A lot of people will remember the Rose Bowl from last year, where Alabama was routed by Michigan in overtime on a very strange 4th and 3 play call where Jalen Milroe kept the ball on a QB draw. The play seemed botched from the get-go and Michigan blew it up. Now a year later Michigan does the same thing, dominating Alabama’s offense forcing them to turn the ball over four times in the first quarter. I have never seen a team start off that bad, especially a Crimson Tide Alabama offense.

             The game plan for teams that beat Milroe was to stop him from running the ball and make him beat you with his throwing arm, which has been proven to be subpar. Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Vanderbilt did this successfully, and Michigan copied that game plan.

             Alabama entered this game as 11.5-point favorites and rightfully so, most of Alabama’s starters were playing as there were very few opt outs while Michigan got hit hard by opt outs, missing the number one corner in the draft Will Johnson, projected first rounder Mason Graham, and about 6 other starters spread across the team. So, to say Alabama was favored is expected especially with how many high end players were out for Michigan.

             However, when the game started it seemed the opposite, the first four drives for Alabama went turnover on downs, fumble, interception, and a fumble. All of those turnovers gave Michigan the ball within Alabama’s 25-yard line every time. Michigan’s average starting field position at halftime was the Alabama 29-yard line, which is insane. From that point on Alabama played the catch-up game and was falling short every time, it seemed as if Michigan brought their A game and Alabama completely forgot this team was the one that ended their National Championship hopes from last year.

             Coming into the fourth quarter it felt as if momentum was shifting towards Alabama side as Michigan could not get anything going on offense and Alabama seemed to be finding their groove. Alabama got the ball with 2:13 seconds left in the 4th quarter, where they went down the field reaching the Michigan 15-yard line. In almost a déjà vu moment and in similar fashion to the Rose Bowl last year, Alabama could not convert on 4th down, thus losing the game. Alabama’s record fell to 9-4 which would be the worst record since Nick Saban's first year in 2007

             Overall, for the Alabama case, there is a completely different look and feel to this Alabama team since Nick Saban left, the discipline, confidence, and play calling has overall decreased. Then we have to remember every single high-level player on Alabama is leaving for the draft and then remembering the 20 players that Alabama lost to the portal. In my opinion I believe it is safe to say that Alabama won't be the normal talent level they usually are for next season. This team has a different heartbeat without Nick Saban.

             Now regarding Michigan, they ended the season on an extremely high note. Beating Ohio State in the horseshoe as a heavy underdog. Then a month later they come down to Tampa and beat Alabama in another game where they were seen as a heavy underdog. Michigan may have lost a lot of high talent players in the draft, but they also have a very good recruiting class coming in and hit the portal hard. The sky is the limit for them next year, especially with Bryce Underwood at quarterback.