It’s that time of the year when the discussion pivots from what teams are going bowling to which bowl game each team will be assigned. With nine teams bowl eligible for the conference, here are the potential bowl games for the Big Ten conference this season.

Big Ten Bowl Selection Procedures

How are the bowls ultimately decided? Well, quite frankly it’s a bit of a complex process that has a spaghetti monster’s worth of dependencies. The short answer is that the Big Ten will send teams to various bowls that they have partnered with (see below) based on a number of criteria:

Where the team finished in the final Big Ten standings Whether or not the team has recently played in that bowl game – in fact, Big Ten schools will not be able to go to the same bowl game in consecutive years, except for the Rose Bowl and College Football Playoff bowls Whether or not the team has played multiple and/or consecutive bowls within a specific state or region Occasionally they may chase a story line – for example if Indiana could potentially match up with Kentucky.

The goals for the above criteria ultimately boil down to the ability to have competitive set of bowls to produce the most appealing games and diversifying bowl match ups and teams traveling to new locations for both the teams and their fans.

2019 Big Ten Bowl Partners

The following bowl games are ranked in an approximate pecking order. The higher the regular season finish for each respective team, the higher we would anticipate to land on the following list of bowl games. Keep in mind that there are specific bowl determination criteria associated with selections (see below), so the process is far from a precise science.

College Football Playoffs

Source: College Football Playoffs

The College Football Playoffs is determined based on evaluation from the selection committee for the CFP. They rank teams based on conference championships, strength of schedule, head-to-head results and comparing wins against common opponents.

Playstation Fiesta Bowl

Glendale Ariz., University of Phoenix Stadium

December 28, 4:00 or 8:00 pm EST, ESPN

CFP semifinalist vs CFP semifinalist

Projection: LSU vs. Oklahoma

Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

Atlanta Ga., Mercedes-Benz Stadium

December 28, 4:00 or 8:00 pm EST, ESPN

CFP semifinalist vs CFP semifinalist

Projection: Clemson vs. Ohio State

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

None

Rose Bowl Game Presented by Northwestern Mutual

Source: tournamentofroses.com

The Rose Bowl Game between the Big Ten and Pac-12. The Big Ten conference champion will play in the Rose Bowl Game, unless it is among the top four teams that are selected for the CFP. If so, then the Rose Bowl will select a replacement Big Ten team.

Pasadena, Calif. (Rose Bowl Stadium)

January 1, 5:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. Pac-12

vs. Pac-12 Projection: Penn State vs. Utah

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Wisconsin

Vrbo Citrus Bowl

Source: citrusbowlorlando.com

The Vrbo Citrus bowl is played between five different teams every six years between Big Ten or ACC to play against the SEC. The Big Ten is invited to either the Citrus Bowl or the Orange Bowl. Penn State was invited and lost against Kentucky last year.

Orlando, Fla. (Camping World Stadium)

January 1, 2020, 1:00 p.m. EST, ABC

Website

Big Ten /ACC vs. SEC

/ACC vs. SEC Projection: Michigan vs. Alabama

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Penn State, Minnesota

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Penn State, Minnesota

Outback Bowl

Source: outbackbowl.com

The Outback Bowl hosts five different Big Ten schools over a six-year span and is between the Big Ten and SEC.

Tampa, Fla. (Raymond James Stadium)

January 1, 2020, 1:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. SEC

vs. SEC Projection: Minnesota vs. Auburn

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Northwestern

San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl

Source: holidaybowl.com

The San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl aims to have five different teams in each six year segment and to be a game between a Big Ten and Pac-12 school.

San Diego, Calif. (SDCCU Stadium)

December 27, 2019, 8:00 p.m. EST, FS1

Website

Big Ten vs. Pac-12

vs. Pac-12 Projection: Iowa vs. USC

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Indiana, Minnesota

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin

TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Source: taxslayergatorbowl.com

The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl is traditionally held between the SEC and a team from the Big Ten or ACC. A Big Ten team will either play in the Music City or Gator Bowl in 2019 and they will play in three of each over a six year span. No Big Ten school can play in more than one Music City Bowl and one TaxSlayer Gator Bowl during the agreement. The Big Ten will likely play in the Gator Bowl as they have been represented in the Music City Bowl the last three consecutive years. Iowa and Penn State have played in the 2015 and 2016 Gator Bowls respectively; however, in recent discussions, there is a possibility that the Music City Bowl “bends the rules” and selects a Big Ten school this year as well.

Jacksonville, Fla. (TIAA Bank Field)

January 2, 2020, 7:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. SEC

vs. SEC Projection: Wisconsin vs. Tennessee

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Minnesota, Indiana

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Iowa, Penn State

New Era Pinstripe Bowl

Source: mlb.com

The New Era Pinstripe Bowl aims to have eight different teams participate over the course of eight years, with the minimum being 6 teams.

Bronx, N.Y. (Yankee Stadium)

December 27, 2019, 3:20 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. ACC

vs. ACC Projection: Michigan State vs. Wake Forest

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Illinois, Indiana

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Penn State or Wisconsin

Redbox Bowl

Source: levisstadium.com

The Redbox Bowl has an agreement for five different teams over a six year span. It is played traditionally between the Big Ten and Pac-12.

Santa Clara, Calif. (Levi’s Stadium)

December 30, 2019, 4:00 p.m. EST, FOX

Website

Big Ten vs. Pac-12

vs. Pac-12 Projection: Illinois vs. California

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Indiana, Illinois

Quick Lane Bowl

Source: Quicklane.com

Much like the Rose Bowl Game, the Quick Lane Bowl selects a team between the Big Ten and ACC regardless if they have been invited in recent years.

Detroit, Mich. (Ford Field)

Dec. 26, 2019, 8:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. ACC

vs. ACC Projection: Indiana vs. Florida State

Other Big Ten teams in consideration:

Illinois, Michigan State

Big Ten teams not preferred to be invited (recently played in this bowl):

Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Purdue

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Source: armedforcesbowl.com

There is an agreement for there to be three SERVPRO First Responder Bowls and three Armed Forces bowls in a six year span for the Big Ten. The Big Ten has not been in the Armed Forces Bowl since 2014 and will likely play this year if there is a qualified team.

Fort Worth, Texas (Amon G. Carter Stadium)

January 4, 2020, 11:30 a.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten vs. MWC

vs. MWC Projection: Toledo vs. Air Force

Big Ten teams in consideration:

Indiana, Illinois

Big Ten Bowl affiliates likely not represented by Big Ten this year

Capital One Orange Bowl

Source: orangebowl.com

The Orange Bowl is one of the selection committee bowl games that has variability in the conference selection. By default, the ACC will play, but their opponent comes from the SEC, Big Ten, or Notre Dame. It is also can be chosen to be a CFP playoff game. The last two times the Orange Bowl was not a CFP semifinal was in 2016 and 2017, where Michigan and Wisconsin played respectively.

Miami Gardens, Fla. (Hard Rock Stadium)

December 30, 2019, 8:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big Ten /SEC/ND vs. ACC

/SEC/ND vs. ACC Projection: Florida vs. Virginia

Big Ten teams in consideration:

Minnesota, Penn State, Iowa, Michigan

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

Source: firstresponderbowl.com

There is an agreement for there to be three SERVPRO First Responder Bowls and three Armed Forces bowls in a six year span for the Big Ten. The Big Ten has not been in the Armed Forces Bowl since 2014 and will likely play this year.

Dallas, Tex. (Gerald J. Ford Stadium)

December 30, 2019, 1:30 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

Big 12 vs. C-USA

Projection: Kent State vs. Southern Miss.

Big Ten teams in consideration:

Illinois, Michigan State

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl

Source: musiccitybowl.com

The ACC and Big Ten combine between the Music City and TaxSlayer bowls, where each get three appearances over six years. The ACC played in the Music City in 2015, and then played in the TaxSlayer in 2016, 2017, and 2018. This means that the ACC will likely play in the Music City and Big Ten in the TaxSlayer bowls against the SEC. Additionally, they try to get different schools to participate over this period of time.

Nashville, Tenn. (Nissan Stadium)

December 30, 2019, 4:00 p.m. EST, ESPN

Website

ACC vs. SEC

Projection: Louisville, Mississippi State

Big Ten teams in consideration:

Indiana