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Michigan football bowl projections: Possible matchups vs. Texas, Alabama, Tennessee

Anthony Broomeby: Anthony Broome4 hours agoanthonytbroome
NCAA Football: Central Michigan at Michigan
Sep 13, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines long snapper Evan Boutorwick (91) enters the field before the game against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Michigan Wolverines are 2-1 with the non-conference slate now in the rearview mirror and a huge game against Nebraska coming up on Saturday in Lincoln. That could go a long way in altering its postseason outlook, especially if U-M can find a way to crawl into the College Football Playoff schedule down the stretch.

However, that is not what is currently projected for a young Michigan team. Three weeks into the season, most of the projected destinations for bowl season are still looking fairly similar.

Bowl prognosticators from across the country have weighed in with the Week 2 slate now in the books. Here are some of their projections.

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

Our colleague’s projection has a contest with Arch Manning and Texas taking place in Orlando. The Wolverines and Longhorns last met in Week 2 of last season in Ann Arbor, a 31-12 Texas victory. 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.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach: Music City Bowl vs. Auburn (Dec. 30)

One-half of the ESPN bowl projection contingent has the Wolverines heading to Nashville. Michigan and Auburn have split the all-time series at a game apiece, with a Tigers win in the 1983 Sugar Bowl and a Wolverine win in the 2000 Citrus Bowl.

ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura: Las Vegas Bowl vs. California (Dec. 31)

The other ESPN prognosticator has Michigan in Las Vegas taking on the Cal Golden Bears. U-M is 6-2 all-time against Cal with its last matchup coming in Ann Arbor in 1980. There would be plenty of buzz for a Bryce Underwood vs. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele matchup as two five-star freshmen quarterbacks.

CBS Sports: ReliaQuest Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

CBS Sports has another trip to Tampa on deck, this time against the Tennessee Volunteers. Michigan is 0-1 all-time in the series, with the only meeting coming in the 2001 Citrus Bowl, a 45-17 blowout loss.

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

If this projection came to pass, it would add another layer to the last few years of the Michigan vs. Alabama series. U-M has won the last two games, both in the Rose Bowl and ReliaQuest Bowl, which came on Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, respectively.

Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassan: Cheez-It Citrus Bowl vs. Tennessee (Dec. 31)

This week’s roundup closes out with another projection for Michigan and Tennessee to meet on the field. The Vols are coming off a heartbreaking loss over the weekend in overtime to Georgia.