TAMPA, Fla. – Thousands in Tampa Bay will ring in the new year differently: the ReliaQuest Bowl game at Raymond James Stadium at noon on Dec. 31st. 

The Michigan Wolverines will face off against the Alabama Crimson Tide, and both teams arrived in Tampa on Thursday night, welcomed by fans. 

“These are two marquee teams with great college traditions. We are expecting very good crowds, and the Tampa Bay area is great at hospitality,’ said Greg Orchard, the Board of Directors Chairman for the Reliaquest Bowl. “We are excited to be really entertaining fans, teams, and the administration of both schools that are gonna be here.”                

READ: Siesta Key area business are open for business after hurricanes

Fans showed up at the hotels of each team to wish them well as they arrived on Thursday. 

“It would be very nice to meet the coach. We are very impressed with him and have been fans forever,” said Tammy and Mark Germain, Michigan fans. “I am so excited. We had no idea they’d be here, and we have never been to a game, so we are going to the game, our first actual game.” 

“Although it’s not in the playoffs, I do hope it is a very intense game,” said Marco Pratico, an Alabama fan. “It brings more viewers to Tampa; these two teams were in the Rose Bowl, too, so it’s great to have two high-level teams in Tampa.”

The Michigan football team arriving in Tampa ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl.

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This will also have a huge economic impact on businesses, hotels, and restaurants, and it is expected to bring in over a billion dollars to the Tampa Bay area. 

“It’s a huge deal for Tampa, with the TV exposure — ESPN at noon on New Year’s Eve — and the exposure of fans coming to the Tampa Bay area and seeing that, yes, we are open after the hurricanes we’ve had.” 

Both teams will enjoy sunshine-filled festivities before the game next week. 

“Well, the teams are here to play football, so there are a few practice sessions, but there will also be a day for them at Busch Gardens and a beach day on Sunday, where thousands of the fans will be at Clearwater Beach, and hopefully they can enjoy warmer weather than Michigan.”

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TCU transfer wide receiver JoJo Earle signed with UNLV under new head coach Dan Mullen, On3’s Pete Nakos has learned. He started his career at Alabama before spending two seasons at TCU.

Earle entered the transfer portal earlier this month following his second year with the Horned Frogs. He only appeared in four games in 2024, totaling seven receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown. That came after he played in all 12 games as a junior when he had 16 receptions for 239 yards and two touchdowns after transferring from Alabama.

During his two years at Alabama, Earle appeared in 20 games. He totaled 303 yards and two touchdowns during that time before taking his talents to TCU. He will have one year of eligibility remaining.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. 

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and X account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

Earle played high school football at Aledo (TX), where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 44 overall player from the 2021 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

JoJo Earle is the latest high-profile transfer to commit to UNLV under Mullen, who is returning to the sidelines as Barry Odom’s replacement. The Rebels have been active in the portal market since the transition, notably making a splash at quarterback.

Former Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea is also making his way to Las Vegas next season after announcing his commitment Dec. 21. He arrives as the No. 340 overall player and No. 30-ranked quarterback to enter the portal so far this cycle, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.

Colandrea played in 11 games last season with Virginia, throwing for 2,125 yards 13 touchdowns, along with 11 interceptions. He chose UNLV over suitors such as Pitt, Syracuse and Ole Miss, which were all in pursuit.

Mullen is making his return to the sidelines after two years as an ESPN analyst. He previously worked as the head coach at Florida, amassing a 34-15 record, including a 21-14 mark in SEC play. That came after nine seasons as the head coach at Mississippi State, where he went 69-46 and led the Bulldogs to a 10-win season in 2014.

ATLANTA – Hudson Meek, a rising teen actor best known for his role as “Young Baby” in the 2017 Atlanta-filmed blockbuster Baby Driver, has tragically passed away at the age of 16.

Meek died on Saturday from injuries sustained after falling from a moving vehicle in his hometown of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to multiple sources. The Jefferson County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that he suffered blunt force injuries in the incident, which occurred last Thursday on the 1900 block of Canyon Road. The circumstances surrounding the accident remain under investigation by the Vestavia Hills Police Department.

Meek’s family shared the heartbreaking news on his Instagram account, writing, “Our hearts are broken to share that Hudson Meek went home to be with Jesus tonight.”

Hudson Meek was a graduate of Vestavia Hills High School and had a blossoming career in the entertainment industry. In Baby Driver, filmed and set in Atlanta, he portrayed the younger version of Ansel Elgort’s main character in the Edgar Wright-directed action film. His talents extended to appearances in NBC’s Found, the MacGyver reboot, and voice acting roles. Alongside his brother, Tucker Meek, he also appeared in the 2014 Lifetime movie The Santa Con.

Meek’s obituary highlighted his passion for acting and his love for working on set, saying, “He absolutely loved spending time on set and having the chance to learn the names and stories of every member of the cast and crew.” Several of his projects are set to be released in 2025.

READ THE OBIT

J Pervis Talent Agency, which represented Meek, paid tribute on Instagram: “Hudson was an extraordinary young talent, whose dedication, passion, and promise shone brightly within our industry. Over the past 10 years, he contributed so much to the spirit of our agency, and his loss leaves a void that will be deeply felt by all of us.”

Baby Driver (2017) is a stylish action-crime film directed by Edgar Wright. The movie revolves around Baby, a young and talented getaway driver with a passion for music. Played by Ansel Elgort, Baby uses his carefully curated playlists to drown out the tinnitus he developed from a childhood car accident and to synchronize his driving, making him one of the best in the business.

Baby works for Doc, a mysterious crime boss played by Kevin Spacey, who organizes heists with rotating crews of criminals. Baby is reluctantly tied to Doc due to a debt, but he dreams of leaving the criminal world behind. His plans are further solidified when he meets Debora, a kind-hearted waitress played by Lily James, and the two begin to imagine a future free from crime.

However, Baby’s path to freedom is complicated by a dangerous heist crew and escalating tensions with volatile criminals like Bats (Jamie Foxx) and Buddy (Jon Hamm). As the stakes rise, Baby must use his driving skills, quick thinking, and determination to protect Debora and escape the life of crime once and for all.