When does Alabama play its bowl game in 2024? Schedule, opponent, time and more to know about ReliaQuest Bowl

The No. 11-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide had a season far below their normal standard. They failed to qualify for the SEC Championship Game or College Football Playoff, even with the new 12-team format. As a result, they will play a non-playoff bowl game.

Alabama is set to play in one of the most anticipated bowl games of the season against the Michigan Wolverines. Those two teams will compete in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year's Eve at 12 p.m. EST.

When does Alabama play its bowl game in 2024?

Alabama and Michigan will compete in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 at 12 p.m. EST. It is a rematch of the 2023 Rose Bowl (college football playoff semifinal). In that game, the Michigan Wolverines won 27-20 to advance to the National Championship Game. The Wolverines then defeated Washington to win the National Championship.

What stadium is the ReliaQuest Bowl in?

The 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl will be played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. It is the 39th edition of the ReliaQuest Bowl, although it was previously named the Outback Bowl from 1996 to 2022. The Raymond James Stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL and the South Florida Bulls college football program.

Who is the favorite in the ReliaQuest Bowl?

With a matchup between Alabama and Michigan on the horizon in the ReliaQuest Bowl, the Crimson Tide are the definitive favorite. Before the season, many people would have expected to see this matchup in the college football playoff. However, neither team had the season they expected.

The Michigan Wolverines (7-5) never got the opportunity to defend their national championship as they struggled to find consistency all season. They dropped games to unranked teams, including Washington, which effectively knocked them out of playoff contention.

Although they were able to pull off a win against No. 6-ranked Ohio State at the end of the season, it was not enough to get back in the playoff picture.

Alabama (9-3) was in the mix for the College Football Playoff for most of the season, a few unacceptable losses ended its chances. The team's first loss was a 40-35 defeat to Vanderbilt.

Although the Tide bounced back, they lost to Tennessee two weeks later and then lost 24-3 to unranked Oklahoma in the second-last game of the season. That was enough to lower them in the rankings and keep them out of the playoffs.