Alabama Pushes Back With A Stellar Second Half Performance Defeating Michigan in the Vrbo Citrus Bowl
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The Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines would meet for the fifth time at the 2020 Vrbo Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL. With a crowd of 59,746 cheering on both teams, the Crimson Tide would roll away with a 35-16 victory over the Wolverines. Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy would receive MVP honors with six receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown. In for the injured Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback Mac Jones would throw 16 completions for 327 yards and three touchdowns. Michigan, on the other hand, would see some impressive numbers by quarterback Shea Patterson throwing 233 yards with one touchdown. However, Patterson would also throw two interceptions.
Image via Florida Citrus Sports
Starting thing off, Alabama wins the coin toss. The Tide defers to Michigan, giving their offense a chance to see what Harbaugh and his Wolverine offense can do against the impressive Alabama defense. In the first quarter, Alabama would get off to a great start forcing Michigan out after three plays for a gain of two yards. The Tide's offense would quickly take the field and immediately started their drive with Mac Jones throwing an 85-yard pass completion to Jerry Jeudy for a touchdown. Alabama set the tone for the game attacking Michigan with their passing, which allowed running back Najee Harris to have an impressive day running the ball for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
However, Michigan did not take the first half lying down. The wolverines saw much success in their running game. Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins combined for 120 yards rushing in the first half with Shea Patterson throwing for 151 yards with one touchdown. The Wolverines would take their success into halftime, ending the first half strong completing a 57-yard field goal putting them up 16-14 over the Crimson Tide.
Although the momentum was on Michigan's side going into the third quarter, Alabama would start the second half with a 75-yard drive on four plays leading to a 42-yard pass completion by Mac Jones to DeVonta Smith for a touchdown. Whatever the speech was in the Alabama locker room during halftime flipped the switch and kept the lights on for the Crimson Tide throughout the second half and to end the game.
When discussing their first-half success and Alabama's game-plan in the second half, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh stated, "It was a very competitive game through the half, into the fourth quarter, until, really, until about six minutes left in the game. Their [Alabama] ability to create the big play was critical in the game and their ability to keep us out of the end zone and through the drives. We had long drives and settled for field goals." Although Michigan came into the Vrbo Citrus Bowl with a solid game plan, this loss drops Michigan to 9-4 and makes this Harbaugh's fourth straight bowl game loss.
The Crimson Tide have had much success as a football program under the leadership of coach Nick Saban. Winning 12 out of their 17 bowl game appearances and securing five national championships, Alabama has been one of the elite football programs for quite some time now. After the game, Coach Saban addressed what it meant to play in the Citrus Bowl and how valuable the experience is.
"I think that there was a lot of value for our program and our team to be able to come and get a reward, first of all, for having a successful season... I think that every player can create value for how he plays, and there's a tremendous amount of value that your team creates by maintaining the culture of how they play in the last game and how they finish the season. That carries over, that culture carries over into next season, especially with the young players. So I think there's a lot of value," Saban stated.
The Crimson Tide finished the season 11-2 and are blessed with options at the quarterback position. Although Mac Jones may not be Tua Tagovailoa, he showed why he is perfectly capable of being the leader of Alabama's offense. On the year, Jones threw for 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns to offset his three interceptions. With uncertainty on Tagovailoa's decision to stay with Alabama or go pro, coach Nick Saban will have a great option going into next year, putting them a step ahead of where they have been, offensively, for years.
Key Game Notes:
This Vrbo Citrus Bowl marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Michigan Wolverines
This game also marked Michigan's sixth appearance in the Citrus Bowl
The Wolverines are 4-2 all-time in the Citrus Bowl
Michigan ran 80 offensive plays compared to Alabama's 55
This year's Vrbo Citrus Bowl is the first time in seven years that Nick Saban did not play for a National Championship
Jeudy finished the game with six receptions for a career-best 204 yards, starting with an 85-yard touchdown grab on the Tide's first offensive play of the game
Alabama outgained the Wolverines, 480-395, in total offense, including a nearly 100-yard differential through the air, 327-233
Alabama's defense held Michigan to just 109 yards and zero points in the second half