Now that the 2023 College Football regular season is over, it’s bowl season. There are a decent number of 2023 Big Ten teams to make bowl games. Here is a breakdown of the games coming up, including when, against whom, and a brief look at the matchup.
Las Vegas Bowl: Northwestern Wildcats Vs. Utah Utes
December 23rd @ 7:30 PM ET
First up, regarding the 2023 Big Ten teams, is the Las Vegas Bowl. The matchup will be between the 7-5 Northwestern Wildcats and the 8-4 Utah Utes. Utah comes from the Pac-12, and despite losing four games, they are still a solid team, defeating USC earlier in the year. Northwestern exceeded expectations this season, putting up a big fight in their games. While Northwestern may not be the favorite heading into the game, they will still give it their all.
Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota Golden Gophers Vs. Bowling Green Falcons
December 26th @ 2 PM Eastern
Another 2023 Big Ten team to get a Bowl Game is the Minnesota Golden Gophers. They will be playing in the Quick Lane Bowl which takes place in Detroit. Minnesota ended their season with just five wins, but because there were not enough teams this year, they were able to make it due to their grade average. Bowling Green is a MAC team, where they earned seven wins. Minnesota will have a lot to prove, but they will look to take advantage of this opportunity.
Pinstripe Bowl: Rutgers Scarlet Knights Vs. Miami Hurricanes
December 28th @ 2:25 PM ET
Just as many Rutgers fans guessed, the 6-6 Scarlet Knights will be playing in the Pinstripe Bowl this year. They will face the 7-5 Miami Hurricanes. With injuries to the Miami offense, the Scarlet Knights could put up a fight, but the Hurricanes are still a good team. Good news for local Rutgers fans, the game is in New York, just a drive or train ride away.
Cotton Bowl: Ohio State Vs. Missouri Tigers
December 29th @ 8 PM ET
After losing against Michigan, the Ohio State Buckeyes will be missing the College Football Playoffs. Ohio State has just one loss, but it was an important one. Now they will face the Missouri Tigers, who have a 10-2 record. Record wise it is a pretty good matchup. Also, in recent news, Ohio State quarterback, Kyle McCord is entering the transfer portal. It will be interesting to see what happens on December 29th.
Peach Bowl: Penn State Nittany Lions Vs. Ole Miss Rebels
December 30th @ 12 PM ET
The Penn State Nittany Lions will officially be playing in the Peach Bowl. Penn State ended its regular season with a 10-2 record, Ole Miss stands at the same record. Ole Miss and Penn State are similar teams. The Nittany Lions have two losses, one against Ohio State and one against Michigan. The Rebels’ two losses come from Georgia and Alabama. This will be a big game between two teams who need to show they can be a powerhouse.
Music City Bowl: Maryland Terrapins Vs. Auburn Tigers
December 30th @ 2 PM ET
The Maryland Terrapins will be facing the Auburn Tigers in this year’s Music City Bowl. This is a fairly even matchup, as both teams can put up a fight against anyone, but can’t always get the win. Maryland’s regular season ends with a 7-5 record, while Auburn has a 6-6 record. This could turn out to be a fun matchup to watch.
RaliaQuest Bowl: Wisconsin Badgers vs. LSU Tigers
January 1st @ 12 PM ET
On January 1st, the Wisconsin Badgers will face the LSU Tigers. The Badgers ended their season 7-5, while the Tigers ended with a 9-3 record. LSU may end up taking the game, but it will go down until the final whistle. Wisconsin’s offense will still put up a fight with their receiving core.
Citrus Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes Vs. Tennessee Volunteers
January 1st @ 1 PM ET
The Iowa Hawkeyes lost against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2023 Big Ten Championship. The offense could not score at all in the game, but the defense did hold Michigan to 24 points. The game against Tennessee may turn out similar in this year’s Citrus Bowl. The Hawkeyes are currently 10-3 while the Volunteers are 8-4. If the Hawkeyes’ defense plays to their strength it could turn out to be a decent game.
Rose Bowl: Michigan Wolverines Vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
January 1st @ 5 PM ET
The Michigan Wolverines are the top-ranked team, and in the College Football Playoffs, they will face the Alabama Crimson Tide. Their bowl game will be the Rose Bowl in California. With Alabama pulling off a big upset against Georgia, they are officially competing for it all. This is going to be a big game, between the top team, and a tough competitor. It’s safe to say this will be a fun matchup to watch.
2023 Big Ten Bowl Game Takeaways
With ten teams from the conference to be represented, it is not a bad look at all for how the 2023 Big Ten football season went. Even Minnesota getting in with five wins is an accomplishment due to their academic standards. The first game will kick off on December 23rd, and it will be a good one.