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With no Big Ten teams in the College Football Playoff again for the second straight year, the bowl games that are left are nothing more than glorified exhibition games. Still, there’s a lot on the line for several Big Ten players this week as bowl week continues.
Here are five Big Ten players with a lot on the line during bowl season:
Jack Coan, Wisconsin quarterback
No Wisconsin player is going to enjoy the Pinstripe Bowl more than quarterback Jack Coan. With starter Alex Hornibrook still bothered by concussion symptoms, Coan gets the start against Miami Thursday afternoon (5:15 pm. ET; TV: ESPN) at Yankee Stadium in New York, which is about 50 miles from where he grew up. He’s been hitting up teammates for tickets and will have close to 50 friends and family there. It’s been a disappointing season for the Badgers, but hopefully a happy homecoming for Coan will make it a happy ending.
LJ Scott, Michigan State running back
LJ Scott has been a fixture in the Michigan State backfield for four years, but this year was ruined by an ankle injury that forced him to miss eight games. He could have redshirted and stay in East Lansing for one more year, and he thought hard about it. But the shelf life for running backs in short and he decided to turn pro. Many people would have skipped the bowl game too, but Scott, who’s finally healthy now, wanted one more game with the teammates. That’s admirable in this day and age. The Spartans play Oregon on Monday in the Redbox Bowl, and here’s to hoping he has a big day.
David Blough, Purdue quarterback
It’s been an amazing season for Purdue quarterback David Blough, who lost the starting job in fall camp but made the coaches look like fools quickly when he returned the field and lit up scoreboards practically every game the rest of the way. Blough’s final game as a Boilermaker comes Friday in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, against an Auburn team that has been up and down all season. Slough has thrown for 3,521 yards and 25 touchdown passes this season, so going out in style would be nice. He’s got his buddy Tyler Trent on the trip too, for good luck.
Chase Winovich, Michigan defensive end
One of my favorite players to watch all season has been Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich. He’s been exceptional, and he made the most out of coming back for his senior year. He’s leaving Michigan a better place than he found it, and will say goodbye in the Peach Bowl Saturday (Noon ET; TV: ESPN) against Florida. “What we’ve built here and what we’ll continue to build is a powerhouse. That’s the Michigan I’m leaving. A Michigan that’s competitive in its trajectory. The sky’s the limit. He’s going to be missed.
Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State quarterback
Dwayne Haskins can add to his record-breaking season in the Rose Bowl on Tuesday against Washington, and he can also help his draft stock in the process. Should he decide to turn pro — and won’t we all be shocked if he doesn’t — it’s looking more and more like Haskins will be a high first-round pick. This is his chance to continue to add to his long list of Big Ten records.
Tom Brew has been a recognized reporter in Big Ten sports for decades. Among other projects, he writes about Big Ten football for Saturday Tradition.