It's not technically official just yet, but SI's Stewart Mandel is reporting that Michigan is headed to the 2012 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The Wolverines were selected to the game as a BCS at-large team, and they will take on the Virginia Tech Hokies, which also made it into the BCS as an at-large selection.
The Sugar Bowl will serve as Michigan's first trip to a BCS game since the 2007 Rose Bowl. The Wolverines lost that game to USC, 32-18. One year later, Michigan made it to the Capital One Bowl and beat the Tim Tebow-led Florida Gators in Lloyd Carr's last game as head coach. Rich Rodriguez's first two seasons didn't produce any trips to bowl games, but last year Michigan made it to the Gator Bowl. It was a forgettable trip, though. Mississippi State blasted Michigan by a score of 52-14.
Michigan has only played in the Sugar Bowl once before in its history. The Wolverines lost to Auburn by a score of 9-7 in the 1984 edition of the game to finish with a 9-3 record. This year Michigan has already won 10 games, meaning a win over Virginia Tech would give the Wolverines their first 11-win season since 2006.
Virginia Tech enters this game with an 11-2 record. Both of the Hokies' losses came against Clemson, which just beat Virginia Tech on Saturday night in the ACC Championship Game. The Hokies will look to shake off the loss and pick up their 12th win of the season in what will be their fourth appearance all-time in the Sugar Bowl.
The 2012 Sugar Bowl is set to kick off at 8:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Tuesday, Jan. 3. ESPN will have the broadcast.