Capital One Bowl

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The University of Michigan football team will play in its NCAA-leading 33rd consecutive bowl game when coach Lloyd Carr's Wolverines participate in the 2008 Capital One Bowl sponsored by the Florida Citrus Sports Association on New Year's Day. Michigan (8-4, 6-2 Big Ten) will face the ninth-ranked Florida Gators of the Southeastern Conference in Orlando, with the 1 p.m. EST contest to be televised by ESPN on ABC.

"We are excited about the opportunity to play Florida in the Capital One Bowl," said Bill Martin, U-M's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "Our players, staff, fans and alumni have always enjoyed the Orlando bowl experience. I anticipate a large Michigan turnout from our Florida alums coupled with the fact that this will be Lloyd's last game as head coach."

The Wolverines will be making their fourth appearance in the Capital One Bowl. U-M made three previous appearances during a four-year stretch, posting a 2-1 mark in the former Citrus Bowl. Michigan defeated Auburn by a 31-28 score in the 2001 game, posted a 45-31 victory against Arkansas in the 1999 edition and lost 45-17 to Tennessee in the 2002 game.

This will be the second-ever meeting between the Wolverines and Gators. The previous match-up came in the Wolverines' last game played in the state of Florida, a 38-30 victory in the 2003 Outback Bowl. Michigan has compiled a 7-4 bowl record in the Sunshine State and has won seven of its last eight bowl games in Florida.