The 2024 Michigan Wolverines are what happens when you turn over almost your entire roster and lose your head coach to the NFL.
The reigning national champions have been out of the College Football Playoff picture and bowl game odds for most of the season, and they just recently became bowl-eligible. However, new headman Sherrone Moore can add to the recent upset of Ohio State by capping off his first season in Ann Arbor with a bowl win.
Our Michigan bowl game projection anticipates a date in North Carolina against an ACC opponent. Let's break it down below.
Michigan Wolverines season to date
It was apparent early on that the only thing about this Michigan Wolverines team that resembled the natty champ group from a season ago was the uniforms.
Texas made that clear by handing the Wolverines an early-season beatdown at the Big House. And despite starting Big Ten play with wins over USC and Minnesota, the Wolverines then lost four of their next five conference games before gaining bowl eligibility with a big 50-6 win over Northwestern, a mere prelude to their season-capping 13-10 win at Ohio State.
It may have been a season stepping backward for Michigan at 7-5, but winning a fourth straight against Ohio State makes it a tolerable season for Wolverines’ faithful.
Michigan Wolverines bowl game projection
Mayo Bowl
The Big Ten’s top-tier success is Michigan’s postseason gain despite this letdown of a season. The conference should put four teams into the College Football Playoff, leaving Michigan just a game behind the likes of Illinois and Iowa in the standings.
In other words, the Wolverines should be thoroughly in the mix for the Big Ten’s best bowl games, like the ReliaQuest or the Mayo Bowl.
The Duke’s Mayo Bowl should jump at the chance to host a program like Michigan, particularly given the glut of Wolverines fans in Charlotte compared to those of Illinois or Iowa.
Michigan would face a top-third ACC team in the Mayo Bowl, someone like Louisville.
Big Ten bowl tie-ins and affiliations
- Cheez-It Citrus Bowl (vs. SEC)
- ReliaQuest Bowl (vs. SEC)
- Duke's Mayo Bowl (vs. ACC) - Even-numbered years
- Las Vegas Bowl (vs. Pac-12) - Odd-numbered years
- Music City Bowl (vs. SEC)
- Pinstripe Bowl (vs. ACC)
- Rate Bowl (vs. Big 12)
- Quick Lane Bowl (vs. MAC)
Mayo Bowl info
- Date: Friday, January 3, 2025
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC
- Network: ESPN
