If it seems like Michigan plays an SEC team on New Year’s Day all the time, it’s because they really do. The Wolverines have battled SEC opponents 12 times since 1984, including nine times since 1997.

The Wolverines hold the edge at 7-5 and they are 2-0 against Florida, their opponent in this year’s Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando. It’s a battle of first-year coaches Jim Harbaugh and Jim McElwain, the two most high-profile hirings in the offseason.

Both teams have been moderately pleasant surprises this year and this game shapes up as a defensive battle. That would make sense. There’s been a lot of them through the years, and a lot of big upsets and fantastic finishes.

Here’s Michigan’s bowl history with the Gators and the rest of the SEC:

Classic Michigan-Florida bowl matchups

Michigan leads the bowl series with Florida 2-0 heading into this year’s matchup on Jan. 1. Michigan won in Tampa at the end of the 2002 season and won again in Orlando at the end of the 2007 season. Both games were classics.

Jan. 1, 2003: No. 12 Michigan defeated No. 22 Florida 38-30 in the Outback Bowl: Michigan RB Chris Perry was the game MVP honors after setting a bowl-game record and a modern-era Michigan bowl record with four touchdowns. Gators fans will remember the disastrous ending well. Trailing by eight, Florida reached the Wolverines 37-yard line and then tried a trick play with a wide receiver reverse pass, but it was intercepted to seal Michigan’s victory.

Jan. 1, 2008: Unranked Michigan defeated No. 9 Florida 41-35 in the Capital One Bowl: This was the final game for Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who resigned after 13 seasons, including this last one where the Wolverines had one of the most memorable upsets in college football history, losing at home to I-AA Appalachian State in the season opener as the No. 5-ranked team in the country. The Wolverines played their hearts out for Carr in the bowl game, beating a young Tim Tebow and the Gators in the process. Tebow threw three interceptions that day and passed for only 154 yards. Michigan QB Chad Henne torched Florida’s defense for 377 yards in the air.

Other Michigan-SEC showdowns

Counting the two Florida wins, Michigan is 7-5 vs. the SEC in bowl games. (They played Texas A&M before the Aggies joined the SEC, so we don’t count that one.) There have been some fantastic finishes through the years and some memorable role players. Here’s a quick look-back:

Jan. 2, 1984: No. 3 Auburn defeated No. 8 Michigan 9-7 in Sugar Bowl: Auburn rushed for 307 yards but couldn’t score a touchdown against the tough Michigan defense, but three field goals from Al Del Greco were enough to get the victory. The Wolverines only had 12 first downs all day. Bo Jackson rushed for 130 for Auburn.

Jan. 2, 1988: Unranked Michigan defeated unranked Alabama 28-24 in the Hall of Fame Bowl: It seemed odd seeing two stories programs being unranked and playing in a middling bowl game, but they made up for it with drama. Alabama scored with five minutes remaining to take the lead, but on fourth-and-3 from the 20-yard line, Michigan QB Demetrius Brown lofted a 20-yard pass to John Kolesar.  Alabama’s desperation pass in the final minute was intercepted by CB David Arnold to seal the win. Gary Moeller coached the game for Michigan after Bo Schembechler needed heart bypass surgery. (The joke in Ohio at the time was that they were surprised the surly Schembechler had a heart.)

Jan. 1, 1991: No. 12 Michigan defeated No. 15 Ole Miss 35-3 in the Gator Bowl: Elvis Grbac threw for 297 yards for Michigan an in easy win over Ole Miss. It’s the largest victory margin in a bowl game vs. an SEC team for Michigan.

Jan. 1, 1997: No. 16 Alabama defeated No. 15  17-14 Michigan the Outback Bowl: Michigan outgained Alabama 415-247 but still came up on the short end of a battle between two of the game’s top defenses. Bama actually won the game on a defensive play, when LB Dwayne Rudd intercepted a Brian Griese pass and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown.

Jan. 1, 1999: No. 15 Michigan defeated No. 11 Arkansas 45-31 in the Citrus Bowl: Michigan trailed by seven with less than six minutes to go but scored three quick touchdowns to steal a win from the Razorbacks. The young Michigan quarterback would go on to have a few other memorable finishes in his career. His name? Tom Brady.

Jan. 1, 2000: No. 8 Michigan defeated No. 5 Alabama 35-34 in OT in the Orange Bowl: This might have been the most exciting bowl game in Michigan history. The Wolverines twice trailed by two touchdowns but battled their way back in it against the Crimson Tide. Michigan QB Tom Brady found tight end Shawn Thompson on a 25-yard TD pass in overtime and kicked the PAT to go up 35-28.  On Alabama’s possession, Antonio Carter caught a 21-yard TD pass from Andrew Zow, but Alabama’s Ryan Pflugner pushed the extra point attempt wide right. There may be no tougher way to lose a game in OT.

Jan. 1, 2001: No. 17 Michigan defeated No. 20 Auburn 31-28 in the Citrus Bowl: Michigan rallied from an early 14-7 deficit to get a big win. QB Drew Henson completed 15 of 20 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns, while tailback Anthony Thomas rushed 32 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Jan. 1, 2002: No. 8 Tennessee defeated No. 17 Michigan 45-17 in the Citrus Bowl: The first-ever meeting between the two traditional powers was all Volunteers. UT jumped out to a 17-0 lead and cruised. The Wolverines defense had no answer for Tennessee QB Casey Clausen, who threw for 373 yards.

Jan. 1, 2011: No. 21 Mississippi State defeated unranked Michigan 52-14 in the Gator Bowl: The 38-point pounding by Dan Mullen’s crew was the worst loss in Michigan bowl history. It also signaled the end of the Rich Rodriguez era in Michigan, which was a dreadful three-year experiment. Michigan finished 7-6 that year after starting the season 5-0.

Jan. 1, 2013: No. 10 South Carolina defeated No. 19 Michigan 33-28 in the Outback Bowl: This game will best be remembered for the huge Jadeveon Clowney hit on Michigan RB Vincent Smith. Clowney, who would later become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, burst through the line and hit Smith so hard his helmet went flying about 10 yards. He fumbled and Clowney recovered. It was must-see TV. The Gamecocks won on a 32-yard pass from Dylan Thompson to Bruce Ellington with only 11 seconds left.