I wouldn't put much into any bowl game outside the CFP. With the way the NCAA does the transfer portal and guys sitting out to go to the draft -- these games are turning into essentially Spring Games, where you try to give guys experience.
I just looked at the Bama Michigan game. Michigan will be without their top 2 RB's, their All-American TE, 2 offensive linemen, their #1 WR, their top 2 DE's, their All-American DT's Graham and Grant both sitting, and All-American Will Johnson is sitting, as well as Safety Makari Paige.
In retrospect -- Alabama has essentially no one sitting out.
So Bama will likely look like a juggernaut against Michigan playing 2nd and 3rd stringers, when they were a hit or miss team this year.
I am glad to see Alabama show some Crimson Pride and have the major players play. They did that for the K-State Sugar Bowl a few years ago too, but that was under Saban. Beyond the NIL stuff, opt pouts, etc., Bowl Games have always been a major part of Alabama's history.
As a fan, I always enjoy Alabama's Bowl Games and have attended quite a few over the years. Also, if ever on Campus, go the Bryant Museum and check out their Bowl Trophy section which includes all kinds of paraphernalia from Bowls of yesteryear. There are trophies, watches, uniforms, etc. on display.
Not a new thing either. Their first 5 Bowl Games were the Rose Bowl in the 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934 and 1937 seasons before they made a Cotton Bowl appearance after the 1941 season. They have a line in their fight song: "Remember the Rose Bowl, we'll win then". The Tide are 5-2-1 in Rose Bowl Games with one of the two losses to Michigan last season.
There is a good book about their Bowl history published in the late 1970s called
Bowl Bama Bowl: A Crimson Tide Football Tradition (Including Bama vs. Buckeyes) by Al Browning. Thought you might like the part where even though he had finished the book in 1977, he added an extra chapter for the Jan. 1978 Sugar Bowl 35-6 win over B1G Co-Champion Ohio State and Woody Hayes.

It's a little too full of Alabama in content, but it is a fun read for a college football fan in general.
Seriously, looking forward to a great game on NYE! Michigan still has serious talent (allbeit young and untested), and Alabama has been up and down all year (so maybe they need some new young untested talent too). Michigan can win this game (like USC beat A&M last night). Hopefully, the two teams bring out the best in each other like they have the other 6 times they have played.
Series is tied 3-3 with previous games in Jan. 1988 (M), Jan. 1997 (A), Jan. 2000 (M), Sept. 2012 (A), Jan. 2020 (A) and Jan. 2024 (M) seasons, so I expect another cracker jack game between the Crimson Tide and Wolverines. Kind of fun that they opened 2024 against each other on NYD and will end the year against each other on NYE. Wish they could play more often!