Alabama football’s 2024 season ended in disappointment Tuesday. The Crimson Tide never led against a Michigan team that was missing several starters, losing the ReliaQuest Bowl 19-13 in Tampa.

The game snapped Alabama’s streak of 10-win seasons that dated back to the 2008 season. Kalen DeBoer’s first season in charge after Nick Saban’s retirement ended 9-4.

After the game, Crimson Tide players said they continued to have full faith in the coaching staff.

“It’s a bright future ahead,” UA quarterback Jalen Milroe said. “Because, people understand what needs to be done so that we can be the best version of ourselves. The standard that is here, the standard that is set. And we have a lot of great dues in the locker room that are hungry, that want to get better and looking to uphold the standard.

We also have to look at who is within the building, which is (Josh Chapman), Denzel (Devall), Ha-Ha (Clinton-Dix), these are guys that have won national championships. Chap was the first era of coach Saban being implemented into the system, so we have guys that understand what the standard is within the building.”

Milroe also praised offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, who took his share of criticism from Crimson Tide fans throughout the season.

“He’s been one of the best coaches I’ve been around,” Milroe said. “And on a personal level, just being around him, he’s always bringing a smile to my face. There’s never a dull moment. He’s always uplifting. He always has my back. He’s always, constantly trying to push me each and every day so I can be the best version of myself.”

Milroe has an NFL decision ahead of him. Defensive lineman Tim Smith is completely out of eligibility.

Speaking after the game, Smith also expressed confidence in the program moving forward. He said the coaches who came in did a solid job building relationships with the players already in the program, helping ease the transition.

“Nothing was strange or anything like that,” Smith said. “They knew us and we were comfortable with them.”

Smith also made a point echoed by his fellow defensive lineman Tim Keenan: Alabama’s players help maintain the standard build during the Saban years. Keenan, who said he hadn’t made a decision as to whether he’d be back for the Crimson Tide, said he kept up confidence in DeBoer as well.

He explained his decision to stick around through the coaching change.

“I love the state of Alabama,” Keenan, a Birmingham native, said. “It’s my home. So why not give this guy a shot? I prayed about it. If God gave him the job, who am I to say no? I got full faith in God and so I had full faith in him, full trust in coach DeBoer.”

Alabama will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30 at Florida State.