Today is the day football programs find out where they're headed. A look at what to expect:
Bowl projections for Big Ten, College Football Playoff
THE GOPHERS
Here are five possible bowl destinations, in order of appeal:
BowlInfoPossible opponents
CitrusJan. 1, Orlando; noon.Missouri, Georgia, Auburn
OutbackJan. 1, Tampa, Fla.; 11 a.m.Missouri, Georgia, Auburn
HolidayDec. 27, San Diego; 7 p.m.USC, UCLA
Foster FarmsDec. 30, Santa Clara, Calif.; 9 p.m.Arizona State, Stanford
TaxSlayerJan. 2, Jacksonville, Fla.; 2:20 p.m.Auburn, LSU
Our best guess at college football's first final four:
Rose BowlJan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.; 4 p.m.No. 2 Oregon vs. No. 3 Florida State
Sugar BowlJan. 1, New Orleans; 7:30 p.m.No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Title gameJan. 12, Arlington, TexasSemis winners
Non-playoff CFP bowls
Peach BowlDec. 31, Atlanta, 11:30 a.m.Miss. State vs. TCU
Fiesta BowlDec. 31, Glendale, Ariz.; 3 p.m.Arizona vs. Boise State
Orange BowlDec. 31, Miami; 7 p.m.Michigan St. vs. Ga. Tech
Cotton BowlJan. 1, Arlington, Texas; 11:30 a.m.Ole Miss vs. Baylor
Other Big Ten projections
Heart of DallasDec. 26, Dallas; noonRutgers vs. Louisiana Tech
Quick LaneDec. 26, Detroit; 3:30 p.m.Maryland vs. N.C. State
HolidayDec. 27, San Diego; 7 p.m.Wisconsin vs. Southern Cal
PinstripeDec. 27, New York; 3:30 p.m.Penn State vs. Boston Coll.
Foster FarmsDec. 30, Santa Clara, Calif.; 9 p.m.Iowa vs. Stanford
OutbackJan. 1, Tampa, Fla.; 11 a.m.Nebraska vs. Missouri
TaxSlayerJan. 2, Jacksonville, Fla.; 2:20 p.m.Gophers vs. Auburn
Notes: If a Big Ten team is selected for the Orange Bowl, an ACC team will fill the Citrus Bowl slot. … A Big Ten team will be placed in either the TaxSlayer or Music City Bowl (Dec. 30, Nashville). … The Big Ten has 10 bowl-eligible teams, and one school (possibly Illinois) likely will be left out.
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The Spartans dominated and the Gophers’ scoring struggles showed in a 90-72 loss at Williams Arena.