Last week, we started our offseason series of ranking the best Michigan men’s basketball players since the first time the Wolverines won a national championship back in 1989 to celebrate a 37-year history of Michigan basketball between titles. Today, we look at the next tier up, and it’s a significant one from our scoring model from a batch of already quality list of players in the first rendition of this series.
Michigan
Your A to Z guide for Michigan-Alabama football in the ReliaQuest Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. – It may not be in Pasadena for the Rose Bowl, but a New Year’s Eve bowl game still is a battle between the two winningest programs in college football.
Michigan and Alabama head down to central Florida for the Dec. 31 ReliaQuest Bowl in a rematch of last season’s Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff semifinal.
This is the first non-playoff postseason game for the Wolverines since the 2020 Capital One Bowl, also against the Crimson Tide. Michigan also last played in Florida in the 2021 Orange Bowl, which served as a playoff semifinal.
This year’s bowl can serve as a warm weather destination for Michigan snowbirds. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl, from tickets to weather to travel.
Michigan-Alabama game info
Kickoff: Noon
Where: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida
The teams: Michigan (7-5, beat Ohio State 13-10) versus No. 11 Alabama (9-3, beat Auburn 28-14)
How to watch: ESPN (streaming on Watch ESPN, Fubo, DirecTV and Sling TV)
Michigan-Alabama betting odds: Alabama -10.5 (Michigan a massive underdog in bowl matchup with Alabama)
How to buy tickets
The ReliaQuest Bowl has partnered with Ticketmaster to offer $80 for regular seats and $170 for club seats. There are still several tickets in this price range.
You can also find tickets on the secondary market for around $83 to $91 from Stubhub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek.
Weather forecast
It will most likely be ideal Florida weather with a temperatures of 75 degrees, according to the 10-day Weather Channel forecast. There is also a 15% chance of rain.
Alabama running back Jase McClellan (2) celebrates his touchdown during the Rose Bowl game against Michigan in Pasadena, Calif. on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. Michigan beat Alabama 27-20.Neil Blake | MLive.com
Historic battle
Michigan and Alabama football is as classic as college football gets, from the uniforms to fight songs to the bands.
New Year’s Eve will also serve as a tiebreaker in the series between the programs. The Wolverines and Crimson Tide are tied 3-3 in their previous six games.
The first matchup coincidentally took place in Tampa in 1988 when the game was known as the Hall of Fame Bowl. The Wolverines won 28-24 on a last-minute touchdown pass from Demetrius Brown to John Kolesar.
The Tide won three of the next five, including wins in 1997, 2012 and 2020. The other two Michigan wins both took place in overtime, including the 2000 Orange Bowl (behind the arm of Tom Brady) and last season’s Rose Bowl (behind the legs of Blake Corum).
Big screen viewing for homebound Wolverines
Three Emagine Theater chains in Michigan, including the one in Saline, will show the ESPN broadcast.
Tickets cost $20, and doors open at 11:30 a.m. Emagine Saline, 1335 E. Michigan Ave., has tickets available at Emagine-Entertainment.com.
Seating is limited to theater capacity, Emagine officials said in a Dec. 19 release.
The other two Emagine locations are in Royal Oak at 200 North Main St. and Novi at 44425 West 12 Mile Road.
Read more: Catch Michigan-Alabama on the big screen at this theater south of Ann Arbor
Michigan fans watch the pregame show before the Rose Bowl against Alabama in Pasadena, California on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
Gameday parking
The parking lots open at 8 a.m. at Raymond James Stadium. All parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Car and motorcycle parking costs $40, while premium parking costs $50. Buses, camper and limousines can park for $160 in Lot 8. There is no overnight parking available on stadium property.
All parking is mobile. A limited number of parking spaces are available to be purchased in advance by clicking here.
Prepaid parking for cars and motorcycles is $35, while prepaid premium parking is $45. Prepaid RV parking is $140.
You can also park north of the stadium at Al Lopez Park and Tampa Jesuit High School. Taxis and rideshares drop off passengers at the pedestrian bridge on Dale Mabry Highway northwest of the stadium’s Ford Gate. Pickup for rideshares is at Steinbrenner Field lots or the mass transit location across from the bridge.
Flights to Tampa
Need a last-second flight to Tampa? Expect some spend some on a plane ticket.
Tickets from Detroit to Tampa for Dec. 30 are as low as $378 on Spirit and $688 on Delta.
Where to tailgate, party in Tampa
You are able to tailgate in your parking spot near the stadium. You must keep lanes clear for emergency vehicles.
There are certain restrictions, like no throwing or kicking balls, no tents without prior approval, no kegs, no amplified sound systems, no fireworks and more. The full parking lot rules can be found here.
Tampa is known for its waterways, which you can explore on the Pirate Water Taxi or Yacht Starship. There’s the trolley that takes you around the Ybor City Historic District, home to cigar rolling and the 120-year-old Spanish-Cuban eatery Columbia Restaurant.
There are also dozens of golf courses, including professional ones like TPC Tampa Bay and Saddlebrook Resort Tampa.
What to bring and what not to bring
Here is a full list of prohibited items for the stadium.
Michigan defensive lineman Kris Jenkins (94) celebrates after beating Alabama 27-20 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.Neil Blake | MLive.com
New coach’s first bowl game
Head coach Sherrone Moore ended the regular season on a high note with an upset over national title contender and rival Ohio State. Now he gets his first crack at a bowl game, something that has been a thorn in many a Wolverine coach’s side.
Moore’s predecessor Jim Harbaugh went just 3-6 in the postseason. After a rout over Florida in the 2016 Citrus Bowl, Harbaugh’s teams lost four straight bowl games and two straight playoff semifinals. He broke the streak with last year’s Rose Bowl and national title game wins.
Brady Hoke also won his first bowl, an overtime win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl. He and Rich Rodriguez lost their other three bowl games.
The winningest coach in program history Bo Schembechler famously had issues in bowl games, going 5-12 during his 20-year tenure from 1969 to 1989.
Gary Moeller and Lloyd Carr had the most success in Michigan football history in bowl games, winning a combined 10 from 1990 to 2007. That included a 6-2 mark against Southeastern Conference teams.
Wolverine fans are hoping Moore is more like Carr or Moeller in this regard.
Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free “3@3 Ann Arbor” daily newsletter.
No. 22 – F Morez Johnson Jr. – Score: 78.4
The first player from Michigan’s 2025-26 team has made it on the list, and it’s the bodyguard himself, Morez Johnson Jr. His stint in Ann Arbor was short, but impactful. After transferring in from Illinois, he found his way into a starting lineup with two other players 6-foot-9 or taller in Yaxel Lendeborg and Aday Mara. The trio wreaked havoc all season long thanks to their length and athleticism in a scheme tailor-made by head coach Dusty May.
Johnson was one of the most efficient players in the country, averaging 13.1 points per game on a 62.3 percent clip. He also led the team with 7.3 rebounds per game and was commonly considered one of the best defensive players on the floor with his ability to guard all five positions. He was a Second-Team All-Big Ten and was on the All-Big Ten Defensive Team as well.
No. 21 – F Deshawn Sims – Score: 78.9
In the transition from Tommy Amaker to John Beilein, Deshawn Sims was a part of a special group that propelled the program to relevancy again. Sims was the 19th player in program history to reach 1,500 career points, and the 15th to surpass 700 rebounds. Consistency was key, as he played in 129 consecutive games over four seasons, starting 92 of them.
Everything came together for the Wolverines in the 2008-09 season when Sims and co-star Manny Harris led the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in more than a decade. The team underperformed in 2009-10, but Sims’ play stayed consistent.
Along with the elite company Sims established with his longevity, he was also a three-time All-Big Ten honoree and averaged 16.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game over his final two seasons.
No. 20 – F Ray Jackson – Score: 81.6
Not only did we have the introduction to the 2026 championship team, but this stretch also introduces us to the Fab Five with forward Ray Jackson, the final member of the historic 1991 class.
Jackson not only has the pedigree tied to the culture that surrounded the Fab Five and their two runner-up finishes in the NCAA Tournament, but he was also a great player. One could argue he was the most unheralded of the bunch and deserves more credit than he does. Somehow, he was only a two-time All-Big Ten performer, but he averaged 17.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in his final three seasons with the program.
He ascended from the last of the Fab Five to a premier Big Ten player during his four-year career, helping guide Maurice Taylor — an honorable mention in this series — to being a member of the All-Big Ten freshman team when Jackson was a senior.
Jackson’s impact was profound, not just for his role in the Fab Five but for the transition out of it with future players who had impossible shoes to fill. The Wolverines not only stayed afloat, but remained tournament teams in the years following, which would have meant more had that era not been tarnished with “scandal” for a fraction of what is being done today in the NIL world.
- The Top 25 Michigan men’s basketball players since 1989: No. 25-23
Enter your email and we’ll send a secure one-click link to sign in.
WLNS 6 News is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
WLNS 6 News is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.
Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.
As temperatures rise in Michigan each summer, so to do the chances of harmful algal blooms (HABs) developing in our lakes, causing a risk to both ecosystems and public health.
HABs are formed wherever there is rapid growth of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, which are naturally found in lakes, rivers and ponds. Some cyanobacteria found in blooms contain toxins that can be harmful to people and animals, and often present as blue-green, yellow or brown streaks, foam, or thick paint-like scums on the water surface, according to the Michigan Departments of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)
To help keep track of these harmful algal blooms across the state, EGLE has teamed up with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to update its online reporting form to include harmful algal blooms. Now the public can easily report suspected HABs to the state by filling out the form at Michigan.gov/HABs. Individuals can also make a report by calling EGLE’s Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278.
“This new online form is an easy and efficient way for Michiganders to help monitor and safeguard our water resources,” said Jerrod Sanders, director of Water Resources Division at EGLE, in a news release. “This tool improves efficiency and helps us respond to potential risks more effectively.”
It will also allow EGLE and MDHHS staff to better understand how HABs develop, and creates the potential to send out public notifications about what areas to avoid as a way of keeping people and pets safe when they’re detected.
Breathing in or swallowing water with HAB toxins can cause asthma-like symptoms, difficulty breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, runny eyes and nose, weakness, headaches or dizziness. Skin contact can also cause rashes, blisters or hives.
“If you had contact with or swallowed water with a suspected HAB and feel sick, call your health care provider or seek medical attention as soon as possible,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive.
Locations of HAB reports verified by EGLE and results of cyanotoxin testing will be displayed on the Michigan Harmful Algal Bloom Reports Map for the public to review.
For more information on health effects, causes and reports on the occurrence of HABs in Michigan lakes, visit Michigan.gov/HABs.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
-
Denver, CO1 minute agoStorm threat for northeastern Colorado Saturday; sunny and warmer Sunday
-
Seattle, WA8 minutes agoWEST SEATTLE SATURDAY: 33 options!
-
San Diego, CA11 minutes agoLetters: Stop taxpayer funds for short-term rental trash
-
Milwaukee, WI16 minutes ago5 Milwaukee Tool Combos That Come With Forge Batteries – SlashGear
-
Atlanta, GA23 minutes agoMichael Penix Jr. is betting his NFL future to prove he’s Atlanta’s franchise QB
-
Minneapolis, MN26 minutes agoChicago-to-Minneapolis United Airlines flight diverted after attempted cockpit breach
-
Indianapolis, IN31 minutes agoCircle City Orchestra wraps up season with ‘Sound Bites’ fundraiser
-
Pittsburg, PA38 minutes agoSteelers WR finally escapes doghouse after one game-changing phone call
