Big Ten Bowl Tracker: Winning Record Hinges on Indiana Now

After Wisconsin and Michigan lost on New Year's Day, the Big Ten sits at 4-4 in bowl season, and needs an Indiana win Thursday night to finish with a winning record.

JACKSONVILLE, Ind. — It's all square, all of it, and for the Big Ten to finish with a winning record in bowl season, it all comes down to the Indiana Hoosiers on Thursday night in the Gator Bowl. 

Indiana plays Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl here in Jacksonville, and it's the last football game of the year for the Big Ten. And it's a big one.

The Big Ten is 4-4 so far, which was sort of expected based on the betting lines. There were a few surprises on Wednesday, though, was Minnesota, a 7-point underdog, upset Auburn. But Wisconsin, who was favored in the Rose Bowl, lost to Oregon.

Indiana (8-4) is a 3-point underdog to Tennessee (7-5) is this final game. It should be a good one, though, because both teams want to be here. Both have had good seasons that exceeded what was expected on them, and they'd like to finish it off right.

Some teams don't to even be at bowl games, but that's not the case with Indiana. They really want to win nine games, something that's only been done twice in school history. They've worked hard this month, because their goal was the WIN a bowl game, not just get there.

"We're just full of excitement and thankful for this opportunity,'' said Indiana linebacker Reakwon Jones, who's one of 25 players from Florida on Indiana's roster. "It's been such a blessing and it's such a great opportunity for us kids from Florida who really can't get family to come all the way to Indiana every weekend.  

"Just an opportunity to be able to get as much family and watch us play in our game as Hoosiers, it's a blessing and a great opportunity.''

Enjoy the game. It's the last one until Sept. 5. That 249 days!!

Previous updates 

UPDATED THURSDAY, 7 a.m.: It was a rough New Year's Day for Wisconsin and Michigan, but Minnesota rowed the boat to an upset win over the Auburn Tigers.

There are links to game stories and columns below. Check it all out.

UPDATED Wednesday, 7 a.m: It's 2020, amazingly, and Happy New Year to everyone around the state of Indiana and the rest of the Big Ten. It's New Year's Day, one of the best college football days of the year, and the league has three teams in action — Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Details are listed below, as well as links to several stories that will get you primed for the game. Here's a look at how Sports Illustrated's experts are looking at wagers on the New Years's Day games. CLICK HERE

And, of course, we'll keep the bowl tracker updated all afternoon and evening.

UPDATED, Monday, 11 p.m.: Illinois' stagger to the finish line continued on Monday when it lost to California 35-20 in the RedBox Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif. Illinois (6-7), which hasn’t won a bowl game or experienced a season with a winning record since 2011, had its running game stalled by a nationally-recognized Cal defense. 

The Illini totaled 165 yards on the ground but 68 of them came from pro-style quarterback Brandon Peters. It is the fifth straight game Illinois has suffered through without a 100-yard rusher and only had 45 yards on the ground in the second half. Links to the complete game story and coach Lovie Smith's take  are below.

Here's an interesting trend so far in bowl season. In all five Big Ten bowl games, the betting favorite has won outright AND covered the spread. What's that mean for the four other games.

UPDATED, Sunday, 7 a.m.: The Big Ten's most high-profile bowl game — unbeaten Ohio State's matchup with defending champion Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff, didn't go the Buckeyes' way. Their dream season ends with a 29-23 loss to Clemson.

There was some good news for the league on Saturday. Penn State beat Memphis in the Cotton Bowl.

FRIDAY UPDATES: The Big Ten kicked off its bowl season in style on Friday with Michigan State and Iowa both recording victories against Power 5 opponents.

The Spartans got the league off off to a good start when they beat Wake Forest 27-21 Friday afternoon in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York. Links to the complete game story and coach Mark Dantonio's postgame interview are below.

The Hawkeyes closed out a great first night with a dominating performance over USC in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half to roll to a 49-24 victory. It got the Hawkeyes to 10 wins, something that's happened only twice this decade. Link to the complete game story and coach Kirk Ferentz's postgame interview are below.

There are nine Big Ten teams playing in bowl games this season. Two of those spotlight games are on Saturday, with the College Football Playoff meeting between Big Ten champion Ohio State and defending national champion Clemson, and a New Year's Six game in the Dallas area between Penn State and Memphis. Links to the preview stories for Ohio-State and Clemson are below.

Here is our tracker of all the games, and we'll update it daily. Bowl games involving Big Ten teams run through Jan. 2. 

Here are the games:

THE GAMES SO FAR

Pinstripe Bowl: Michigan State 27, Wake Forest 21

• When: Friday, Dec. 27
• Where: Yankee Stadium, New York
• Records: Michigan State (7-6), Wake Forest (8-5)
• Line: Michigan State by 3.5 points 
• The skinny: Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke threw for 320 yards and a touchdown as Michigan State pulled out a much needs win over Wake Forest of the ACC. The Spartans trailed 21-20 at halftime, but Lewerke hit Cody White for a 10-yard score with 10:16 to go in the third quarter and the vaunted Spartans defense took it from there, pitching a shutout in the second half. Lewerke was 26-for-37 passing and this was his fourth 300-yard passing game of the year. 
• FULL GAME STORY FROM si.com/college/michiganstate 
• WHAT MARK DANTONIO SAID AFTER THE GAME
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 1-0
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 1-0

Michigan State quarterback Brian Lewerke accepts the Pinstripe Bowl trophy from former Buffalo Bills great Jim Kelly after the Spartans beat Wake Forest on Friday. (Mandatory credit: USA TODAY SPORTS)

Holiday Bowl: Iowa 49, USC 24  

• When: Friday, December 27, 8 p.m. ET
  
• Where: SDCCU Stadium, San Diego, Calif.
• Records: Iowa (10-3), USC (8-5)
• Line: Iowa by 1.5 points
• The skinny: The Hawkeyes might have had their most complete game of the season in smashing USC of the Pac-12 Conference. The 49 points were a season high and their most in a bowl game since 1984. The rout included a 98-yard kickoff return for a score by Izmir Smith-Marsette, and rushing and receiving touchdown by Smith-Marsette. It's the first time someone pulled that triple in a bowl game since Deuce McAllister for Ole Miss back in 1998. Iowa also had a pick-six late to close out the game. USC scored just a minute into the third quarter to make it 28-24, but then Iowa's defense shut them out from there, leading to the rout. Iowa's defense allowed only 22 yards rushing on 18 USC carries to get to double-digit wins for the first time since 2015 and only the second time this decade.
• FULL GAME STORY FROM si.com/college/iowa
• WHAT KIRK FERENTZ SAID AFTER THE GAME
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 2-0
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 2-0

Ihmir Smith-Marsette returns a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. (Mandatory credit: USA TODAY SPORTS

Cotton Bowl: Penn State 53, Memphis 39 

• When: Saturday, Dec. 28, Noon ET
  
• Where: AT&T Stadium Arlington, Texas 
• Records: Penn State (11-2), Memphis (12-2)
• Line: Penn State by 7 points
• The skinny: Sophomore running back Journey Brown dashed 32 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, and he finished with a career-high 202 yards on only 16 carries in the offensive explosion. Penn State scored 35 points in the first half alone to finish with 11 wins. Linebacker Micah Parsons might have been the best players on the field. He had 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, one forced interception and one quarterback hit.
• FULL GAME STORY FROM SI.COM
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 3-0
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 3-0

Arlington, Texas, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Micah Parsons (11) and linebacker Jesse Luketa (40) hold up the trophy after the game against the Memphis Tigers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Fiesta Bowl (Playoff): Clemson 29, Ohio State 23  

• When: Saturday, Dec. 28, 8 p.m. ET
  
• Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.
• Records: Ohio State (13-0), Clemson (13-0)
• Line: Clemson by 2 points
• The skinny: This was a game that Buckeyes certainly could have won. Buckeyes fans, coaches and players were whining a lot about the officiating afterward — and they may have had a case — but the Buckeyes also needed to look in the mirror. They kicked three field goals in the red zone in the first half instead of getting touchdowns and it came back to haunt them. “It’s a range of emotions, because even though (bad breaks) were happening we kept overcoming it,” first-year Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “It was like, ‘Don’t worry about it. Just keep playing.’ But when we look back on it it’s going to be overwhelming how those game-altering plays ... you need those to go your way when playing a team like Clemson. Give them credit. They are defending national champs.”
• Gameday preview from si.com/college/ohiostate: Buckeyes must win to prove they are elite.
• Ohio State offense from si.com/college/ohiostate: Fields not impressed with his own record numbers. 
• Ohio State defense from si.com/college/ohiostate: Best effort needed to corral Lawarence, Clemson's high-scoring offense.
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 3-1
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 3-1
• GAME STORY from si.com/college/ohiostate
• COLUMN ON MISSED OPPORTUNITY from si.com/college/ohiostate

Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Chris Olave (17) catches a pass for a touchdown against Clemson Tigers safety Nolan Turner (24) during the fourth quarter in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Redbox Bowl: California 35, Illinois 20

• When: Monday, Dec. 30, 4 p.m. ET
• Where: Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
• Records: Illinois (6-7), California (8-5)
• Line: California by 6 points
• The skinny: Illinois made a nice midseason run to get bowl eligible, reeling off four straight wins that included a shocking upset of Wisconsin. But injuries and poor play have put a damper on  their season, losing their last two regular season games to Iowa and Northwestern and then being dismantled by Cal in the bowl games. The Illini return several starters on both sides of the ball, so 2020 is going to be a huge year for Lovie Smith and his Fighting Illini.
• GAME STORY from si.com/college/illinois: CLICK HERE 
• COLUMN from si.com/college/illinois CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 3-2
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 3-2

Illinois fans didn't have a lot to cheer for in the loss to California. (Mandatory credit: USA TODAY SPORTS)

Citrus Bowl: Alabama 35, Michigan 16

• When: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET
  
• Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Fla.
• Records: Michigan (9-4), Alabama (11-2) 
• Line: Alabama by 7 points
• The skinny: Michigan still cannot beat a top-15 team under Jim Harbaugh. He's still )-for after losing 35-16 on Wednesday in Orlando. Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson wasn't good in his final game as a Wolverine, completing only  17 of 37 attempts for 233 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. 
• VIDEO: Jim Harbaugh postgame CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Michigan can't hang with Alabama CLICK HERE
• COLUMN: Same as ever for Michigan CLICK HERE
• Preview: 3 things to look for from Michigan. CLICK HERE
• Opponent Preview: A look at mighty Alabama CLICK HERE
• Column: 10 things that will happen to Michigan CLICK HERE
• Alabama column: Can Michigan stop pass game? CLICK HERE 
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 3-3
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 3-3

Alabama's Nick Saban got the best of Michigan's Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday in the Citrus Bowl. The Crimson Tide was 35-16

Outback Bowl: Minnesota 31, Auburn 24

• When: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 1 p.m. ET
  
• Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.
• Records: Minnesota (11-2), Auburn (9-4)
• Line: Auburn by 7 points
• The skinny: Minnesota won its 11th game with a big upset over Auburn. This was the first of the Big Ten's seven games where the underdog won. Tyler Johnson had 12 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns to become the Gophers' career receiving leader and Minnesota outrushed the Tigers 215 yards to 56.
• Preview: Breaking it all down CLICK HERE
• Game story: Minnesota upsets Auburn for 11th win CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 4-3
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 4-3

Rose Bowl: Oregon 28, Wisconsin 27  

• When: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 5 p.m. ET
  
• Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif. 
• Records: Wisconsin (10-3), Oregon (11-2)
• Line: Wisconsin by 3 points
• The skinny: 
• Game story: Turnovers haunt Wisconsin CLICK HERE
• Column: Grading out the Badgers CLICK HERE
• Preview: 3 Keys to Wisconsin win CLICK HERE
• Opponent Preview: What to know about Oregon CLICK HERE
• Matchups to Watch: How the game will turn CLICK HERE
• BIG TEN BOWL RECORD: 4-4
• BIG TEN TEAMS VERSUS SPREAD: 4-4

GAMES STILL TO COME

Gator Bowl: Indiana vs. Tennessee 

• When: Thursday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m. ET
  
• Where: TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Fla.
• TV: ESPN
• Records: W Indiana (8-4), Tennessee (7-5)
• Line: Tennessee by 3 points
• Preview: Indiana linebackers ready for 'big boy' football CLICK HERE
• Tom Brew Column: AD made right choice in Tom Allen CLICK HERE
• Postcard1: A luxurious experience CLICK HERE
• Postcard2: Good laughs with golf stop CLICK HERE
• Tom Brew Column: Just how good is Tennessee CLICK HERE
• Sunday Extra: How OL Matt Bedford saved a season CLICK HERE