Overview
- Kickoff times and venues are set: GameAbove Sports Bowl at 1 p.m. ET from Ford Field and the Rate Bowl at 4:30 p.m. ET from Chase Field, with national TV on ESPN and streaming via the ESPN app and services like Fubo.
- Sportsbooks list Northwestern as a double-digit favorite over Central Michigan (roughly -10.5 to -12.5) and Minnesota as a narrow favorite over New Mexico (about -1.5 to -3), with totals near 43–44.5.
- Minnesota enters with an eight-game bowl winning streak, the nation’s longest active run and the best in Big Ten history, as P.J. Fleck looks to extend the program’s postseason surge.
- New Mexico arrives 9–3 under first-year coach Jason Eck on a six-game win streak and is seeking the program’s first 10-win season since 1982.
- The Detroit matchup is the latest iteration of the long-running Motor City/Little Caesars/Quick Lane bowl, and New Mexico reached the Phoenix game via the Mountain West backup tie-in after a Big 12 spot opened when Iowa State declined to participate.