Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe shared Thursday he plans to play in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.

“Finish is one of our core values,” Milroe said. “I think that’s important as a leader to refocus and emphasize the core values. That’s one of our statements as a group. We started the season all together. It’s about finishing together as well. I think that was just important when it comes to playing in this game. Finishing the season out with my brothers in Tampa.”

Milroe is the No. 4 quarterback on ESPN’s board right now for the 2025 NFL Draft. He could end up a first-round pick this spring. So some players in his spot might decide not to play in a bowl game that isn’t part of the College Football Playoff.

Milroe won’t, though.

Kalen DeBoer didn’t have to convince Milroe to play, if you ask the quarterback. Milroe was asked what DeBoer’s message was to him, and Milroe said it was “more my message to him.”

“Started the season out against Western Kentucky together. We’re going to finish the season together,” Milroe said. “That was just the emphasis. I told him, we’re going to finish the season on a bang. We’re going to come together as a group and try to have the best plan we can be so we can be the best version of ourself. That’s just the thought process. It was all about finish.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.