The final game of the 2024 season is nearly upon us, as the Michigan Wolverines will meet with the Alabama Crimson Tide in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Eve. This will be the second meeting in the 2024 calendar year between these two squads, and this one is obviously a lot less meaningful than the first one at the Rose Bowl.

For the final time in 2024, the Maize n Brew staff came together to answer some questions about the upcoming game, as well as taking a quick look back at The Game.

Before we really dive in, we have to discuss Michigan’s fourth straight victory over Ohio State, with this one being the biggest upset of them all. Jot down any thoughts you had/still have from that game.

Von: Man…how awesome was that? Michigan going into Columbus as a three-touchdown underdog, with a former walk-on quarterback that was benched earlier in the season, no Will Johnson, no Colston Loveland, no Donovan Edwards in the second half…no problem for Michigan. It isn’t my favorite win in The Game ever, but it sure was the most funny of them all because A) The huge point spread, B) Michigan prevented OSU from going to the Big Ten Championship, and C) Ryan Day and Chip Kelly were baited into running the ball over and over, only to have their ball-carriers be met by Buckeye slayer and Michigan legend Mason Graham at the line of scrimmage. The team planted the Michigan flag even further down into the minds of every Buckeye on Nov. 30, 2024. Better luck next year!

Kellen: It was nice to see Ohio Rep. Josh Williams get properly roasted online after proposing a bill that would make flag planting a felony at Ohio Stadium. That was one of the dumbest ideas I’ve seen a politician propose on a low-stakes manner in a long time. I was also reading every single article about Ohio State reflecting on the loss and trying to downplay the importance of The Game after losing it four years in a row. At this point, Sherrone Moore has rented a condo inside Ryan Day’s head, and that condo will still be there when Ohio State loses to Oregon in the quarterfinals.

Sam: Harbaugh has inflicted Day with the notion that if you don’t run the ball, you’re not a real Big Ten team. I think that has never been more apparent than this matchup. This one felt like the biggest stamp on the complete turnover the rivalry has seen over the last few years.

Jake: I will never forget when the air was taken out of Ohio Stadium as Michigan led 13-10 late in the fourth quarter. I never expected strong quarterback play, but seeing the defense and the offensive line step up like they did against one of the most dominant teams in 2024 still brings a tear to my eye. After Ohio State’s blowout win over Tennessee, it makes the win even more special. The foundation is there to be good for years to come. P.S. Flag planting is a tradition in college football that should never go away.

Now that that’s out of our system, let’s turn our attention to Michigan’s matchup with Alabama. With guys like Colston Loveland, Mason Graham and Will Johnson, among others, not suiting up in this game, what — or who — are you most looking forward to seeing play in this one?

Von: I am really excited to see Jordan Marshall get some snaps at running back. Since Dono and Kalel Mullings won’t be playing, this will provide him, Ben Hall and Micah Ka’apana some carries against a good team in Alabama. These snaps are incredibly meaningful for guys like them, and hopefully springboard them into a pivotal offseason for their individual developments. I am also looking forward to seeing some more playing time for tight end Hogan Hansen, defensive tackles Trey Pierce and Enow Etta, and perhaps we finally see some legitimate snaps for quarterback Jadyn Davis.

Kellen: Give Andy Bailey’s boy Jordan Marshall some run in this one. He has flashed potential on special teams, and I want to see him get the bulk of the carries in this one. I’d also like to see what Michigan actually has in Jadyn Davis, even though he feels like a likely candidate to eventually transfer with Bryce Underwood coming in next year.

Sam: I’m definitely interested in seeing returning front seven guys get more run. The offensive line is always gonna have depth, so I’m sure there will be guys to watch there as well. I’m really more interested in learning more about the early enrollees (despite them not being able to play in this game).

Jake: I cannot wait to see the defense against Alabama. While many pieces on the offense are currently in the transfer portal or out of eligibility, Michigan’s second-stringers on defense will get a ton of snaps against a powerhouse SEC program. I wonder if Jaishawn Barham will get snaps along the edge, and I can’t wait to see TJ Guy, Cam Brandt and Derrick Moore get rotational snaps against future NFL picks. I also want to see Jimmy Rolder and Jaydon Hood get more snaps at linebacker, and I am excited to see Zeke Berry play against the Bama receivers, as he will need to step up as one of the only retuning starters in the secondary next season.

Do you truly care if Michigan wins or loses this game? What will be your level of disappointment/anger/any other emotion if Michigan loses?

Von: The season is over whether or not they win this game, so no, I don’t care about the outcome of this game. Of course, it would be nice if they won, but my day won’t be ruined if they lose like it would be if they lost a rivalry game or lost a College Football Playoff game.

Kellen: I only care because it’s Alabama. Alabama’s fans have been the most annoying all season long for constantly playing the hypothetical game and dunking on the Indiana’s and SMU’s of the world with a results-based argument. While I’m on this tangent, Kirk Herbstreit and ESPN deserve to be on the naughty list. Spending a large portion of the pregame show talking about how Bama, Ole Miss and other SEC teams should have gotten a spot because Indiana lost handily to Notre Dame was absurd. That’s a stupid argument that only became more popular online because the opening round of the CFP was relatively boring. It’s the same argument that happens when 11-13 seeds get blown out in March Madness. We can’t change the entire postseason format and qualifications for getting into the dance because the television product was less than ideal. That’s unfair to the little guys of the sport, and basically every non SEC or Big Ten school. Indiana and SMU earned the right to be blown out. Beating Bama with this mediocre team one year after the Rose Bowl will be satisfying for Michigan fans, and will unfortunately force more of the hypothetical arguments that have made college football Twitter a cesspool in recent weeks.

Sam: No. The CFP ruined non-playoff bowl games. That, coupled with the opt-outs and early transfer portal window, have stained bowl season.

Jake: Obviously, I will always want a Michigan win. Nonetheless, the win is meaningless in the grand scheme of things. The goal in these games is to develop young stars further so they are better next season. There will be a lot of hype around the game, given it is a Rose Bowl rematch, but do not give in. Look for certain pieces that can contribute in 2025, and watch how the coaching staff plays out the game. I want to see how this program performs on a big stage in a game that does not impact ranking or seeding.

Give us a bold prediction or two for the game.

Von: Jordan Marshall rips off an explosive 50+ yard run.

Kellen: Kenneth Grant, who I think is playing in this game, gets a scoop and score touchdown off a Jalen Milroe fumble in the second quarter.

NOTE: Grant has now declared for the draft and won’t be playing)

Sam: I think we’re gonna see Milroe more as a passer.

Jake: 1. With Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards out, expect Benjamin Hall to receive 15-20 carries. Jordan Marshall will be an instrumental piece in 2025, but he didn’t receive many carries this season, and I do not think that will change in this game. It is Hall’s job to lose, and I think Sherrone Moore wants to see what starting potential he has against a dominant defense.

2. The Michigan defense will hold Alabama to less than 100 rushing yards. The Wolverines have been rotating top talent along the line the last few years, and the next men up have continued to produce in their new roles. Not to mention, the Tide’s most productive back, Justice Haynes, is in the portal.

Prediction time! What is the final score and why?

Von: Alabama 38, Michigan 20. I don’t think Michigan has the horses to keep this one close. Thankfully, the Wolverines will head into the offseason with a blank slate thanks to a new offensive coordinator and new starting quarterback.

Kellen: Bama wins, 27-10, because the Wolverines are missing their best players and already won their Super Bowl against Ohio State last month.

Sam: Bama, 31-14. Too much juice from the Tide offense, Michigan will have some fight but I just don’t see the Wolverines winning.

Jake: Alabama 38, Michigan 13. The offense will be lackluster if Davis Warren plays most of the snaps, and it will be hard to move the ball without Mullings or Edwards. Ben Hall will get his touches and yards, but I see this being a high-scoring affair that does not play in Michigan’s favor. With a few interceptions, good field position and a strong passing attack, Alabama should win this one easily. That said, if Michigan can impact the Tide’s game plan early on as it did against the Buckeyes, it definitely has the possibility of being close.

Except for JuJu Watkins, USC’s players were struggling to find their shot.

A 10-point USC lead turned into a deficit during the third quarter. With Kiki Iriafen stuck on the bench in foul trouble, the Trojans needed someone to spark a rally.

Enter the all-too-reliable Rayah Marshall, the longest-tenured starter on the team.

She isn’t the flashiest player and she’ll rarely be the leading scorer with Watkins on the floor, but when USC needed a bruising option to force into the paint for second-chance looks, the senior got the job done against Michigan on Sunday night.

“Welcome to Big Ten basketball,” Marshall said.

Stripping the ball from Michigan guard Jordan Hobbs with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter, the 6-foot-4 forward forced a shot up while barreling toward the basket. She got smacked, but the ball went in. The converted three-point play was one of many Marshall made on her way to tying a season-high with 15 points in No. 4 USC’s 78-58 victory over No. 23 Michigan at Galen Center.

“The difference in Rayah’s leadership, just the growth she’s had from freshman year on, she can really listen, understand what I’m asking and then get other players to go along too,” coach Lindsay Gottlieb said. “And everyone just was along for that. … Ray is the catalyst for [the third-quarter run].”

Marshall’s seven third-quarter points and two assists drove the Trojans (12-1, 2-0) to a 10-point lead, helping facilitate for Watkins, who led the game with 31 points (including 13 on free throws). Iriafen scored 12 of her 18 points in a dominating fourth-quarter effort before fouling out with under two minutes left.

“Being the competitor that I am, I just took [Gottlieb’s halftime message] to heart, and just tried to get my teammates to go out there with the same hunger and compete,” Marshall said.

Michigan was without star freshman and leading scorer Syla Swords because of injury. The Trojans’ guards held the Wolverines’ second-leading scorer, freshman Olivia Olson, scoreless in the first half and to just 11 points. Hobbs led her team in scoring, with 14 of her 19 points coming in the Wolverines’ second-quarter surge.

Freshman guard Kennedy Smith, in her second game back from an undisclosed operation, was key to holding Michigan’s guards at bay. The former Gatorade California girl’s basketball player of the year co-led the team with three steals and played lockdown defense in front of players from the Etiwanda High girl’s basketball team — her alma mater — attending the game.

“She’s an incredible defender,” Gottlieb said of Smith. “I don’t know if I’ve ever had a better defender coming in as a freshman. Just her mind, her understanding of defensive schemes and her physical ability. How quickly she’s come back from this injury is really special.”

USC held Michigan (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) to its lowest scoring total of the season, with the Wolverines averaging 83.7 points a game entering the contest.

USC guard Kennedy Smith steals the ball from Michigan guard Mila Holloway during the first half Sunday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Michigan coach Kim Barnes Arico credited the Wolverines’ offensive struggles to USC’s relentless press, with the Trojans using Marshall to defend guards, creating confusion on inbound plays. The Wolverines didn’t score once off a fast break.

“Who wouldn’t want to see Rayah at the front of a press,” Gottlieb said about the 8,043 fans in attendance, “or the way that we play with one another? We’re trying to put a good product on the floor that people want to come see.”

With another Big Ten contest on the horizon, Gottlieb said she was grateful for the substantial holiday season crowd on a Sunday night.

“It’s just not lost on me ever,” she said. “To walk out there and see people in that upper row — Rayah and I were here when it was my family and hers. That’s it.”

USC finishes its homestand with a New Year’s Day contest against Nebraska. No. 1 UCLA handily defeated the Cornhuskers 91-54 on Sunday.

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