15-6 Loss Leaves Michigan Football Bowl Projections Uncertain After Falling to Michigan State

A difficult finish ahead

Michigan had an opportunity to clinch bowl eligibility against Michigan State but fell 15-6. The Wolverines now have three challenging games remaining: Oregon, UCLA and Ohio State. The story’s outlook suggests Michigan could lose all three and fail to reach the six-win threshold for guaranteed bowl eligibility. Its College Football Playoff hopes are also described as over, while bowl participation remains uncertain.

Analysts split on postseason

ESPN analysts Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach have both picked Michigan for the Cactus Bowl for five weeks running. Their latest projections, released Monday morning, Nov. 9, pair the Wolverines with Cincinnati.

Brad Crawford of CBS Sports also projects Michigan against Cincinnati in the Cactus Bowl. The Bearcats are 5-4 and have Iowa State, Colorado and BYU left on their schedule, after consecutive losses to nationally ranked opponents.

If that matchup happens, the game would be played at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, in Tempe, Arizona. Bryan Fischer of Sports Illustrated, by contrast, predicts Michigan will not reach a bowl; he had previously projected the Music City Bowl.

Offense under pressure

Michigan’s defense is described as one of the stronger units in the conference and country, but the offense has held the team back. The article says the Wolverines hope an upset during the final stretch could make a Cactus Bowl appearance realistic.

On Sunday, Michigan fired offensive coordinator Jason Beck. The move may help the team regain momentum before the season ends, though the remaining schedule leaves little room for error.