Alabama football was clearly more talented than Michigan on Tuesday in the ReliaQuest Bowl. However, just like against outmanned Oklahoma and Vanderbilt teams earlier in the year, the Crimson Tide couldn’t get out of its own way.

UA fell 19-13 to Michigan, bringing Kalen DeBoer’s first season in charge to a disappointing end, with a 9-4 record. Here’s what to know from the disaster in Tampa.

The finale

Alabama got off to a miserable start. The Crimson Tide was down 16-0 at the end of the first quarter, following three turnovers, all in its own territory.

On the first drive of the game, Jalen Milroe took a fourth-down sack on his own 44. He followed that up with an interception and two fumbles, leaving the UA defense to fend for itself from the shadow of the goal posts.

The Tide slid around the field, drenched by an early downpour. Michigan was steady and looked far more motivated than Kalen DeBoer’s group.

Alabama started coming back late in the half. The Tide strung two drives together and went to the locker room down 16-10.

But a comeback wasn’t to be. Similarly to the Oklahoma and Vanderbilt games, Alabama’s offense couldn’t find an answer, and a disappointing season came to a fitting end in Raymond James Stadium.

The streak

Entering the game, Alabama’s streak of 10-win seasons was something the Crimson Tide players wanted to protect.

“That’s definitely one of our tasks,” Milroe said. “That’s definitely one of our missions, to have that 10-win season. And that’s something that we gotta go get, it’s not something that’s going to be given to us.”

Mission not accomplished. Streak over.

The Crimson Tide last collected single digit wins in 2007, Nick Saban’s first season in charge. The next year, UA went over the 10-win mark and never looked back, at least until Tuesday.

The streak ended at 16 seasons.

Who’s leaving?

No Alabama players announced they were leaving before the game. With the 2024 season now in the rearview mirror, some key players will have NFL choices to make.

The most obvious is Jalen Milroe. The redshirt junior stayed mum on possible choices in Tampa but has been projected as an early Day 2 pick should he enter the draft.

“Taking in the moment of just playing with my guys right now,” Milroe said after a ReliaQuest Bowl practice. “Prepare as much as possible, practice and take care of right now.”

Other Alabama players who will have to make a draft decision in the near future include Tyler Booker, Germie Bernard, Jihaad Campbell, Deontae Lawson, Domani Jackson and more.

The soft deadline to enter the draft is Jan. 6, with the traditional hard deadline on Jan. 15. Players can opt out of the draft until Feb. 7.