2008 Capital One Bowl The 2008 Capital One Bowl was held on January 1 , 2008 at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando , Florida . The game featured the University of Michigan Wolverines — who finished the 2007 season tied for second in the Big Ten Conference with an overall record of 8 – 4 ( 6 – 2 in the Big Ten ) — and the # 12 University of Florida Gators — who finished the 2007 season third in the Southeastern Conference ' s East Division with an overall record of 9 – 3 ( 5 – 3 in the SEC ) . Pre - game buildup . This game was significant for several different reasons . It was the last game for the Michigan Wolverines ' coach , Lloyd Carr , who had announced his retirement on November 19 , 2007 . During the game , Carr used a passing spread offense to attack on the first drive against Florida ' s defense . The game was also the last game for the Michigan senior class , who had lost each of their previous three bowl games . It was also an opportunity for Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators to play in front of a crowd of mostly Gator fans , as Orlando and Gainesville are separated by less than a two - hour drive . Coming into this game , Florida was highly - favored to win . As Michigan had lost early in the season to Appalachian State and Oregon , teams who both employed a spread offense similar to Florida ' s , many predicted that Michigan would suffer a similar fate against Florida ' . However , the Wolverines were able to generate 524 yards of offense in defeating the Gators , turning the ball over four times , twice within one yard of scoring . This game was a bit of a grudge match because Florida coach , Urban Meyer had lobbied for his team to get into the BCS National Championship game over Michigan during the 2006 season . Ultimately , Meyer ' s lobbying was successful and Florida went on to defeat Michigan ' s hated rivals Ohio State , 41 – 14 , in the BCS National Championship Game . Previously , Michigan and Florida met four years earlier in the 2003 Outback Bowl , with Michigan defeating Florida , 38 – 30 . Florida ' s loss makes them the second defending BCS Champion to lose a non - BCS bowl game a year later , the first being Florida ' s SEC rivals the LSU Tigers in the 2005 edition of this bowl game against the Iowa Hawkeyes . Game summary . Michigan started the game at their own 6 - yard line and put together a 94 - yard opening drive . Michigan quarterback Chad Henne connected on a 21 - yard pass to Mario Manningham to put Michigan up 7 – 0 . Over the course of the game , Michigan turned the ball over four times ( two fumbles and two interceptions ) , which resulted in two Florida touchdown drives . These two touchdowns eventually put the Gators ahead 35 – 31 with just under six minutes to play . The Wolverines regained the lead when Adrian Arrington caught a touchdown pass to make the score 38 – 35 in favor of Michigan . Florida got the ball back but could not convert on fourth down from their own 25 - yard line . Michigan ran three straight plays that resulted in a K . C . Lopata field goal to make the score 41 – 35 with 2 : 20 remaining . On Florida ' s last possession , quarterback Tim Tebow failed to complete a pass on four consecutive downs . After knocking down Tebow ' s final pass , Michigan ran out the clock to clinch the win , 41 – 35 . Chad Henne was named the game ' s MVP .