Michigan football is still trying to find its way after stumbling to a 4-2 record to open up the first half of the 2024 season. The Wolverines have a tough six-game stretch to close out the regular season with three teams that are currently ranked on the docket, compared to having faced two in Texas and USC in the opening salvo.
With the loss to Washington on Saturday, that all but assures that Michigan has no room for error and isn’t terribly likely to make the new 12-team College Football Playoff after having made three straight in the four-team edition. But how low can Michigan go if it does in fact still make a bowl game?
USA TODAY Sports’ Erick Smith projected every bowl game and as of now he has Michigan with a bit of a disadvantage, playing Tennessee, just miles from the Vols home, in the Music City Bowl.
While it’s not the worst bowl game Michigan could be in, it’s pretty close. Certainly, the Motor City Bowl or Guaranteed Rate Bowl would be a sign of things going so far south, but the Music City Bowl isn’t exactly one that has much prestige.
Of course, with the newly expanded College Football Playoff, anything that isn’t a part of that is a big step down. But if the Wolverines don’t make it there, they’d certainly prefer to play in one of the upper-tier games, such as the Citrus Bowl.