The most wonderful time of the year is upon us: and it’s not Christmas. Bowl season in college football has officially begun, and this year’s games are as exciting as ever.

Nine Big Ten teams, including the upstart Michigan State Spartans, will play in bowl games starting on Dec. 19 and ending with the National Championship game on Jan. 11.

Led by Big Ten quarterback of the year Connor Cook, the Spartans will face SEC foe Alabama in the semifinal round of the College football playoff on December 31^st.

“We’ve got exactly the opportunity that we’ve worked so hard for since last February,” said MSU coach Mark Dantonio in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

With five teams finishing in the top 15 in the final playoff rankings, Michigan State looks to bring home yet another title from the conference.

The Spartans propelled themselves into the playoff with a clutch win on Dec. 5 over the previously fourth ranked Iowa Hawkeyes.

“I think it showed a lot about the grit that Michigan State’s team has and the resiliency they played with to convert third downs, make plays when they needed to make them,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban in an interview with USA Today.

Saban, the former Spartan head coach, will be in his second consecutive College Football Playoff, losing to Ohio State the previous year. What intrigues many is which conference is the best in College Football.

Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa and even Indiana are amongst the eight other teams from the mighty Big Ten playing in bowl games.