Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, December 10, 2015

The Big Ten has 10 teams in bowl games, with Michigan State vs. Alabama (Cotton), Iowa vs. Stanford (Rose) and Ohio State vs. Notre Dame (Fiesta) leading the way. And there will be no shortage of quality opponents for conference schools to contend with.

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Heading the list are the top running backs in the nation in Alabama?s Derrick Henry and Stanford?s Christian McCaffrey, who are No. 1 and No. 2-respectively-in the nation in rushing. Henry has 1,986 yards rushing, while McCaffrey has 1,847. It?s no wonder that each is a Heisman finalist. Michigan State will have to deal with Henry in the Cotton Bowl, while Iowa will try to contain McCaffrey–also a boffo return man–in the Rose Bowl.

Another offensive stud to watch is USC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has 85 catches for 1,389 yards and 10 TDs. Only two players in the nation have more receiving yards. Can Wisconsin contain him in the Holiday Bowl? And OSU will have to deal with Notre Dame?s Will Fuller, who has made 56 grabs for 1,145 yards and 13 scores. Can Buckeye corner Eli Apple and his buddies keep Fuller in check?

The defense is led by Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith, who won the Butkus Award as the nation?s top linebacker. Smith leads the Fighting Irish with 113 tackles (68 solos) and paces the team with five pass breakups. He also is third with nine tackles for loss. Smith will look to slow down Ezekiel Elliott and Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Alabama?s Reggie Ragland also is a special player who was a Butkus finalist. Can MSU block him?

In addition to the Cotton, Rose and Fiesta Bowls, the Big Ten has Michigan in the Citrus (vs. Florida); Northwestern in the Outback (Tennessee); Penn State in the TaxSlayer (Georgia); Wisconsin in the Holiday (USC); Nebraska in the Foster Farms (UCLA); Indiana in the Pinstripe (Duke); Minnesota in the Quick Lane (Central Michigan).

Here is my All-Big Ten Bowl Opponent Team

OFFENSE
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, USC
WR Will Fuller, Notre Dame
TE Austin Hooper, Stanford
L Joshua Garnett, Stanford
L Ryan Kelly, Alabama
L Zach Banner, USC
L Kyle Murphy, Stanford
L Matt Skura, Duke
QB Cooper Rush, Central Michigan
RB Derrick Henry, Alabama
RB Christian McCaffrey, Stanford

DEFENSE
L Jonathan Bullard, Florida
L A?Shawn Robinson, Alabama
L Sheldon Day, Notre Dame
L Kenny Clark, UCLA
LB Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
LB Reggie Ragland, Alabama
LB Blake Martinez, Stanford
DB Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida
DB Eddie Jackson, Alabama
DB Jeremy Cash, Duke
DB Adoree? Jackson, USC

SPECIAL TEAMS
K Ross Martin, Duke
P Johnny Townsend, Florida
KR Christian McCaffrey, Stanford