The mighty Alabama Crimson Tide, long considered college football royalty, ended their 2024 campaign on a sour note. In a stunning ReliaQuest Bowl upset, they fell 19-13 to the Michigan Wolverines, putting an exclamation point on an uncharacteristically poor 9-4 season under legendary head coach Nick Saban. As if the loss wasn’t painful enough, in-state foe South Alabama decided to pour salt in the fresh wound.
The South Alabama Jaguars, fresh off a 30-23 victory over Western Michigan in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, couldn’t resist taking a jab at their struggling neighbors. In a cheeky tweet featuring a mock newspaper headline, they proudly proclaimed themselves “Only team in Alabama to win a bowl game this season.”
Ending 2024 on top 😎
– @SouthAlabamaFB, Twitter
Tide’s Troubles Mount
For the Crimson Tide faithful, the loss to Michigan was just the latest gut punch in a season full of them. Alabama turned the ball over three times in the first quarter alone, spotting the Wolverines an early 16-0 lead they would never relinquish.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe, thrust into the starting role after Bryce Young’s early draft departure, shouldered much of the blame. His two fumbles and an interception led directly to Michigan scores, putting Alabama in a hole they couldn’t quite climb out of.
The loss dropped Saban’s squad to 9-4 on the year, their worst mark since his debut season in Tuscaloosa way back in 2007. For a program that perennially competes for national titles, it was an utterly forgettable campaign.
Jaguars’ Joyous Jab
Meanwhile, the mood was much brighter in Mobile. South Alabama’s bowl victory over Western Michigan gave them a second straight postseason triumph, the first two in program history.
Quarterback Bishop Davenport shined in the win, throwing for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Jaguars’ 30 points were more than enough to topple the Broncos and give them in-state bragging rights.
Their clever Twitter graphic made sure to drive that point home. In a fictional “Breaking News” segment, they gleefully noted that South Alabama was the sole team in the Yellowhammer State to finish the bowl season with a victory.
Elsewhere in Alabama
Jacksonville State, the only other bowl-eligible program in Alabama this year, suffered a narrow 30-27 defeat to Ohio in the Cure Bowl. It was a valiant effort, but not enough to bring home the hardware.
- Eight Division I Programs in Alabama total
- Three Eligible for bowl competition this year
- One Victorious: South Alabama stands alone
Fortunately for the Crimson Tide, they won’t have to face the Jaguars and their Twitter fingers next season. The two programs have no plans to meet on the gridiron in the near future.
But for now, South Alabama gets to enjoy a well-earned victory lap as the state’s lone bowl champion. In a year where Alabama’s struggles mounted and eventually boiled over, the Jaguars provided a rare bright spot for football fans in the Heart of Dixie. Their timely troll job was simply the cherry on top.
