Why Michigan’s game vs Northwestern is a must-win for bowl eligibility

Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesAfter a National Championship season in 2023 for the Michigan Wolverines they’re now in a situation in 2024 where we’re past midway through November and they have yet to clinch bowl eligibility.

Michigan’s missed a bowl game twice in the past ten years — in 2020 during a 2-4 COVID-19 shortened season when the Wolverines went 2-4, and in 2014 when they finished 5-7 in Brad Hoke’s last year as head coach

Michigan, now 5-5, has two regular season games remaining — home versus Northwestern and away against No. 2 Ohio State (9-1).

Per ESPN Analytics, Michigan has a 79.6% chance of beating Northwestern, but just a 7.1% chance of defeating Ohio…