Kalen DaBoer addresses the possibility of Jalen Milroe & Co. pulling a Cam Ward during ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Michigan

Kalen DeBoer's first year at Alabama might not have fulfilled the expectations of the fans, but he's determined to bring them a show for their ReliaQuest Bowl face-off with Michigan.

There was backlash against Miami's Mario Cristobal for allowing Heisman finalist Cam Ward to sit out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl. So, DeBoer decided to address the possibility of his star players pulling a similar stunt during their postseason game:

“Yeah, there’s been no conversations or anything,” DeBoer said. “I’d be pretty surprised. I think they’re here to win, to compete, to put the best product that we can put out there on the football field for four quarters and go out there."

“So, I wouldn’t expect something like that. But that’s the way these guys are. Jalen Milroe and the other guys, they’re going to go out there just like they always have been and give everything they have. They’ve shown that in practice, so I wouldn’t expect anything different.”

Given the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP), the importance of other bowl games has been greatly diminished. This has led many in the college football world to wonder if they're even worth playing.

The participation of departing players like Jalen Milroe shows a commitment by the Crimson Tide to value postseason play, even when it isn't part of the CFP.

Is Kalen DeBoer's Alabama a favorite for the ReliaQuest Bowl?

Alabama is a huge favorite for the ReliaQuest Bowl, with ESPN Bet making Michigan a 16.5-point underdog for the encounter. According to ESPN's game predictor, the Crimson Tide has an 80.6% chance of winning this bowl game.

Alabama finished the season as the No. 11 school in the nation, with an overall record of 9-3. Meanwhile, Michigan comes from a mediocre 7-5 season, which was highlighted by a victory over Ohio State at a time when the Buckeyes were the No. 2 school in the country. Alabama, in turn, fell to Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Oklahoma.

The game will air on ESPN at noon ET.