TAMPA, Fla. >> The year began with a Michigan victory over Alabama, and on the final day of 2024, Michigan defeated Alabama again.

Even with so many starters opting out of the game, Michigan players had talked for the last several weeks how cool it would be to bookend the season with wins over Alabama. But few gave the Wolverines a chance.

They were two-touchdown underdogs entering the ReliaQuest Bowl against No. 11 Alabama on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium, but jumped to a 16-0 turnover-driven first-quarter lead and relied on a strong defensive performance and kicker Dominic Zvada to pull off the 19-13 upset.

The Wolverines defeated Alabama 27-20 in overtime of the Rose Bowl national semifinal on New Year’s Day en route to going undefeated and winning the national championship. This was a much different season in Sherrone Moore’s first season as head coach. Michigan finishes 8-5 with three straight wins, including an upset of Ohio State in which the Wolverines were three-touchdown underdogs and used a similar path to victory with defense and Zvada, who finished the season 21-of-22 on field goals.

Zvada made four field goals in the bowl game, including a 37-yarder with 7:21 left to give Michigan a 19-10 lead. Alabama responded its next drive and pulled within 19-13 after a 51-yard field goal.

The Tide had a final chance to win the game. The drive was set up by a 38-yard punt return to their 44-yard line. After reaching the Michigan 15-yard line, Zeke Berry made a critical third-down pass breakup and on fourth down, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was hurried by Rayshaun Benny (Oak Park) and threw incomplete to seal the victory.

Even without starting defensive tackles Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, edge Josaiah Stewart, who led the team in sacks, and cornerback Will Johnson, Michigan’s defense, which grew stronger as the season went on, shined.

The Wolverines finished with six sacks, including two from edge Derrick Moore. Milroe was 16-of-32 for 192 yards, one touchdown and an interception.

Michigan quarterback Davis Warren, making his ninth start of the season, left the game early in the second half and was helped off the field after he was sacked. Warren was 9-of-12 for 73 yards and a touchdown. Alex Orji, who started three games this season, took over.

While the defense was without those key starters, the offense was without tight end Colston Loveland and running backs Kalel Mullings and Donovan Edwards. Freshman running back Jordan Marshall finished with 100 yards on 23 carries, while sophomore Ben Hall had 16 carries for 28 yards.

After the Wolverines built a 16-0 lead after the first quarter, taking advantage of three turnovers in rainy, sloppy conditions, Alabama responded in the second quarter once the conditions turned sunny by outscoring Michigan 10-0. The Tide outgained Michigan 165-66 and had 80 rushing yards on nine carries (8.9 per carry), while Michigan had 32 yards on 12 carries (2.7).

The Tide scored on their final two possessions of the first half, first on a 25-yard pass from Milroe to tight end Robbie Ouzts. Michigan downed its punt on the Alabama 4-yard line with 58 seconds left. On 3rd-1, Michigan curiously called a timeout. Milroe then ran 41 yards to the Michigan 46-yard line and on the next play connected with Germie Bernard for a 40-yard gain to the 6-yard line. Alabama settled for a 24-yard field goal to cut its deficit to 16-10 before halftime.

The Tide, which had minus-two total yards in the first quarter, entered halftime outgaining Michigan 163-109. The Wolverines’ first-half defensive highlights included two sacks by Moore and one from Aamir Hall.

Michigan set the tone early in the game taking advantage of Alabama’s sloppy play — made worse by a brief but heavy rain — with three turnovers in their first four possessions and built a 16-0 first-quarter lead. Alabama turned over the ball on downs on the Tide’s opening possession.

Milroe fumbled twice, the first recovered by Moore and the second by Cam Brandt after the fumble was forced by Hall on the strip sack. Wesley Walker also had an interception for the Wolverines. Michigan had starting field position at the Alabama 19-yard line, the 16 and the 6 off the turnovers but settled for field goals on two of those drives.

Zvada had field goals of 45, 30 and 21 yards and Warren connected with Fred Moore for a 13-yard touchdown pass to build a 16-0 lead. Michigan had 43 yards in the first quarter to while Alabama had minus-2 and minus-15 yards rushing.

The Wolverines’ 16 points were the third-most Alabama has allowed in the first quarter in the last decade.