This bowl is far from “meaningless”

Im speaking in general terms, not necessarily from a Michigan perspective.

All bowl games have become "meaningless" for several different reasons. Since the playoff system started all games are now meaningless unless you win the National Championship. Its like you have all of these meaningless bowls that nobody cares about because fans can't wait to watch the real games. National Championship > Bowl Game Win.

High profile players don't play because its not worth it. 

Redshirt freshman are now going to get more playing time.

What other sport plays a game, takes a month off, and then plays its next game?

Many of the head coaches and assistant coaches don't even coach the same teams that they did in the regular season.

Bowl games are becoming glorified pre season Spring Football games.

The bowl game would most likely only be meaningful toward possibly influencing some recruits.

Though that might be enough, depending on the recruits.  

Some of us wanted Michigan to play another team so we could get a chance for a statement win, but there just weren't many teams we could've made a statement win against in a bowl game.

LSU would've been a more desired match up, but Michigan wouldn't have gotten great credit for defeating them. They're pretty much considered the same as Florida.

A brand name SEC team with a weak offense and a good defense. In fact, Florida actually beat LSU this season.

Michigan playing Georgia would've probably been the only real chance for a statement game. So basically only one team would've provided us with that opportunity.     

10-3 is pretty good. 11-2 is pretty good. #7 in the nation is pretty good. #10 in the nation is pretty good. This bowl is meaningless. It has no value whatsoever. None at all. Zero. The season is over. This game is a garbage exhibition and should be boycotted. These kids have been exploited enough. 

this game is overall meaningless. However, it's a trap game. I am nervous about this game partially because Dan Mullen is a good offensive mind, and he worked with Meyer before and know Meyer's offensive concept. Their QB is not as good as OSU QB, but with Don Brown's easy-for-opponent-to-prepare scheme, I am still very worried.

This is a game we have nothing to win, but a lot to lose. especially, we got exposed to the same problem again and again.

To be honest, I am not too worry about Gary not playing. If Chase is not playing, we may have more problem. When Gary was not playing, our DLs were light out. Gary still play important role when he's playing, but I think the DL chemistry is better when he is not here. It seems everyone is playing harder. We also have a few players need to boost their NFL draft stock, such as Hidgon, I hope he has a very good game like Deveon Smith a few years ago. He works so hard in his four years here and he deserves a good close out game. I also hope Shea's playing a good game and declare NFL. I want McCaffrey to be able to lead the team next year. If Shea has bad game, he will come back next year.

I think Michigan getting its 11th win is HUGE for Harbaugh and his program. He has had three 10 win seasons out of his 4 in AA and that is pretty damn good. We have a chance to get an 11th this year. This makes him 38-13 right now. That is a really good record folks. Dabo Swinney was 29-23 his first 5 years at Clemson and he took over a pretty stagnant program in 2009. He also got his ass kicked and was out recruited by Steve Spurrier during those years 0-5 record. Harbaugh is on the right track and he will win a national championship at Michigan. It's going to take longer then 4 years to get there folks and the Big Ten is rarely weak over all. Therefore, this bowl game is a big one in terms of program growth and recruiting. The OSU game is over and yes Urban Meyer is a better coach than Jim Harbaugh and not because of his weekly game schemes. He is a different type of leader much like Nick Saban. Meyer does not play coordinator. He hires great coordinators and fires them if they fail. Meanwhile, He manages the program for football (certainly not behavior). Harbaugh is different and has to have a hand in the play calling which takes him away from other things he could be doing. Nevertheless, we will beat OSU one day and it is sooner rather than later. Right now, let's push for win number 11 in 2018. 

A general malaise in the fanbase is probably the correct position considering the program's reason for existence was just stabbed in the stomach again.  I'm going to follow the team and watch the Florida game, but I can't pretend to be as engrossed as during the season, when they were slowly building something great.  That great thing was set on fire and pushed back down the mountainside.  It'll take a while to reinvigorate.

Also, only reflexively I admit, this feels like just another outback bowl.  

Sorry you're irked, WD, but I lean toward meaningless. Bowl games are exhibitions. They get you extra practices. There's benefit to both, but it's a lot closer to meaningless than it is to their previous game.

And, yes, the whole bowl system is largely irrelevant. That doesn't make the sport suck, but the post-season system is terrible. Most of these bowls draw crowds that would embarrass the better Division II programs.

I can't blame Gary for sitting out. He'd be out there if the game meant something. He played hurt when he knew it might affect his draft status. I won't forget that. This bowl game? Too much risk for something that leads to very little.

An opportunity for some youngsters to get real snaps against quality opposition, so it's worth playing. But probably not worth watching.