Michigan football ended the regular season on a high note and ascended the Big Ten bowl pecking order due to their strong performance. This holiday season, the 7 - 5 Wolverines are set to return to sunny Florida and participate in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year's Eve at Raymond James Stadium, the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They will face off against Alabama in a rematch of last year's Rose Bowl.

Bowl Selection and Rivalry

Bowl officials chose Michigan over 8 - 4 Iowa, a decision made in consultation with the Big Ten and ESPN. The Hawkeyes are likely headed to the Dec. 30 Music City Bowl in Nashville. In the end, the Wolverines proved to be a more appealing draw compared to the other 7 - 5 teams in the Big Ten, namely Minnesota and Rutgers, especially after winning consecutive games against Northwestern and No. 6 Ohio State.Alabama, with a 9 - 3 record, was the last team excluded from this year's expanded 12 - team College Football Playoff. They suffered a key Week 11 loss at unranked Oklahoma and then fell to the ReliaQuest Bowl after 9 - 3 South Carolina accepted a bid to play in the Citrus Bowl. Ole Miss, also with a 9 - 3 record, was available to play Michigan, but bowl officials opted for Alabama, setting up a heavyweight matchup between two football powerhouses.Last year, Michigan achieved a significant victory over a Nick Saban - led Alabama team in the Rose Bowl, which led to Saban's retirement and paved the way for the school's first national title since 1997. Since then, Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer and aimed for another playoff appearance. However, losses to unranked Vanderbilt, No. 11 Tennessee, and Oklahoma dashed their postseason hopes.For Michigan, this season was a disappointment after their recent national championship and consecutive College Football Playoff appearances. Coach Sherrone Moore's team had one of the worst offenses in college football, resulting in the dismissal of offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell. The Wolverines are expected to enter bowl preparations with interim coordinator Steve Casula and several key players missing from the lineup. Two of their best players, tight end Colston Loveland and All - American cornerback Will Johnson, missed the regular - season finale due to undisclosed injuries.Michigan last played in the former Outback Bowl in 2018 when the Jim Harbaugh - coached team went 8 - 4 during the 2017 regular season and lost to South Carolina by a score of 26 - 19. This will be their seventh time playing a bowl game in Tampa. They also faced Alabama in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, which Alabama won by a score of 35 - 16.BETTING: Explore our comprehensive guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks. Our team of sports betting experts has thoroughly reviewed the experiences, payout speeds, parlay options, and the quality of odds offered by multiple sportsbooks.