Michigan football’s history against Alabama, the SEC
No. 1 Michigan will take on No. 4 Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl Jan. 1, looking to even up the all-time series with the Crimson Tide.
The Maize and Blue are currently 2-3 versus the opponent from Tuscaloosa, having lost the last two meetings — the season-opener in 2012 (41-14) and the Citrus Bowl Jan. 1, 2020 (35-16). Michigan won the first matchup, 28-24 in the 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, before falling to the Tide in the 1997 Outback Bowl, 17-14.
The third meeting — the 2000 Orange Bowl — is the most memorable of the bunch, with quarterback Tom Brady and Michigan coming back from 14-0 and 28-14 to force overtime and eventually win after Alabama missed what would’ve been a game-tying extra point.
Historically, Michigan has fared well against the SEC, with a 26-15-1 record against programs that are currently in that conference. In bowl games, however, the Wolverines are 8-9 versus the league.
The Maize and Blue have also lost their last four tilts against SEC opponents — 34-11 to Georgia in the 2021 Orange Bowl, the aforementioned Citrus Bowl loss to Alabama, 41-15 to Florida in the 2018 Peach Bowl and 26-19 to South Carolina in the Jan. 1, 2018 Outback Bowl. Their last victory against the SEC was a 33-17 win over Florida to open the 2017 campaign.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh is 2-4 against the Southeastern Conference, and if there’s one knock on the Wolverines over the past three seasons, in which they’ve won 38 games, is that they haven’t beaten teams from the South, losing to the Bulldogs to cap off the 2021 season and TCU in the CFP semifinal in 2022, 51-45.
Here’s a look at Michigan’s last 10 games against the SEC:
Date Venue Opponent Result
Dec. 31, 2021 Orange Bowl Georgia L, 34-11
Jan. 1, 2020 Citrus Bowl Alabama L, 35-16
Dec. 29, 2018 Peach Bowl Florida L, 41-15
Jan. 1, 2018 Outback Bowl South Carolina L, 26-19
Sept. 2, 2017 Arlington, Texas Florida W, 33-17
Jan. 1, 2016 Citrus Bowl Florida W, 41-7
Jan. 1, 2013 Outback Bowl South Carolina L, 33-28
Sept. 1, 2012 Arlington, Tex. Alabama L, 41-14
Jan. 1, 2011 Gator Bowl Mississippi State L, 52-14
Jan. 1, 2008 Capital One Bowl Florida W, 41-35
