Alabama football's woeful start leads to loss vs Michigan in ReliaQuest Bowl

Alabama football's first quarter transformed the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl into something very different from what Kalen DeBoer had envisioned.

Fifteen plays. Two total yards. Three turnovers in the middle of a downpour at Raymond James Stadium. A 16-point deficit is the largest first-quarter deficit the Crimson Tide has had in the last 12 years.

Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Robbie Ouzts (45) celebrates with tight end CJ Dippre (81) after scoring a touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.

Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images

Alabama just played themselves into "a hole," Alabama's coach said.

"All of a sudden it takes on another game of its own because you are down 16-0," DeBoer remarked following Alabama's 19-13 defeat to Michigan. "You're just fighting and scrapping just trying to give yourself a chance like we did at the very end."

In the first quarter, Alabama was simply trying to survive.

What happened in Alabama football's first quarter of the ReliaQuest Bowl?

After a turnover on downs, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe mishandled a snap, giving Michigan possession at the Crimson Tide 12-yard line. Two offensive plays later, Milroe attempted a pass intended for Rico Scott that bobbled into the hands of Michigan cornerback Wesley Walker, giving the Wolverines the ball at Alabama 16. One offensive snap later, Michigan defensive back Aamir Hall stole the ball from Milroe, giving the Wolverines possession at the Crimson Tide 6.

Ten Alabama offensive plays resulted in a 16-0 first-quarter deficit. According to DeBoer, the weather played a role in Alabama falling into "a rut" and adopting a "different style."

Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker said he's "not too keen on the coach's play-calling if they're scared to call certain plays because of the rain."

"But, like I said, we can't let the rain be the reason we can't execute," Booker said. "It is football. We knew we were headed to Florida. It rains every day here.

Milroe said he changed his cleats in the first quarter because of the "slippery grass" and unfamiliar terrain at Raymond James Stadium.

"External factors that pour into the game, we just had to limit," Milroe said. "No matter what goes on in a game, we have to limit turnovers despite anything."

Rain was one thing. However, that was not the primary cause contributing to the 16-point loss.

"The losses were the ones that hurt us," DeBoer explained. "They thrive on being chained. Their defense excels at being physical, pushing you into down-and-distance situations where you can be behind the chains. When that happens, it's difficult to win against a club that knows its identity and plays team football."

Alabama responded in the second quarter, going 12 plays for 161 yards and cutting the lead to six points at halftime. Three points and 97 second-half yards proved to be the difference for the Crimson Tide, who were unable to trim Michigan's lead any further.

Was Alabama's first quarter the worst in Crimson Tide history?

In Alabama's 2012 home defeat to Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M, the Aggies built a 20-point first-quarter lead by limiting the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide to 34 yards on 12 plays, including an interception.

The first quarter was worse than Alabama's 2024 road defeats to Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.

However, amid the tussle, Booker stated that the message for Milroe remained the same: the offensive.

"Go 1-0," Booker said. "That's the message for everyone. You have no influence over what happened on the previous play, but you can decide what happens next. Go 1-0. That was my message to him, and to everyone."