Michigan
Bowl Projections: Where Michigan football sits after 2-1 start
It’s hard to believe, but we are one-quarter of the way through Michigan’s 2024 season already. The Wolverines have struggled more than most predicted in their first three games against Fresno State, Texas and Arkansas State, and it has adjusted expectations for ‘Team 145’ in terms of postseason projections.
Once considered a top contender for the new, expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, No. 18 Michigan is no longer projected to reach that postseason tournament by any of the major networks at this time. Below, we’ve compiled a list of bowl projections for the Wolverines from various publications, giving us an idea on how their season is expected to play out from here. Let’s dive in…
Kyle Bonagura: Michigan vs. Auburn (ReliaQuest Bowl — Tampa, Fla.)
Mark Schlabach: Michigan vs. Missouri (Citrus Bowl — Orlando, Fla.)
ESPN has dual projections from reporters Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach, each of whom have Michigan among the top Big Ten-affiliate bowls outside of the Playoff. Schlaback projects the Wolverines in a matchup with current No. 7 Missouri in the Citrus Bowl, while Bonagura has Michigan in a showdown with Auburn in the ReliaQuest Bowl. In terms of prestige, these two bowls are considered the Big Ten’s first and second highest, respectively, outside of the Playoff in terms of pecking order.
Michigan and Missouri have split four previous meetings, each of which were played in Ann Arbor. However, the two have not met on the gridiron since 1975, a 31-7 win for the Wolverines. As for Auburn, the Wolverines have split two meetings with these Tigers. Michigan defeated Auburn (31-28) in the 2001 Citrus Bowl, while the Tigers beat the Wolverines (9-7) in the 1984 Sugar Bowl.
Projection: Michigan vs. LSU (Citrus Bowl)
Athlon is another that projects the Wolverines to grab the Big Ten’s top bowl outside of the playoff, as the publication matches up the Wolverines against current-No. 16 LSU in the Citrus Bowl. In this scenario, Michigan would face a relatively familiar opponent in head coach Brian Kelly, who spent 12 seasons at Notre Dame before bolting to the SEC. This would, however, be the first ever meeting on the gridiron between Michigan and LSU.
Projection: Michigan vs. Ole Miss (Citrus Bowl)
CBS’ projection remains unchanged from two weeks ago, as they still slot Michigan in a battle with Ole Miss in the Citrus Bowl at season’s end. Interestingly, this is the fourth different SEC opponent that the Wolverines have been projected to face in the postseason. The Wolverines and Rebels have met only once on the football field — a 35-3 win for the Wolverines in the Gator Bowl back in 1991.
Projection: Michigan vs. Missouri (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Another SEC opponent for the Wolverines, but the ReliaQuest Bowl is considered one spot down on the Big Ten’s pecking order in terms of bowl affiliation. It’s interesting that the Tigers are projected this far down in USA Today’s list, given that Missouri is currently ranked No. 7 in the Associated Press’ Top 25 poll. The Tigers would provide a fun, yet stiff test for the Wolverines in postseason play.
Projection: Michigan vs. Oklahoma (ReliaQuest Bowl)
College football reporter Brett McMurphy projects a fifth different matchup with an SEC opponent here for the Wolverines in current No. 15 Oklahoma. This would give an early preview into a home-and-home series that is set to begin next year, with Michigan traveling to Oklahoma in 2025 and the Sooner making a return trip to Ann Arbor in 2026. Michigan and Oklahoma have squared off just once in their storied histories, a 14-6 victory for the Sooners in the 1976 Orange Bowl.
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The Michigan Republican Party said Tuesday that it’s running radio ads in Detroit using former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who was convicted of 24 felonies and labeled “a notorious and unrepentant criminal” by a Republican U.S. attorney, to promote GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Trump commuted Kilpatrick’s sentence as one of his final acts as president in January 2021, 16 years before Kilpatrick was initially set to be released from federal prison. The ex-mayor, once viewed as a rising star in Democratic politics, endorsed Trump in June.
“The Michigan Republican Party released today a radio ad featuring former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick,” a statement from the Michigan GOP said. “The radio ad will run on stations throughout the Detroit DMA (designated market area) for the next two weeks.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how much money the Michigan Republican Party was spending to air the one-minute ad.
“This election is about the survival of our nation,” Kilpatrick says in the ad. “It’s about the survival of our children. It’s about the survival of our economy. And when people are set against us in war, it matters that you send a firefighter into the room. I want Trump in the room.”
The audio released Tuesday didn’t appear to identify Kilpatrick, but a video link described it as a “message from Kwame Kilpatrick.”
Trump is currently competing for votes in Michigan with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Detroit is Michigan’s largest city, majority Black and a longtime Democratic stronghold.
Harris will be in Metro Detroit on Thursday to participate in a virtual event with talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
The Michigan Republican Party revealed the new Kilpatrick radio ad the same day Trump is visiting Michigan for a town hall campaign event in Flint, another majority Black city and Democratic stronghold.
Kilpatrick, who was convicted in 2013, was about seven years into his sentence for his role in a City Hall racketeering and bribery scheme when Trump commuted his sentence.
“This commutation is strongly supported by prominent members of the Detroit community,” the Trump White House said in a statement in January 2021.
Kilpatrick and contractor Bobby Ferguson had been convicted following a six-month trial when a federal jury found they turned City Hall into a “money-making machine,” squeezing millions of dollars out of government contracts and spending the money on luxury lifestyles.
In a statement in January 2021, Matthew Schneider, who was the U.S. attorney for Michigan’s Eastern District and nominated for the job by Trump, called Kilpatrick “a notorious and unrepentant criminal” and noted he “remains convicted of 24 felonies.”
“My position on the disgraced former mayor of Detroit has not changed,” Schneider said at the time. “Kwame Kilpatrick has earned every day he served in federal prison for the horrible crimes he committed against the People of Detroit.”
cmauger@detroitnews.com
The MHSAA high school competition schedule continues to roll and here is how you can watch all the sports action online for Tuesday, Sep. 17, 2024.
For fans who aren’t able to watch their teams compete in person, games across the state are being livestreamed on NFHSnetwork.com.
Through the Michigan High School Athletic Association and the National Federation of State High School Associations, high school sports fans can sign up for an Annual Pass currently on sale for $79.99 (billed annually) to stream any game, contest or competition for the entire school year.
- Click here to purchase an Annual Pass or a Monthly Pass at the NFHS Network website.
To view streamed games by sport, check out the links below.
WATCH BOYS SOCCER
Click here for all of today’s boys soccer games, including sub-varsity streaming.
WATCH GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Click here for all of today’s girls volleyball matches, including sub-varsity streaming.
BROWSE ALL SPORTS
To browse all streaming options today in Michigan, click here.
If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.
Love reading about local sports? Don’t miss any of the excitement from the season ahead. Purchase your subscription now and get full access to every story on MLive!
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