Jalen Milroe earned the right to finish his Alabama career the way he wants

There has been speculation since even before Alabama football was left out of the College Football Playoff that Jalen Milroe might not play in a non-playoff bowl game. That would come either as his own decision to begin preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft or a decision by the coaching staff to get a jump start on next season's QB battle between Ty Simpson and Austin Mack. Both certainly could use the reps that come with the additional 15 bowl practices.

But those people who thought that overlooked who Jalen Milroe is. He's always been a team-first guy and as one of the leaders in the locker room - and one of the main players who held the locker room together in the uncertain times following Nick Saban's retirement in January - it never made sense that he would opt out on his own. And it never made sense for Kalen DeBoer and the coaching staff to ask him to step aside.

Because Milroe has earned the right to go out on his own terms. Now, Milroe has not officially declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. But all signs point toward him declaring for the draft. When asked about next season's quarterback room on Thursday, Milroe certainly sounded like someone who had made up his mind:

“Next year, it’s going to be a really talented group that’s going to be in [a] position to do a lot of special things next year,” Milroe said. “I’m excited for those guys, for the opportunity that’s presented to them.”

The fairytale ending for Milroe's Alabama career would have been leading the Crimson Tide to a national championship. He won't get that chance thanks to three regular-season losses, all of which he had a hand in. But while he struggled at times in his two seasons as the team's starting quarterback, a bowl win would push Alabama's record to 22-5 over the last two seasons with an SEC Championship and one playoff berth to show for it.

If he couldn't finish it in the playoff, then the ReliaQuest Bowl gives him a unique opportunity. The game will be played in Tampa, the same city in which he was benched last season following a tough performance in a loss against Texas. He sat and watched as the Crimson Tide struggled through a 17-3 road win over USF before taking the job back the following week and leading Alabama to an SEC title.

The opponent in Tampa will be Michigan, the same team that ended Milroe and Alabama's season a year ago at the Rose Bowl.

If he couldn't get Alabama into the College Football Playoff and couldn't lift the national championship trophy to finish off his career, then I have to believe beating Michigan in Tampa would be a solid consolation prize.