Michigan players had higher goals this season, most notably a Big Ten championship and national title.
But the sixth-ranked Wolverines (10-2) will face Florida State (9-3) in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 in Miami Gardens, Fla., a New Year’s Six game, essentially the second tier behind the four-team College Football Playoff.
Michigan, ranked No. 5 last week in the CFP after a double-overtime loss at Ohio State, held onto the hope it could make a move into the CFP with a loss by either Washington or Clemson in their conference championship games over the weekend. The Wolverines lost two of their final three games by a total of four points.