Bowl season is upon us in college football, meaning that as the holidays approach, so do some unusual and exciting matchups we don’t normally get to see in the sport. Bowl games are a reward at the end of the season for teams and fans alike, provided you team can achieve at least a .500 (or 6-6) record during the regular season.
The headliners for the Big Ten are the Michigan Wolverines playing in the Rose Bowl, one of the College Football Playoff semifinals, against perennial national powerhouse Alabama. This is Michigan’s third straight appearance in the CFP; they’ve lost in the semifinals the last two seasons. Ohio State is the only Big Ten team with a CFP national title, which the Buckeyes won the first time the playoff was held after the 2014 season. The Wolverines will look to add to the Big Ten’s national title count in the final year of the four-team playoff format.
Here’s what you need to know about when and how to watch the nine Bowl games featuring Big Ten teams in the days ahead.
Betting info is provided by BetMGM**. Specific matchup links are included with each game below, or you can see BetMGM’s full slate of upcoming Bowl Games here. For a breakdown from NBC’s betting analysts on how to bet the Big Ten Bowl Games, click here.
MORE: College Football Bowl Game Schedule 2023-24: Complete list
How many Big Ten teams are playing in bowl games?
Nine of the 14 teams in the Big Ten conference earned a Bowl appearance (albeit 5-7 Minnesota made it in via their academic achievements rather than on-field record). In addition to Minnesota, the Big Ten teams making Bowl appearances are Michigan (CFP semifinal), Northwestern, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Maryland, and Iowa.
What bowl game will the Michigan Wolverines play in?
After an undefeated season, the Michigan Wolverines finished as the No. 1 team in college football and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. Michigan will take on No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day, which doubles as a CFP Semifinal game.
Michigan has been eliminated in the semifinals in each of the last two seasons, but if the third time’s the charm and they pull off the win against Bama, they’ll face the winner of the Sugar Bowl between Texas and Washington.
College Bowl Game Schedule: How to Watch and Best Bets including the CFP Matchups
What bowl game will the Ohio State Buckeyes play in?
Ohio State finished the regular season 11-1 (their only list came to Michigan) and will likely be one of the teams to benefit from the expanded CFB playoffs beginning in 2024. For this final season of the four-team playoff, the Buckeyes will take on Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Friday, December 29th.
Big Ten Bowl Game Schedule 2023-24
Thursday, December 28
Rutgers vs. Miami – Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023 at 2:15pm ET on ESPN
Yankee Stadium (home of MLB’s Yankees) in New York, New York
Miami (7-5) is a slight favorite over Rutgers (6-6)
MORE: Betting College Bowl Season: The Big Ten’s Nine Bowls
Friday, December 29
#9 Missouri vs. #7 Ohio State – Goodyear Cotton Bowl
Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 at 8:00pm ET on ESPN
AT&T Stadium (home of NFL’s Cowboys) in Arlington, Texas
Missouri (10-2) is a slight favorite over Ohio State (11-1)
Saturday, December 30
#11 Ole Miss vs. #10 Penn State – Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 at 12:00pm ET on ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (home of NFL’s Falcons) in Atlanta, Georgia
Penn State (10-2) is a slight favorite over Ole Miss (10-2)
Auburn vs. Maryland – TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 at 2:00pm ET on ABC
Nissan Stadium (home of NFL’s Titans) in Nashville, Tennessee
Auburn (6-6) is a slight favorite over Maryland (7-5)
MORE: College Football Playoff 2023-24: Semifinal matchups, New Year’s Six dates, times and more
Monday, January 1
Wisconsin vs. #13 LSU – ReliaQuest Bowl
Monday, Jan. 1, 2023 at 12:00pm ET on ESPN 2
Raymond James Stadium (home of NFL’s Buccaneers) in Tampa, Florida
LSU (9-3) is favored over Wisconsin (7-5)
#17 Iowa vs. #21 Tennessee – Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Monday, Jan. 1, 2023 at 1:00pm ET on ABC
Camping World Stadium (home of MLS’s Orlando City SC) in Orlando, Florida
Tennessee (8-4) is favored over Iowa (10-3)
#4 Alabama vs. #1 Michigan – Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal)
Monday, Jan. 1, 2023 at 5:00pm ET on ESPN
Rose Bowl (home of UCLA Bruins) in Pasadena, California
Michigan (13-0) is a slight favorite over Alabama (12-1)
Which Big Ten teams are not making a Bowl appearance?
Five Big Ten teams failed to secure a trip to a Bowl Game: Nebraska, Indiana, Michigan State, Purdue, and Illinois. None of them reached the required six-win season. Minnesota got into a Bowl with a 5-7 record thanks to an NCAA exemption based on their Academic Progress Rate score and due to a lack of 6-6 teams to fill out the field.
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