The recreation will likely be televised nationally by ESPN.
“We are excited and honored to characterize the University of Michigan and the Big Ten Conference within the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa,” stated Sherrone Moore, U-M’s J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Head Football Coach. “This is a superb alternative for our staff to complete the season in opposition to an excellent SEC opponent in Alabama. We look ahead to competing in opposition to Coach Kalen DeBoer and his extremely ranked Crimson Tide.”
“The ReliaQuest Bowl employees has a robust repute for operating an excellent bowl recreation and recreation day expertise for the student-athletes, coaches and followers,” stated Warde Manuel, U-M’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “Michigan appreciates and accepts the invitation by Chairman Greg Orchard, President & CEO Jim McVay and the bowl employees to expertise the Tampa space throughout the vacation season.”
Michigan completed the 2024 common season on a two-game successful streak after defeating No. 2 Ohio State, 13-10, in Columbus, which adopted a 50-6 win over Northwestern at Michigan Stadium. The Wolverines boast one of many nation’s prime defenses, rating third in speeding protection (92.6 avg.), fifteenth in whole protection (310.9 avg.) and twenty fifth in scoring protection (20.5 avg.). Linebackers Ernest Hausmann (82 tackles, 7 TFLs) and Jaishawn Barham (65 tackles, 3.5 TFLs) led the protection in tackles. Edge Josaiah Stewart paced the Wolverines in tackles for loss (13) and sacks (8.5), rating sixteenth nationally in stops behind the road of scrimmage.
The Maize and Blue have been led offensively by a floor recreation that gained 1,928 yards and averaged 160.7 yards per contest. The tandem of Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards helped the offense rush for greater than 150 yards in six contests because the unit had 17 speeding performs over 20 yards on the season. Quarterback Davis Warren began eight video games, finishing 125-of-197 passes (63.5%) for 1,126 yards and 6 TDs. The offense ranked twenty third nationally in fewest sacks allowed (1.25 avg.) together with simply two over the ultimate 5 contests of the common season.
U-M had 16 gamers earn All-Big Ten honors in some capability together with 9 Wolverines who acquired 1st, 2nd or third staff accolades. The group was led by kicker Dominic Zvada, a first-team all-conference performer and the Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year. The Wolverines have three gamers who’re finalists for particular person nationwide awards: defensive sort out Mason Graham (Nagurski and Outland), tight finish Colston Loveland (Mackey) and lengthy snapper William Wagner (Mannelly).
This would be the sixth assembly between Michigan and Alabama throughout the bowl season, with U-M holding a 3-2 sequence benefit. The most up-to-date assembly got here in final yr’s College Football Playoff Semifinal on the Rose Bowl, a 27-20 victory by the Wolverines in extra time. Michigan claimed victories within the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl (28-24), 2000 Orange Bowl (35-34, 1 OT) and 2024 Rose Bowl whereas Alabama earned wins within the 1997 Outback Bowl (17-14) and 2020 Citrus Bowl (35-16). The solely regular-season matchup between the 2 applications got here within the 2012 season opener at Cowboys Stadium, a 41-14 victory for Alabama. This would be the seventh general assembly with the Crimson Tide, with the sequence tied at three wins apiece.
The Wolverines have compiled a 3-3 mark all-time within the ReliaQuest Bowl/Outback Bowl/Hall of Fame Bowl, with appearances within the 1988, 1994, 1997, 2003, 2013 and 2018 video games. U-M claimed victories in opposition to Alabama (1988), North Carolina State (1994) and Florida (2003) and suffered setbacks to Alabama (1997) and South Carolina (2013, 2018).
Following is a few background on Michigan’s bowl recreation historical past:
- Michigan will likely be making its 53rd all-time bowl look, which is the Eleventh-highest whole amongst FBS faculties.
- U-M will likely be making its seventh all-time bowl look within the ReliaQuest Bowl (beforehand referred to as the Outback Bowl and Hall of Fame Bowl). The Wolverines have a 3-3 report within the recreation.
- The Wolverines have a 1-1 report in opposition to Alabama within the Tampa Bowl recreation, successful the 1988 Hall of Fame whereas shedding the 1997 Outback Bowl.
- Michigan has performed in 13 completely different bowl video games throughout its historical past, together with the CFP National Championship Game, successful 23 bowl video games, which is the Seventeenth-highest whole amongst FBS faculties.
- Michigan’s final look within the then Outback Bowl got here throughout the 2017 season, a 26-19 setback in opposition to South Carolina on Jan. 1, 2018.
- The Wolverines final victory in Tampa was throughout the 2002 season, a 38-30 win over Florida on Jan. 1, 2003.
- This would be the nineteenth time that Michigan faces a Southeastern Conference college in a bowl recreation; has compiled a 9-9 report.
- This would be the forty first time that Michigan faces an SEC college (26-13-1 mark).
- This is the twentieth time that the Wolverines have performed a bowl recreation within the state of Florida (9-10 report).
Ticket Information
Donors and soccer season ticket holders who ordered bowl tickets throughout the precedence request interval will obtain affirmation of their order through e-mail on Sunday, Dec. 8. Tickets for the ReliaQuest Bowl will likely be made accessible to most people on Monday, Dec. 9, at 9 a.m. by visiting MGoBlue.com/Tickets.
ReliaQuest Bowl Facts
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024
Time: 12 p.m.
Television: ESPN
Site: Tampa, Fla.
Facility: Raymond James Stadium
Capacity: 65,000
Surface: Natural Grass
Website: ReliaQuestbowl.com
