2025 Bowl Projection Tracker

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Some guy said:
If I had to guess
I think you are correct.

The thing that throws it off is if Nashville or Vegas really prefers Nebraska in spite of head to head and standings

The way the teams should really be ranked for selection based on standings and head to head are:
1) Illinois
2) Minnesota
3) Nebraska
4) northwestern
5) Penn state

Amongst the 4….

Illinois 8-4 (5-4) and 1-0
Minnesota 7-5 (5-4) and 1-1
Nebraska 7-5 (4-5) and 1-2 (beat northwestern)
Northwestern 6-6 (4-5) and 2-2
Penn state 6-6 (3-6) and 1-1

Everyone beat each other…so you probably go by conference record (1) and where that is a tie you chose head to head to get the above order

Obviously it’s not a straight up draft
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Agree that if Vegas gets wild and wants a Nebraska or a Penn State, it’s a problem because Rate and Stripe shouldn’t prefer us to repeat, which brings Above back into the chat! 😂😂😂
 

toma0045 said:
Agree that if Vegas gets wild and wants a Nebraska or a Penn State, it’s a problem because Rate and Stripe shouldn’t prefer us to repeat, which brings Above back into the chat! 😂😂😂
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Yes. But it isn’t all bowl’s choice
Conference has a large say

The conference probably wouldn’t like a team with a winning conference record in the worst bowl
 

The one unknown is with the bowls all getting renegotiated this off-season, what is the Big Ten's preference for who they renew with? For instance, if the conference knows they're pretty much done with Pinstripe then they have no incentive to give that bowl a competitive game. But if they want to renew with Vegas then they have a lot of incentive to cater to that bowls wishes.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
The one unknown is with the bowls all getting renegotiated this off-season, what is the Big Ten's preference for who they renew with? For instance, if the conference knows they're pretty much done with Pinstripe then they have no incentive to give that bowl a competitive game. But if they want to renew with Vegas then they have a lot of incentive to cater to that bowls wishes.
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From one standpoint.....sure. From another......the Big Ten and the SEC are simply more attractive conferences to partner with......so I think the Big Ten holds plenty of cards here regardless.
 




Since these are the last projections with selection Sunday coming up, here's the tally for how many times each bowl was listed for Minnesota this season.
  • Rate Bowl: 32
  • Music City Bowl: 30
  • Pinstripe Bowl: 20
  • Sports Bowl: 18
  • Frisco Bowl: 3
  • Las Vegas Bowl: 3
  • Armed Forces Bowl: 1
  • Birmingham Bowl: 1
  • Citrus Bowl: 1
  • Gator Bowl: 1
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
The one unknown is with the bowls all getting renegotiated this off-season, what is the Big Ten's preference for who they renew with? For instance, if the conference knows they're pretty much done with Pinstripe then they have no incentive to give that bowl a competitive game. But if they want to renew with Vegas then they have a lot of incentive to cater to that bowls wishes.
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B1G should just make their own bowl games….
 






My prediction is Rate Bowl is going to pick a Nebraska vs K-State match-up for old time sake and ticket sales. I then think Minnesota goes to either Music or Vegas depending on who takes Illinois. This one is tricky as many mentioned Music City, Illinois vs Missouri would be interesting. If LSU or Tennessee gets picked it will be Minnesota and Illinois will play Utah in Vegas.
 



BigSchmidty17 said:
My prediction is Rate Bowl is going to pick a Nebraska vs K-State match-up for old time sake and ticket sales. I then think Minnesota goes to either Music or Vegas depending on who takes Illinois. This one is tricky as many mentioned Music City, Illinois vs Missouri would be interesting. If LSU or Tennessee gets picked it will be Minnesota and Illinois will play Utah in Vegas.
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Only issue is the bowls dont pick the teams. The conference assigns them.
 

gopherbadgerman said:
Only issue is the bowls dont pick the teams. The conference assigns them.
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I don't believe that's completely true either. My understanding is the league works with the bowls to "council" them on some picks and to avoid repeats. Something like, "ok, you can have Michigan, Iowa or Illinois, but remember, Iowa was here 2 years ago.".
Then again, I'm not 100% sure on anything anymore.😁🤔
 

For those of you sharing links to bowl projections placing the Gophers in New York for the Pinstripe Bowl, don't forget: The Gophers are also slated to likely participate in the Pinstripe bowl after the 2026, 2027, 2028, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2035, 2036, 2037, and 2038 seasons. After that the name of the Pinstripe Bowl changes to the Ski U Mah bowl and the predictions get a little hazy.
 



Roland Brooks said:
Hearing Rate Bowl
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Yeah, just trolling other fan boards, I’m starting to think it’s Rate as well. Nebraska seems to think they’re nearly a lock for Vegas, although Illinois is in the cards…but whichever team doesn’t get Vegas is in Nashville.

Another year, another “whichever bowl is the absolute lowest you could imagine Minnesota being placed is where they’ll end up.” Whatever.
 

MGGopher said:
Yeah, just trolling other fan boards, I’m starting to think it’s Rate as well. Nebraska seems to think they’re nearly a lock for Vegas, although Illinois is in the cards…but whichever team doesn’t get Vegas is in Nashville.

Another year, another “whichever bowl is the absolute lowest you could imagine Minnesota being placed is where they’ll end up.” Whatever.
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The gophers could pretty easily be in Detroit this year based on falling to rate and losing head to head to northwestern

So I advise you to stop tempting fate lol
 

gopherbadgerman said:
Only issue is the bowls dont pick the teams. The conference assigns them.
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The conference offers some guidelines and the bowls ultimately pick the teams based on those guidelines and contracts. Here are the likely conversations this week broken down to simplest terms (somewhat tongue in cheek):

Big Ten to the Citrus: You can't pick Illinois. So, who do you want?
Citrus: Michigan.
Big Ten: Okay.

Big Ten to Tampa: You can't pick Illinois, either. So who do you want?
Tampa: Iowa.
Big Ten: Sounds good.

Big Ten to Vegas: You're mostly wide open, which 7-5 or 8-4 do you want?
Vegas: Nebraska.
Big Ten: That works.

Big Ten to Music City: You can't take Iowa, but they're off the board already. Who do you want?
Music City: Illinois.
Big Ten: Okey Dokie.

Big Ten to Pinstripe: We have a few markers to hit here, Penn State, Minnesota, Northwestern left. Minnesota was there in 2022. Penn State is closest distance, so how about the Nittany Lions?
Pinstripe: Yes, we want Penn State.
Big Ten: Makes sense.

Big Ten to Phoenix: Minnesota?
Phoenix: Yep.
Big Ten: Enjoy.

Big Ten to Detroit: Congrats on getting Northwestern for the first time in 22 years.
 
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Schnauzer said:
For those of you sharing links to bowl projections placing the Gophers in New York for the Pinstripe Bowl, don't forget: The Gophers are also slated to likely participate in the Pinstripe bowl after the 2026, 2027, 2028, 2030, 2031, 2032, 2033, 2035, 2036, 2037, and 2038 seasons. After that the name of the Pinstripe Bowl changes to the Ski U Mah bowl and the predictions get a little hazy.
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What happens in 2029 and 2034?
 

tjgopher said:
The conference offers some guidelines and the bowls ultimately pick the teams based on those guidelines and contracts. Here are the likely conversations this week broken down to simplest terms (somewhat tongue in cheek):

Big Ten to the Citrus: You can't pick Illinois. So, who do you want?
Citrus: Michigan.
Big Ten: Okay.

Big Ten to Tampa: You can't pick Illinois, either. So who do you want?
Tampa: Iowa.
Big Ten: Sounds good.

Big Ten to Vegas: You're mostly wide open, which 7-5 or 8-4 do you want?
Vegas: Nebraska.
Big Ten: That works.

Big Ten to Music City: You can't take Iowa, but they're off the board already. Who do you want?
Music City: Illinois.
Big Ten: Okey Dokie.

Big Ten to Pinstripe: We have a few markers to hit here, Penn State, Minnesota, Northwestern left. Minnesota was there in 2022. Penn State is closest distance, so how about the Nittany Lions?
Pinstripe: Yes, we want Penn State.
Big Ten: Makes sense.

Big Ten to Phoenix: Minnesota?
Phoenix: Yep.
Big Ten: Enjoy.

Big Ten to Detroit: Congrats on getting Northwestern for the first time in 22 years.
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Entertaining and probably true.
 



The Deliberate Stranger said:
We will have a tougher schedule but a lot of our opponents will be interesting. UCLA at home they'll have a new coach, NW at home, Michigan at home, it'll take a strong effort but their offense a tier or two below playoff contenders. Iowa I'll be honest I can't pick us until we show they are not in our heads.
@Indiana, have to give Cignatti the benefit of the doubt that he will have it figured out, my hope is we play them early on. @Maryland, obviously the later the better with them but I imagine Locksley will be a dead man walking. @Penn State new coach so who knows what they'll look like. @Washington, tough place to go too but will they have a new coach too? @Wisconsin I don't think Fickell will be coaching that game. Non con is a garbage Mississippi State team, Akron and I am not sure if it's Albeline Christian or Eastern Illinois coming in next year, but we should win all three
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Calling it now… Gophers will be in the CFP conversation vs which bowl game debate next year!
 


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