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The Big Ten is participating in nine bowl games this season. That’s a drop from the record 11 that the league had in 2014 and a disappointing part of a trend — last year the B1G had eight bowl teams, breaking a streak of three straight years with at least 10 teams in the postseason.
And for the second year in a row, no Big Ten team is playing in a College Football Playoff game.
Still, there are some enticing matchups ahead for the conference in the next few weeks. Here is our ranking of the B1G’s bowls in 2018 (and on Jan. 1, 2019) in order of appeal:
9. Wisconsin vs. Miami, Pinstripe
This was an appealing matchup last year when these teams met in the Orange Bowl. It’s way less so this time around as these are two of the most disappointing teams in the country. At least Badgers fans who go to New York likely will have Yankee Stadium to themselves.
8. Minnesota vs. Georgia Tech, Quick Lane
Detroit is not a dream bowl destination for most, but the Golden Gophers are happy to be going anywhere after clawing their way to a 6-6 record including an upset victory over Wisconsin in their season finale. Georgia Tech is in the midst of a coaching transition.
7. Purdue vs. Auburn, Music City
The Boilermakers seem to be on the rise and this is our last chance this season to see receiver Rondale Moore, one of the most electrifying players in America. The Tigers lost to UCF in a bowl last year and all the talk was that they were demotivated; can they get sorted out this time?
6. Iowa vs. Mississippi State, Outback
Iowa fans should know their way to Florida really well by now; this is the 10th Sunshine State bowl jaunt for the Hawkeyes since 2002 and the sixth to Tampa in that span. We’ll see how Iowa’s defense copes with MSU quarterback Nick Fitzgerald’s ability to run when you think he’ll pass and vice versa.
5. Northwestern vs. Utah, Holiday
The Wildcats and Utes each lost their respective conference championship games. Just a hunch, but the guess here is that the disappointment will knock the stuffing out of one of these teams and the game, a good matchup on paper, will wind up not being close.
4. Michigan vs. Florida, Peach
These two teams have seen a lot of each other lately as the Wolverines look to beat the Gators for the fifth time in five meetings. Oddball stat of the day: Florida is 8-2 all-time against the rest Big Ten in bowl games but 0-3 in the postseason against Michigan.
3. Michigan State vs. Oregon, Redbox
Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert looks to boost his NFL Draft stock, which has taken a bit of a dip this season as his yards per attempt has fallen from 9.6 last season to 8.0 in 2018. He likely will have to carry Oregon’s offense because the Spartans lead the nation in run defense but are 64th vs. the pass.
2. Penn State vs. Kentucky, Citrus
The Nittany Lions are in a New Year’s Day game, just not the one they thought they were capable of when the season began. Kentucky, on the other hand, is delighted to have its best bowl assignment in decades. Wildcats running back Benny Snell presents a challenge to the PSU defense.
1. Ohio State vs. Washington, Rose
This is adios for UW’s best senior class in a generation, and a possible final test for Dwayne Haskins before he decides whether to turn pro. But the farewell everyone will watch is that of OSU coach Urban Meyer. Will he show signs of relaxing in Pasadena before turning things over to Ryan Day?
Longtime newspaper veteran Jim Tomlin is a writer and editor for saturdaytradition.com and saturdaydownsouth.com.