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Jalen Milroe told reporters on Thursday he intends to play against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31.
Given his NFL prospects, the Alabama quarterback was thought to be a potential opt-out candidate this postseason. Alabama was in the mix for an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff. Missing out on the 12-team field was a significant disappointment for everyone in Tuscaloosa, and it naturally begged the question of whether players would opt to sit out the bowl game.
“The mission right now is to complete the season,” he told reporters on Thursday, per The Next Round. “We have one more mission ahead, which is attacking Michigan. That’s the whole thought process right now, being our absolute best so we can take care of our business when it goes to playing in Tampa. It’s all about going 1-0, preparing the right way, so that’s where my focus is at — winning this game, preparing the right way, taking care of my body so we can be the best us.”
Alabama Quarterback Jalen Milroe says he “will be playing” in Alabama’s bowl game vs Michigan.
— The Next Round (@NextRoundLive) December 12, 2024
“The mission right now is to complete the season. We have one more mission ahead, which is attacking Michigan…” pic.twitter.com/O4ifY957wx
Milroe is the No. 3 quarterback in Mel Kiper Jr.’s positional rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft, behind only Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. When Milroe dazzled in the win over Georgia earlier in the season, NFL pundits were clamoring about Milroe’s future. But he had an up-and-down season from then on, struggling against Tennessee and Oklahoma while posting QBRs north of 95 in wins over LSU and Auburn.
Whether Milroe will return to Alabama in 2025 remains to be seen. He could jump to the NFL, but that doesn’t seem to be his focus right now.
Having him available for the bowl game is huge for coach Kalen DeBoer as he crafts the gameplan. Milroe leads the Crimson Tide in rushing this season and has scored 35 total touchdowns between his arm and his legs.
The ReliaQuest Bowl is scheduled to kick off from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay at noon ET on Dec. 31. ESPN will have the coverage. Alabama is an 11.5-point favorite in the game, via ESPN Bet.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
