Ranking the Watchability of the Big Ten's Bowl Games in 2022

The 2022-23 bowl season has arrived, and two Big Ten teams are part of this year's College Football Playoff. While Michigan and Ohio State take on their respective opponents for a shot at the national championship, seven other conference members are on display as well.

Related: Ranking All 41 College Football Bowl Games From Must-See to Must-Miss

Some of the heartiest fans will lap up every moment of postseason goodness before shifting all of their focus to recruiting. For those of you who like to fill out your schedules far in advance, here's a handy list of what to DVR from the best to the obscenely avoidable as it relates to bowl games involving Big Ten teams.

Note: All times are ET.

1. Vrbo Fiesta Bowl/College Football Playoff Semifinal: Michigan (13-0) vs. TCU (12-1)

Sat., Dec. 31 – ESPN at 4 p.m. (State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, and the Wolverines look to do what last year's crew couldn't and get a shot at college football history. Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan wasn't able to will his team to victory in the Big 12 Championship Game, but this is the semifinal matchup TCU wanted.

Michigan has been pummeling defensive lines before running away with their wins as of late. If Horned Frogs wide receiver Quentin Johnston can get behind the Michigan secondary, we could have a shootout on our hands.

2. Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl/College Football Playoff Semifinal: Ohio State (11-1) vs. Georgia (13-0)

Sat., Dec. 31 – ESPN at 8 p.m. (Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

If any team could hope to knock the defending national champions from their perch, it's Ohio State on their best day. The problem is we don't know which Buckeye squad will turn up. C.J. Stroud and his cadre of playmakers on both sides of the ball should provide Stetson Bennett and Co. with one of their stiffest tests to date.

But Georgia doesn't seem to have completely kicked into full gear yet. Fresh off a pasting of LSU in the SEC Championship Game, a Bulldogs victory seems all but certain. But this is college football, and nothing is for sure until the game clock hits all zeroes.

3. Rose Bowl: Penn State (10-2) vs. Utah (10-3)

Mon., Jan. 2 – ESPN at 5 p.m. (Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

One of the quietest 10-2 teams in all of college football, Penn State topped all opponents — often in dismissive fashion — except the two Big Ten teams that made the playoff. To wrap up his extensive career in style, Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford has to best a Utah team with blood pressure-heightening levels of salt, not to mention back-to-back Pac-12 titles.

If Utes running back Ja'Quinden Jackson can find lanes against the nation's No. 14 rushing defense, Kyle Whittingham can wrap up his best season since 2019's 11-3 campaign.

4. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: Purdue (8-5) vs. LSU (9-4)

Mon., Jan. 2 – ABC at 1 p.m. (Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Despite failing to keep their respective conference championship games interesting until the end, the Boilermakers and Tigers should offer an entertaining back-and-forth affair. Aidan O'Connell and Devin Mockobee provide a one-two punch for Purdue's offense while quarterback Jayden Daniels' status is unknown for LSU after getting aggravating the injury in the SEC Championship Game loss to Georgia.

With some underrated star power and multiple question marks, this is a tasty mid-tier Big Ten-SEC tilt and should provide four quarters of excitement.

5. ReliaQuest BowI: Illinois (8-4) vs. Mississippi State (8-4)

Mon., Jan. 2 – ESPN2 at 12 p.m. (Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

This matchup takes on a different tone following the unexpected death of Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach on Dec. 12 due to complications related to a heart condition. On the field, these Bulldogs are living up to Leach's Air Raid reputation, by averaging more than 314 passing yards per game. But Bret Bielema's Illinois team boasts the nation's fifth-best pass defense and leads the way with 22 interceptions. The Fighting Illini also love to run the football behind Chase Brown, the nation's second-leading rusher.

6. Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Minnesota (8-4) vs. Syracuse (7-5)

Thurs., Dec. 29 – ESPN at 2 p.m. (Yankee Stadium in Bronx, N.Y.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

If running backs are your thing, look no further. Mohamed Ibrahim and Sean Tucker have combined for almost 2,700 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. The Orange offer a stiff challenge. But P.J. Fleck has been on the winning end of every bowl game he's coached as the Golden Gophers' head man.

7. Duke's Mayo Bowl: Maryland (7-5) vs. NC State (8-4)

Fri., Dec. 30 – ESPN at 12 p.m. (Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa may use this opportunity to show off for NFL scouts as he weighs a potential leap to the league. He'll need to be creative, as receivers Dontay Demus Jr. and Jacob Copeland have already declared for the draft while tight end CJ Dippre entered his name into the transfer portal.

Meanwhile, who starts at quarterback for NC State is anyone's guess. On top of that, running backs coach Kurt Roper takes over play-calling duties as Tim Beck departs for Coastal Carolina. Regardless of the on-field effort, both squads may end up being outshined by the event's social media crew.

8. Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Wisconsin (6-6) vs. Oklahoma State (7-5)

Tues., Dec. 27 – ESPN at 10:15 p.m. (Chase Field in Phoenix)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

The Badgers and Cowboys may both lobby for a running clock since these programs are ready to flip to January 2023. It's an exciting time for Wisconsin as Luke Fickell will roam the sidelines after taking over for interim head coach-turned-defensive coordinator-yet-again Jim Leonhard.

Meanwhile, Mike Gundy's fighting to prevent his worst season in a half-decade. Worse, he has to go into this game without starting quarterback Spencer Sanders (in the transfer portal). It's been a disappointing year for the Pokes. Don't expect this to be much different.

9. TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa (7-5) vs. Kentucky (7-5)

Sat., Dec. 31 – ABC at 12 p.m. (Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.)/live stream on fuboTV (Start your free trial)

To give you an idea of how bad Brian Ferentz's offense is, Hawkeye skill players are flooding the transfer portal to stop being associated with it. Kentucky's been sputtering and stopping down the stretch with losses to Georgia and Vanderbilt but put everything together for a win over in-state rival Louisville.

Despite all their troubles, the Wildcats have the nation's seventh-best pass defense. Simple math says this has all the potential to be one of the worst offerings of this bowl season. If you're the morbidly curious sort, tune in. Just be sure to wear safety goggles.

— Written by Brandon Cavanaugh, part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Be sure to follow him on Twitter (@Bcav402). To contact him, click here.