Bowl season is here! Minnesota and Northwestern will both be going bowling this year.
The Golden Gophers and Wildcats wrapped up their regular seasons against each other, but that wasn’t the end of their 2024 campaigns. Both Big Ten squads punched their tickets to bowl games, and Sunday brought the official announcements of where they’ll be spending their holidays.
Minnesota Heads to Rate Bowl
The Golden Gophers are packing their bags for the Rate Bowl on December 26th. They’ll square off against New Mexico in what should be a solid matchup between programs looking to cap off their seasons on a high note.
Minnesota’s trip to a bowl game shows the steady progress under their current regime. Getting to bowl season is never guaranteed in the brutal Big Ten, so this represents a successful campaign for the Gophers.
The 4 p.m. ET kickoff gives fans plenty of time to digest their Christmas dinner before settling in for some football.
Northwestern Gets GameAbove Sports Bowl
The Wildcats drew the GameAbove Sports Bowl, also on December 26th, where they’ll face MAC opponent Central Michigan.
Northwestern’s bowl berth is particularly impressive considering the program’s recent struggles. Making it to bowl season demonstrates the team’s resilience and ability to compete in one of college football’s toughest conferences.
Their 1 p.m. ET kickoff means Northwestern will get the earlier slot on what’s shaping up to be a busy day of bowl action.
Boxing Day Double-Header
Both teams playing on the same date creates an interesting dynamic for Big Ten fans. You can catch Northwestern’s battle with Central Michigan in the early afternoon, then stick around for Minnesota’s clash with New Mexico later in the day.
The fact that both programs made bowl games after facing each other to close the regular season shows the competitive balance in the Big Ten. Neither team was blown out of contention – they both found ways to accumulate enough wins to earn postseason invitations.
These bowl games represent more than just extra football. They’re opportunities for both programs to build momentum heading into the offseason and give their players valuable experience on a bigger stage.
**What’s Next:** Keep an eye on the betting lines for both games. Minnesota likely enters as favorites against New Mexico, while Northwestern’s matchup with Central Michigan could be more of a toss-up. Both games should provide entertaining action for college football fans looking to extend their season just a bit longer.
