"He’s the face of the program": Paul Finebaum rips critics for being unfair with SEC QB over poor season record

For Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, the conclusion of his college career came with a disappointing loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

This marked the end of a 9-4 season for Alabama, their worst record since 2007. The season has been frustrating for the Tide, and Milroe has faced criticism for his performances, particularly in high-stakes games.

However, football analyst Paul Finebaum, speaking on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” defended the quarterback, expressing that the blame placed on Milroe is unwarranted.

“I believe that’s unfair,” Finebaum said. “Jalen Milroe did a lot of good things. He’s the quarterback. He’s the face of the program, but, ultimately, I tend to blame the coaches. If they don’t think he’s capable, then he shouldn’t play. We went through that last year; we didn’t coach through it this year.”

Jalen Milroe led Alabama through the transition

Jalen Milroe joined Alabama as a four-star recruit in the class of 2021, as ranked by the On3 Industry Rating. After spending two years developing, he became the team’s quarterback in 2023. His tenure as the starter spanned two seasons, during which he worked under two different coaching staffs.

In the 2023-24 season, Milroe fell just short in the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl against Michigan, unable to deliver in a last-minute goal-line scenario.

A year later, history seemed to repeat itself in the ReliaQuest Bowl, with another failed late-game effort to secure a win against the Wolverines. He ended the season with 2,844 passing yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while adding 20 rushing touchdowns.

Finebaum acknowledged the challenges Milroe faced and the harsh scrutiny quarterbacks endure.

“For me, it’s a little bit of piling on, and no matter what we say here this morning, I’m afraid I know how the narrative is going to be written and remembered because that’s just the legacy of quarterbacks,” Finebaum said. “We tend to remember whether you won a championship or not, whether you fell short in the biggest games, and I think for Jalen Milroe people will remember the end of the Rose Bowl game and, sadly, they will remember the end of the ReliaQuest Bowl game.”

Milroe’s college career statistics highlight his dual-threat abilities. He completed 64.3% of his passes for 6,016 yards, throwing 45 touchdowns against 20 interceptions. On the ground, he was equally effective, rushing for 1,577 yards and scoring 33 touchdowns.

Jalen Milroe accepted the invite to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl

Despite the disappointing end to the 2024 season, it remains a pivotal year in Alabama football history as the program transitioned from the Nick Saban era to the Kalen DeBoer era.

Some scouts have projected Milroe as a first-round pick for the 2025 NFL draft, while others suggest he may be selected on the second day. To boost his draft stock, Milroe has accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, where he will have an opportunity to showcase his skills and address areas of improvement as a passer.