Tennessee will be facing some familiarity during their Third Saturday in October matchup against Alabama during the 2024 season.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe announced on The Next Round show on Thursday that he will be returning to Tuscaloosa for the 2024 season despite taking the Crimson Tide to the College Football Playoffs this season.
“Yeah, I’m coming back for my senior year,” Milroe said on the program to the delight of the hosts.
Milroe, soon to be a rising 2024 redshirt junior in the Tide’s program, led Alabama to a comeback win over Tennessee and an SEC Championship win over Georgia during the 2023 season. The season was a bit of a rollercoaster, though. Despite finishing sixth in Heisman voting this season, Milroe was benched for Alabama’s Week 3 matchup against South Florida after tossing two interceptions in a key loss to Texas in the second week of the season. When Saban decided to return to Milroe as the starter in Week 4, Milroe racked up 28 total touchdowns and led the Tide to 10 straight wins.
Milroe will be one of a handful of quarterbacks that Tennessee has familiarity with next season. Tennessee will face Florida quarterback Graham Mertz, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as of now. Kentucky and Vanderbilt will both have a new starting quarterback after significant transfer portal movement.
Jalen Milroe and No. 4 Alabama will take on No. 1 Michigan in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs on Jan. 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET in the Rose Bowl.
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Jalen Milroe Career Stats
2021
- 4 games, 3/7 passing, 41 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs
- 15 rush attempts, 57 yards
2022
- 8 games, 31/53 passing, 297 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs
- 31 rush attempts, 263 yards, 1 TD
2023
- 12 games, 171/261 passing, 2,718 yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs
- 140 rush attempts, 468 yards, 12 TDs
