Big Ten Bowl Games 2022: How to Watch, Odds for Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and more

By Sarah HughesJan 2, 2022, 12:00 PM EST

College football Bowl season has already begun, with the first game featuring Big Ten teams set to take place Tuesday, Dec. 27 with Wisconsin vs Oklahoma State in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Nine Big Ten teams went 6-6 or better to qualify for a Bowl, with two of them (Michigan and Ohio State) qualifying for the College Football Playoff on New Year’s Eve.

Of course, the biggest spotlight will be on those College Football semifinals. Michigan will take on TCU in Phoenix while Ohio State will face Georgia in Atlanta. This marks the first season since the CFP’s inception that two Big Ten teams have earned a spot in the same year. It’s Michigan’s second appearance (2021) and Ohio State’s fifth (2014, ’16, ’19, ’20). Ohio State is the only Big Ten team with a CFP national title, which the Buckeyes won the first time the playoff was held after the 2014 season.

Here’s is what you need to know about when and how to watch the nine Bowl games featuring Big Ten teams in the coming weeks. Betting info is provided by BetMGM**. Specific matchup links are included with each game below, or you can see the full slate of upcoming Bowl Games here.

The team at NBC Sports EDGE has you covered for all bowl games featuring the Big Ten and beyond, providing their favorite plays on everything from sides and totals to player props. Click here for insights, picks and reactions to all 42 bowl games across this holiday season.

Tuesday, December 27

Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State – Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022 at 10:15pm ET on ESPN

Chase Field (home of MLB’s Diamondbacks) in Phoenix, AZ

Wisconsin (6-6) is a slight favorite over Oklahoma State (7-5)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Wisconsin vs Oklahoma State

Thursday, December 29

Minnesota vs. Syracuse – Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022 at 2:00pm ET on ESPN

Yankee Stadium (home of MLB’s Yankees) in New York, NY

Minnesota (8-4) is favored over Syracuse (7-5)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Minnesota vs Syracuse

Friday, December 30

Maryland vs. NC State – Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at 12:00pm ET on ESPN

Bank of America Stadium (home of NFL’s Panthers) in Charlotte, NC

Maryland (7-5) is a slight favorite over NC State (8-4)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Maryland vs NC State

Saturday, December 31

Iowa vs. Kentucky – TransPerfect Music City Bowl

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 at 12:00pm ET on ABC

Nissan Stadium (home of NFL’s Titans) in Nashville, TN

Iowa (7-5) is a slight favorite over Kentucky (7-5)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Iowa vs Kentucky

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU – College Football Playoff semifinal – Vrbo Fiesta Bowl

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 at 4:00pm ET on ESPN

State Farm Stadium (home of NFL’s Cardinals) in Phoenix, AZ

Michigan (13-0) is favored over TCU (12-1)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: CFP Semifinal

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State – College Football Playoff semifinal – Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl

Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022 at 8:00pm ET on ESPN

Mercedes-Benz Stadium (home of NFL’s Falcons) in Atlanta, GA

Georgia (13-0) is favored over Ohio State (11-1)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: CFP Semifinal

Monday, January 2

Illinois vs. Mississippi State – ReliaQuest Bowl

Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 12:00pm ET on ESPN2

Raymond James Stadium (home of NFL’s Buccaneers) in Tampa, FL

Mississippi State (8-4) is a slight favorite over Illinois (8-4)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Illinois vs Mississippi State

Purdue vs. LSU – Cheez-It Citrus Bowl

Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 1:00pm ET on ABC

Camping World Stadium (home of MLS’s Orlando City SC) in Orlando, FL

LSU (9-4) is favored over Purdue (8-5)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Purdue vs LSU

Penn State vs. Utah – Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential

Monday, Jan. 2, 2023 at 5:00pm ET on ESPN

Rose Bowl (home of UCLA Bruins) in Pasadena, CA

Utah (10-3) is a slight favorite over Penn State (10-2)

NBC Sports EDGE Preview: Penn State vs Utah in the Rose Bowl

Which Big Ten teams will not play in Bowl Games?

Five Big Ten teams failed to qualify for a Bowl Game and will miss out on the remaining weeks of football: Michigan State, Northwestern, Indiana, Rutgers and Nebraska. Michigan State barely missed out at 5-7. Indiana, Rutgers, and Nebraska all went 4-8 while Northwestern finished at an abysmal 1-11.

Big Ten Bowl Previews from NBC Sports Edge

Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin vs Oklahoma State I Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota vs Syracuse I Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Maryland vs NC State I Music City Bowl: Iowa vs Kentucky I CFP Semifinals I ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois vs Mississippi State I Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Purdue vs LSU I Rose Bowl: Penn State vs Utah

**Must be 21+ years of age or older to wager. Must be present in NY. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

Wisconsin college football history: Big Ten and national titles, stadium, 2023 season outlook and more

By Kyle LynchMay 11, 2023, 6:10 PM EDT

Winners of the inaugural Big Ten title in 1896, the Wisconsin Badgers enter a new era in 2023 with Luke Fickell taking over as head coach. Fickell takes over a team which finished last season with a losing conference record for the first time since 2008 and enters this year with a new quarterback under center.

Beginning this fall, NBC and Peacock will be the exclusive home of Big Ten Saturday Night, a primetime football game each weekend. Peacock will also serve as the exclusive home for eight additional Big Ten football games each season. Keep reading for a primer on all things Wisconsin and all things Big Ten ahead of the 2023 season.

How long has Wisconsin been in the Big Ten?

Wisconsin is one of the original members of the Big Ten, playing in the conference’s inaugural season in 1896. The Badgers won each of the first two conference titles, finishing first in the Big Ten in both 1896 and 1897.

Has Wisconsin ever won the Big Ten championship?

Wisconsin has won 14 Big Ten championships, including the inaugural title in the 1896 season. Their most recent Big Ten championship came in the 2012 season, which capped off three-straight conference titles for the Badgers from 2010 to 2012.

Has Wisconsin ever won the national championship?

No, Wisconsin has never won a national championship in football. In the 1962 season, Wisconsin finished second in both the AP and Coaches polls behind Southern Cal, who defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that season.

What is the name of Wisconsin’s stadium?

With a capacity of more than 80,000, Camp Randall Stadium serves as the home of the Wisconsin Badgers football team. The land was originally used for training Wisconsin troops during the Civil War and is named after Wisconsin’s first wartime governor, Alexander W. Randall. Camp Randall is home to one of college football’s greatest traditions, with the crowd erupting with the playing of the song “Jump Around” by House of Pain.

Who is Wisconsin’s head coach?

After leading Cincinnati for the past six seasons, Luke Fickell is entering his first year as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. Fickell replaces Paul Chryst, who was fired last October and replaced by Jim Leonhard, who finished the year as interim head coach. Fickell went 57-18 over his six seasons in Cincinnati, including a trip to the 2021 College Football Playoff. He is no stranger to the Big Ten, playing at Ohio State in the 1990’s and spending 16 of his first 18 seasons in coaching on the Buckeyes’ staff, including one year as head coach (2011).

What is Wisconsin’s mascot?

Bucky Badger (full name Buckingham U. Badger) is the mascot for the Wisconsin Badgers. While the badger has been the university’s mascot since 1889, the first costumed Bucky did not make an appearance until 1949 and is known for wearing his signature red and white striped shirt.

What is Wisconsin’s 2023 season outlook?

The Luke Fickell era is beginning in Madison, with Fickell taking over a team that has won a bowl game in eight of the past nine seasons. Coming with Fickell is new offensive coordinator Phil Longo, who spent the past four years in the same position at North Carolina. Longo is known for having a pass-heavy offense with the Tar Heels and will look to bring that to a Wisconsin program known for a ground-and-pound, run-heavy attack. Fickell and Longo brought in three new quarterbacks from the transfer portal to replace former starter Graham Mertz, who transferred to Florida. Redshirt senior Tanner Mordecai, who played at both Oklahoma and SMU, looks set to take over as the starting QB in Madison this year.

How to Watch Big Ten Football on NBC and Peacock

In August 2022, NBCUniversal and the Big Ten Conference today announced a landmark 7-year agreement for NBC and Peacock to become the exclusive home of Big Ten Saturday Night football, beginning in fall of 2023. Peacock will also serve as the exclusive home for eight additional Big Ten Football games each season.

NBC Sports/Peacock’s new agreement with college sports’ top conference will also feature dozens of men’s and women’s basketball games (including multiple games each year in the Men’s and Women’s Big Ten Tournaments), Olympic sports, golf and more, providing hundreds of hours of Big Ten content across Peacock.

What devices can I watch Peacock on?

Peacock is currently available on the Roku platform; Amazon FireTV and Fire tablets; Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD; Google platforms and devices including Android™, Android TV™ devices, Chromecast and Chromecast built-in devices; Microsoft’s Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One S and Xbox One X; Sony PlayStation4 and PlayStation 4 Pro; Samsung Smart TVs; VIZIO SmartCast™ TVs; LG Smart TVs; Comcast’s entertainment platforms including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, and XClass TV; and Cox’s Contour and Contour Stream Player devices. To learn more about Peacock and how to sign up, visit PeacockTV.com.

When will UCLA, USC join the Big Ten Conference?

By Annie CoryMar 14, 2023, 4:46 PM EDT

The Big Ten has served as one of the nation’s premier intercollegiate athletic conferences for over 125 years. Originally founded by a group of seven universities led by Purdue president James H. Smart, the group has grown by leaps and bounds since its formation in 1896. The conference that was originally comprised of seven teams grew to an eventual 14, and is now set to expand to 16 with the groundbreaking addition of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten.

When will USC, UCLA join the Big Ten?

Crosstown rival programs USC and UCLA both announced in summer 2022 that they will leave the Pac-12 Conference for the Big Ten on August 2, 2024.

The move rocked the college football world, considering the length of time that both schools were members of their previous conference. USC had held Pac-12 membership since 1922, winning a total of 39 conference football titles and nine basketball titles in that span. The UCLA Bruins were a part of the group since 1928, taking home 16 football and 32 basketball conference titles in those years.

UCLA and USC’s transition was announced on the heels of Oklahoma and Texas confirming their departure for the SEC last season, a move that is set to transpire ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Come 2024, the Pac-12 will be comprised of only 10 members, while the Big Ten will stretch from coast to coast.

What schools are in the Big Ten Conference?

University of Michigan
Ohio State University
Penn State University
University Maryland
Michigan State University
Indiana University
Rutgers University
Purdue University
University of Illinois
University of Iowa
University of Minnesota
University of Wisconsin
University of Nebraska
Northwestern University
USC (will join in 2024)
UCLA (will join in 2024)

Why is it called the Big Ten?

Despite its current 14 members, the conference retains its title of “Big Ten” to this day. The name originated after Michigan rejoined in 1917, bringing the membership from nine to 10 teams. Media members were the first to dub the group the “Big Ten”, which was eventually confirmed as the conference’s official name in 1987.

How can I watch Big Ten football, basketball and more?

While Big Ten football coverage for the 2023 season will be split among NBC, Fox and CBS, NBC and Peacock will be the home of the conference’s biggest game every week with Big Ten Saturday Night. NBC Sports’ new agreement with the Big Ten will also feature coverage of several men’s and women’s basketball games, Olympic sports, golf and more.

It became official in August of 2022 that NBC will air Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC and Peacock, with a primetime football game each fall weekend.