Michigan bowl projections: National media holds firm on Citrus Bowl

The Michigan Wolverines are 7-2 and exiting a bye week before taking on the Northwestern Wildcats this weekend in Chicago. By now, we all know the stakes for the rest of the regular season and what it will take to get into College Football Playoff consideration.

U-M likely has to win out with games at Northwestern and Maryland and the regular-season finale against No. 1 Ohio State to make it happen. Anything less than that probably means a trip to Orlando to play in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, which has, by and large, dominated our weekly projections roundup all season.

This week’s batch features one outlet projecting a rematch with Oklahoma, which we are not even sure is possible or of interest to the bowls after U-M played in Norman in Week 2, and given it hosts the Sooners next season. Nevertheless, with several weeks of Citrus Bowl picks, it was a curveball worth noting, at least.

Here is a roundup of where Michigan is projected to land during bowl season heading into Week 12.

On3’s Brett McMurphy: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Our national colleague has Michigan in Orlando in a rematch with Texas. The Wolverines and Longhorns last met in Week 2 of last season in Ann Arbor, a 31-12 Texas victory.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31)

ESPN has the Wolverines up against the Vanderbilt Commodores, who are currently ranked inside the top 10. Michigan and Vandy have met 11 times on the gridiron, with the Wolverines holding a 10-0-1 all-time record. The last time they met was a 27-7 U-M win in Ann Arbor in 2006.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Mark another bowl insider and the other half of ESPN’s contingent down for a Michigan vs. Texas rematch. A game between quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and Arch Manning would be sure to draw some eyeballs.

CBS Sports: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Oklahoma (Dec. 31)

CBS Sports has been a constant in predicting a Citrus Bowl matchup, this time in a rematch with the Oklahoma Sooners. The Wolverines lost 24-13 to the Sooners in Norman on Sept. 6, and will host them on Sept. 12 next season in Ann Arbor. A rematch seems unlikely but it cannot be ruled out.

The Athletic: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

Another Citrus Bowl projection comes in, this time against the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols have a 1-0 series lead against Michigan all-time, blowing out the Wolverines 45-17 on Jan. 1, 2001, in Orlando.

College Football News: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

Make it 6-for-6 in the Citrus Bowl prognostications this week and another pick to play Tennessee. The Vols have games left against New Mexico State, Florida and Vanderbilt to close out the regular season.

Athlon Sports: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Vanderbilt (Dec. 31)

This week’s Athlon Projection picks the other SEC team from Tennessee, joining Bonagura’s pick from earlier in the roundup.

Sports Illustrated: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

Once upon a time, Sports Illustrated’s Bryan Fischer was the only person here to project Michigan in the College Football Playoff, but that was before the USC game. Now, he holds firm with the rest of the nation in a trip to Orlando for the Wolverines.

Pro Football Network: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Texas (Dec. 31)

The folks at PFSN bring it home with a third Texas projection for Orlando. U-M and the Longhorns are currently set to meet again in 2027 as part of the home-and-home series that kicked off last year.