Social media reacts to Michigan Football facing Alabama in bowl game

Trent Knoop | Dec 8, 2024

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

On Sunday, it was revealed that Michigan would play Alabama in the ReliaQuest bowl in Tampa, Florida. The game will take place on Dec. 31 at it will kick at Noon ET.

With the Wolverines playing Alabama, it will be the second time the two teams have met in the same calendar year. If you don't recall, Michigan played Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 and the Wolverines won in an overtime thriller, 27-20. J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and Co. took down the Crimson Tide before rolling through Washington for a National Championship.

But the 2024 iteration isn't the same as last year. Both teams look completely different. There is no Jim Harbaugh nor Nick Saban on the sidelines. The Wolverines finished 7-5 with a big win over Ohio State, while Alabama went 9-3 on the season.

But once the bowl game was announced, social media had a say in the matchup. Here are some of the best reactions we could find.

LFG Rose bowl rematch!!! pic.twitter.com/kB1rwZGukb
— trentejones (@trentejones01) December 8, 2024

Michigan and Alabama again:

Michigan is heading to Tampa to play against Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl (formerly known as the Outback Bowl) on Dec. 31 pic.twitter.com/YVMQiHNQHV
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 8, 2024

According to Pro Football Focus's 2025 big board, there are 11 top-100 2025 NFL Draft prospects on Michigan and Alabama's rosters

A major storyline for the ReliaQuest Bowl will be whether these players play in a bowl game they aren't used to playing in pic.twitter.com/jYIviAF5Oc
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) December 8, 2024

Michigan vs Alabama

New Year's Eve at the @ReliaQuestBowl in Tampa.

Game Info » https://t.co/kwCtIrIv05
Bowl Central » https://t.co/Kv9c97zPG4 #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/wKWIv2TLXd
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) December 8, 2024

What a way to get our young guys experience! Do the thing again!
— Mitch Boisel (@mitchboisel) December 8, 2024

A whopping six of Michigan's games this season will come against teams in the top-20 of the current College Football Playoff rankings:
vs. No. 1 Oregon, loss
vs. No. 3 Texas, loss
at No. 6 Ohio State, win
at No. 8 Indiana, loss
vs. No. 11 Alabama, TBD
at No. 20 Illinois, loss
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) December 8, 2024

BREAKING:

Michigan Football reacts to playing Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl pic.twitter.com/6HDCcAsE5Z
— JJ McCarthy Fan (@JJOneOfOne) December 8, 2024

Michigan can become the first program in college football history to beat Alabama twice in the postseason in the same year.
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) December 8, 2024

Michigan and Alabama will meet 365 days after the Wolverines made a stand and earned a milestone playoff victory.pic.twitter.com/YpwzIjxUml
— Anthony Broome (@anthonytbroome) December 8, 2024

Alabama will name the score in this meaningless scrimmage. How Michigan fans respond (we’re gonna have way more opt outs). will be an intelligence test. Some fools will be outing themselves as such on this app in a few weeks. https://t.co/dGuBxBSWDi
— MichiganPodcast (@MichiganPodcast) December 8, 2024

This will be the third time in the last five full seasons that Michigan and Alabama have faced off in a bowl game. pic.twitter.com/aLZT1jq5SY
— Brock Heilig (@brockheilig) December 8, 2024