Big Ten 2026 Bowl Game Projections Tracker

Big Ten 2026 Bowl Game Projections Tracker

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Big Ten 2026 Bowl Game Projections Tracker
Pasadena, CA – January 01: Linebacker Aiden Fisher #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers holds the Leishman Trophy as teammate offensive mvp Pat Coogan is reflected in the trophy after defeating the Alabama Crimson Tide 38-3 to win the 112th Rose Bowl CFP quarterfinal playoff football game in Pasadena on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

College football has begun, and it is never too early to talk bowl games. Bowl game affiliations have become increasingly complicated over the years with conference realignment, so I have laid everything out here with my projections for the entire Big Ten Conference.

The order of selection is not a perfect science, as bowl game officials do not always use a team’s record alone to determine who they want to invite to their game. Numerous factors, including fan base, location and how frequently a team has played in a particular bowl, can all play a role in their decision.

Record is generally a good indication of where certain teams will end up playing their bowl game. The College Football Playoff gets first choice, but the remaining bowl games will generally follow a set order.

Here is the projected ranking of the Big Ten’s bowl selections:

  1. Citrus Bowl vs. SEC
  2. ReliaQuest Bowl vs. SEC
  3. Duke’s Mayo Bowl vs. ACC (even-numbered years) or Las Vegas Bowl vs. Pac-12/former Pac-12 (odd-numbered years)
  4. Music City Bowl vs. SEC
  5. Pinstripe Bowl vs. ACC
  6. Cactus Bowl vs. Big 12 (formerly the Rate Bowl)

Here are the bowl destinations where the former Pac-12 schools could be selected:

  1. Alamo Bowl vs Big 12
  2. Las Vegas Bowl vs SEC
  3. Holiday Bowl vs ACC
  4. Sun Bowl vs ACC
  5. Poinsettia Bowl vs Current PAC-12

The College Football Playoff and bowl game assignments will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 6, following conference championship Saturday on Dec. 5. I have included my full Big Ten bowl projections, as well as Illinois predictions from other college football media members.

I will update this tracker following every week of the college football season.

  • Robby Nardini, The Champaign Room:

College Football Playoff: Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana
Citrus Bowl: Iowa
ReliaQuest Bowl: Penn State
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: Illinois
Music City Bowl: Michigan
Pinstripe Bowl: Nebraska
Cactus Bowl: Minnesota
Alamo Bowl: Washington
Las Vegas Bowl: Arizona
Holiday Bowl: USC
Sun Bowl: Utah
Poinsettia Bowl: UCLA

  • Bryan Fischer, Sports Illustrated: Duke’s Mayo Bowl
  • Kyle Bonagura, ESPN: Duke’s Mayo Bowl
  • Mark Schlabach, ESPN: Pinstripe Bowl
  • Pete Fiutak, College Football News: Cactus Bowl
  • Brad Crawford, CBS Sports: Pinstripe Bowl
  • Steven Lassan, Althon Sports: Cactus Bowl
  • Scott Dochterman, The Athletic: Music City Bowl

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos