Big Ten bowl game staff picks

As the holidays continue, so does bowl season. The Big Ten is about to begin its bowling campaign. The Big Ten will play most of its bowl games after Christmas and into the New Year, while three of its members will compete in the College Football Playoff. So how does the Big Ten fare this bowl season?

Based on our staff’s projections, this could be a pretty good bowl season for the most part. But a few games against SEC teams could be tricky.

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Here are our picks for every Big Ten bowl game this bowl season, excluding the College Football Playoff. Be sure to check out our complete Big Ten Bowl Tracker for the latest results and more on every Big Ten playoff game.

Los Angeles Bowl: Washington vs. Boise State

Christopher: I love this game because it’s a fascinating quarterback matchup. Demond Williams Jr. and Maddux Madsen were two of the best players in the country and helped revolutionize their respective teams. Still, I think Washington has more talent on offense and Damon Williams can better create better structures. Additionally, without Ashton Jeanty to rely on, Madsen won’t be able to rely on a consistent running game.

GameAbove Sports Bowl: Northwestern vs. Central Michigan

Rating Bowl: Minnesota vs. New Mexico State

Music City Bowl: Illinois vs. Tennessee

Alamo Bowl: USC vs. TCU

ReliaQuest Bowl: Iowa State vs. Vanderbilt

Sam: This will be an interesting bowl game with two deep teams that can’t quite get over the hump against the elite teams in the Big Ten and SEC. I like what Vanderbilt can do in this game if quarterback Diego Pavia plays. The Heisman finalist is a huge difference-maker for the Commodores and will do enough to win a low-scoring game.

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Citrus Bowl: Michigan vs. Texas

Christopher: Perhaps the best bowl game between two of the best conferences, it was a repeat of last year’s embarrassing home loss to the Wolverines. Still, while Bryce Underwood is a better quarterback than Davis Warren, Texas’ improvement over the past four games has been huge, especially the growth of Arch Manning. Even though the Longhorns have multiple players on both sides of the ball opting out, I fully expect Archie Manning and company to dominate and set a precedent for 2026.

Andrew: Some thought this game could be a College Football Playoff matchup heading into the season. Now things have changed dramatically, and it’s clear Texas has a clear advantage. Still, Bryce Underwood seemed to perform better during his time at the helm of interim coach Biff Poggi without being able to enter the transfer portal. Poggi will return as coach after coaching two games this season during Sherron Moore’s suspension. However, the Longhorns would be too much for Underwood and company, and Texas would take the game 35-17.

Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs Utah State

Andrew: Both teams could become empty shells come game time. Multiple Nebraska players have announced they will enter the portal, and Utah State may also see some changes to their team during the regular season with Utah coach Kyle Whittingham announcing his retirement. These two teams should still play well, though, with Matt Rhule leading his team to a 31-21 win over Utah State.

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This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Big Ten bowl game staff predictions