Michigan caps 11-victory season with OT victory against Virginia Tech in Sugar Bowl

FINAL: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20, OT: Michigan 23, Virginia Tech 20 (OT): Your comprehensive guide to our Sugar Bowl coverage

By Nick Baumgardner University of Michigan Sports Reporter

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Posted on Wed, Jan 4, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.

Michigan coach Brady Hoke accepted the trophy for the Wolverines' victory in the Sugar Bowl.

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Three years ago, the Michigan football program suffered its worst season in school history.

On Tuesday, that seemed like a distant memory.

Sophomore kicker Brendan Gibbons booted a game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime to give the Wolverines a 23-20 victory against Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl.

The victory clinched 11 wins for first-year coach Brady Hoke and the second BCS bowl victory in program history.

Welcome back to relevancy, Wolverines.

Post-Game Coverage

• Boxscore | Bowl scoreboard

• Kyle Meinke column: Michigan football team validates triumphant season with triumphant finale.

• Game story: Michigan football team completes turnaround season, tops Virginia Tech in OT.

• Kicker Brendan Gibbons goes from 'zero to hero' for Michigan football team

• Sugar Bowl Notebook One leg is good enough for Michigan center David Molk, and more notes from the Wolverines' 23-20 overtime win

• Associated Press: Virginia Tech squandered opportunities in Sugar Bowl loss to Michigan

• Photo gallery: The favorite images of staff photographer Melanie Maxwell

• Video: Some highlights from the Wolverines' celebration on the floor of the Superdome

• Grade the Wolverines: Your chance to rate Michigan's performance on offense, defense, special teams, coaching and overall.

• Game balls:Top honors went to Brendan Gibbons, Junior Hemingway and others.

• ESPN.com Video highlights of Michigan's 23-20 overtime Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia Tech.

In-Game Coverage

• We strung together live updates throughout the game. Check them out here.

• Our final live chat of the season was a lively one. That transcript can be found here.

Prior Coverage

• Honored at the Sugar Bowl for his recent induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, former Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr offered his thoughts on multiple topics. He also compared Denard Robinson to Anthony Carter.

• AnnArbor.com photographer Melanie Maxwell captures the mood, sound and look of New Orleans prior to Tuesday's Sugar Bowl game.

• Readers share some of their favorite Michigan football photos before the Sugar Bowl.