Alabama's first season under Kalen DeBoer did not go according to plan, as the Crimson Tide narrowly missed the College Football Playoff after going 9–3 in the regular season. Rough losses to Vanderbilt and a .500 Oklahoma team ultimately doomed the Tide, which were left out in favor of 11–2 SMU.
With Alabama set to face 7–5 Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl—a far cry from the New Year's Six games that the Crimson Tide have been accustomed to playing in—it stood to reason that many of DeBoer's top players would opt out to get a jump on NFL draft preparation. Instead, it appears that Alabama will be close to full strength for the game, with quarterback Jalen Milroe leading the way.
