Big Ten’s top bowl games coming up in 2021-22
ROSEMONT, Ill. (BVM) — This fall’s college football season delivered yet again. With fans back in the stands and gameday atmospheres back to normal after a unique 2020 campaign, college football was officially back. So too were the parity, shocking upsets and impressive performances.
Within the Big Ten conference, it was the Big Ten East that stood out. With the division coming down to the final week, Jim Harbaugh and Michigan finally took down the Ohio State Buckeyes. A week later, they beat Iowa in dominant fashion to win the program’s first Big Ten championship since 2004.
No. 2 Michigan will now take on No. 3 Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal matchup. But that is just one of many intriguing matchups this holiday season featuring Big Ten teams. With that, let’s look at some of the conference’s top bowl matchups over the next few weeks.
- Maryland vs. Virginia Tech – New Era Pinstripe Bowl (Wednesday, Dec. 29)
At 6-6, Maryland comes in with the worst record among Big Ten bowl teams, but has posted some quality wins, including early in the season against West Virginia. That opening-week win was part of a 4-0 start for the Terps, but the conference schedule was not kind, as Maryland only picked up wins against lowly Indiana and Rutgers down the stretch. Now, they will head to New York to take on a Virginia Tech team that failed to live up to expectations as they also finished 6-6 despite upsetting then No. 10 North Carolina in the season’s opening week. While the Hokies suffered a loss to a common opponent in West Virginia, they did hang tough in several games this season including in a three-point loss to Notre Dame. Still, if Maryland’s defense can step up and quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa can take care of the ball, the Terrapins could have a chance to come out on top.
- West Virginia vs. Minnesota – Guaranteed Rate Bowl (Tuesday, Dec. 28)
Speaking of West Virginia, they will get another crack at a Big Ten opponent in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. The Mountaineers’ season was seen as a bit of a disappointment as well, as they played Big 12 opponents close at times but just could not come out with big-time wins. There was a similar narrative with Minnesota’s season until the Golden Gophers defeated Wisconsin in the final week to reclaim Paul Bunyan’s Axe and eliminate the Badgers from going to the Big Ten Championship game. Despite starting out 2-2 and suffering numerous injuries — particularly at the running back position — P.J. Fleck’s guys were able to right the ship and row the boat all the way to an 8-4 finish. Quarterback Tanner Morgan will be tasked with taking care of the ball, but it will be getting the run game going that will be key for Minnesota, with the backfield headlined by a pair of freshmen in Ky Thomas and Mar’Keise Irving.
- Tennessee vs. Purdue – TransPerfect Music City Bowl (Thursday, Dec. 30)
It could probably be argued that this matchup should be higher on the list, as the surprise team of the Big Ten takes on a powerful SEC opponent. Purdue was projected by many to finish near the bottom of the Big Ten in the preseason, but finished with an 8-4 record highlighted by some spectacular upsets against both Iowa and Michigan State. Led by fifth-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell and stud wide receiver David Bell, the Purdue offense did a good job keeping up with anyone and everyone this season. The Boilermaker defense was also solid as usual, led by standout lineman George Karlaftis. However, both Bell and Karlaftis will skip this game to focus on the NFL Draft, giving a talented Tennessee squad a good chance to pull off a win. The Vols played up-and-down football throughout the year, losing to three of the conference’s best teams in Alabama, Georgia and Ole Miss. Additional losses to Pitt and a then-ranked Florida Gators team show that Tennessee won and lost the games they were expected to en route to a 7-5 record. An undermanned Purdue squad will have to pull off another tremendous effort under Coach Jeff Brohm in this one.
- Wisconsin vs. Arizona State – SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl (Thursday, Dec. 30)
The Las Vegas Bowl should be a fun one between a couple of 8-4 teams who at times played ugly football but also showed flashes of dominance this season. Herm Edwards’ Sun Devils boasted a solid offensive attack this year led by quarterback Jayden Daniels. ASU should have an advantage in that department, as Wisconsin will trot out young quarterback Graham Mertz, who thoroughly disappointed this season. After a 1-3 start that included losses to Penn State, Notre Dame and Michigan, the Badgers rattled off seven in a row to put themselves in position to win the Big Ten West before falling to Minnesota. The win streak was led by 17-year-old freshman Braelon Allen, who looks to be the next great back at a school that has produced plenty of them over the last 25 years. Wisconsin’s defense is also one of the top units in the country despite showing some cracks in the armor against the Gophers and Nebraska the week prior. Still, if the defense can limit ASU’s offensive attack and if the Badgers dictate tempo by establishing the run, they should leave the world’s entertainment capital with a win.
- No. 15 Iowa vs. No. 22 Kentucky – Vrbo Citrus Bowl (Saturday, Jan. 1)
This one will bring us another Big Ten/SEC matchup which pits two very strong teams against each other. Kentucky held its own all season in the SEC, starting out 6-0 before three straight losses against Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee. They will look to test a tough Iowa defense with the dynamic quarterback/receiver combo of Will Levis and Wan’Dale Robinson. Meanwhile, Iowa started out the season similarly to Kentucky, also beginning 6-0 and jumping all the way up to No. 2 in the country after a win over Penn State. However, a shocking loss to Purdue exposed the team’s flaws, and they were dominated just two weeks later by Wisconsin. Still, Iowa won its final four games to make it to the Big Ten Championship game over the Badgers, but showed they were not nearly in the same class as Michigan in a 42-3 loss. Iowa’s defense has been incredible this season, consistently forcing turnovers and low yardage totals. With poor quarterback play between Alex Padilla and Spencer Petras down the stretch, it may be the defense that will have to pull out a win for Iowa yet again.
- Penn State vs. No. 21 Arkansas – Outback Bowl (Saturday, Jan. 1)
Some may rate this matchup lower on the list, but it features another strong SEC team against a perhaps overlooked Big Ten squad in Penn State. Like Iowa, Penn State started hot at 5-0 with big wins at Wisconsin and over Auburn. However, after losing to the Hawkeyes in a game Sean Clifford left with injury, the season was never the same. A shocking nine-overtime loss to Illinois in their next game would set the tone for the Nittany Lions, who suffered additional losses to Big Ten East rivals in Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. Still, Penn State was right there in each of those games, and the Clifford to stud receiver Jahan Dotson combo along with some solid defense should have them squarely in this one as well. One thing Penn State did this season that Arkansas didn’t was beat Auburn. However, Arkansas is no slouch. Key wins for the Razorbacks this season came over Texas A&M and Mississippi State. Although they were dismantled by Georgia, they lost to Ole Miss by just one point and at Alabama by just a touchdown. Quarterback K.J. Jefferson was solid all year, throwing 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Penn State is a good team, but Arkansas is sure to give them all they can handle in this one.
- No. 12 Pittsburgh vs. No. 10 Michigan State – Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (Thursday, Dec. 30)
This game probably moves down the list if Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett decides not to play. Pickett had a true breakout this season, throwing for over 4,300 yards and 42 touchdowns while finishing third in the Heisman voting. If he plays, it could spell bad news for a Michigan State defense that has had trouble defending the pass at times this season, none greater than in a 56-7 loss to Ohio State in which they allowed fourth-place Heisman finisher C.J. Stroud to go off. However, that was one of just two losses on the season for the Spartans, as they were only beaten by Purdue in a shocking result in early November. Michigan State is also the only team in the country this season to beat rival Michigan as the Spartans have had a quicker turnaround than anyone expected under second-year coach Mel Tucker. Along with MSU, Pitt is another team many likely didn’t expect here. A loss in their third game to Western Michigan was surprising, but the Panthers dominated the ACC outside of a four-point loss to Miami, winning the conference title game over Wake Forest. Pickett’s decision will be a big factor in this matchup, but it should be a good game regardless.
- No. 11 Utah vs. No. 6 Ohio State – Rose Bowl (Saturday, Jan. 1)
The Rose Bowl is one of the best bowl games every season, and this year’s matchup is no different. No. 11 Utah comes in as hot as maybe any team in the country. Starting just 1-2 after losing to BYU and San Diego State, the season looked uncertain for the Utes. Although they would lose once more to Oregon State, Utah went on a late-season tear which included beating then No. 3 and later No. 10 Oregon twice in three weeks by a combined margin of 76-17. It is worth noting that Oregon did beat Ohio State earlier in the year, and that is a big reason why they are here and not in the College Football Playoff. The game was a tough one at the time for Stroud, who improved to finish as a Heisman candidate as just a freshman. The Ohio State defense also struggled, and despite improvements throughout the year, the jury is still out after they gave up 42 points in the team’s first loss to Michigan during the Harbaugh era. It is unfamiliar territory for Ryan Day, who consistently wins in the Big Ten and has taken the team to the College Football Playoff the past two seasons after the departure of Urban Meyer. This game may ultimately come down to the Ohio State defense, but the Buckeyes can score with anyone thanks to Stroud and arguably the best wide receiver trio in the country that features Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
- No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 2 Michigan – CFB Playoff Semifinal/Capital One Orange Bowl (Friday, Dec. 31)
This will be the game Big Ten fans are likely most interested in as Michigan and Georgia do battle for a right to play in the National Championship. It’s been a while since Michigan has been here, but Harbaugh finally has his guys in the playoff after beating Ohio State and clobbering Iowa to win their first Big Ten title since 2004. In fact, Michigan is close to coming in undefeated, losing only in a close game to Michigan State in which they blew a two-score lead. Unlike most Big Ten teams, Michigan is complete on both sides of the ball. New defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald improved the Wolverines’ defense significantly this season, led by Heisman runner-up Aidan Hutchinson. On offense, Cade McNamara steers the ship at quarterback, but the running back tandem of Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum has been lethal. True freshman Donovan Edwards has also provided a spark as of late. However, as good as Michigan is, Georgia might be even better. The season began with a win over Clemson, but also included dominant victories over several SEC bowl teams on this list like Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. At 12-0, Georgia looked unstoppable until Nick Saban and Alabama halted the Bulldogs’ momentum, beating them 41-24 in the SEC Championship game. Behind a strong linebacking core and a good offense led by quarterback Stetson Bennett, Kirby Smart’s squad may have been beaten, but they are still as dangerous as any team in the nation.
