ORLANDO, Fla. -- After Michigan State got blown out by Alabama on New Year's Eve and Northwestern no-showed against Tennessee earlier on Friday, the Big Ten needed to make a statement against the SEC. It got just that from one of its marquee programs.
No. 14 Michigan thoroughly dismantled No. 19 Florida 41-7 at the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, kicking the Gators' tails with a 24-0 second half. The Wolverines made pretty easy work out the No. 6 defense in the FBS, pushing the SEC East champs around up front and even burning their talented secondary.
Florida, which didn't score after tying the game at 7 on a trick play late in the first quarter, looked listless during much of the second half, as if its players were eager to get on the bus back to Gainesville.