The 2023 Rose Bowl Game will be the 109th edition of The Granddaddy of Them All and will feature a traditional matchup of the Big Ten against the Pac-12.

In what is known as a "traditional" Rose Bowl Game year, like the 2022-23 college football season, the Rose Bowl Game is contractually obligated to feature the Pac-12 Conference Champion and the Big Ten Conference Champion. The contract, known as a tri-party agreement, is between the Tournament of Roses, Big Ten, and Pac-12. It is the longest consecutive bowl and conference agreement in college football, dating back to 1946, and was first executed in the 1947 Rose Bowl Game.

In both the former Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and now in the College Football Playoff (CFP), if Pac-12 or Big Ten Conference Champion is selected to the National Championship or National Semifinals, that team is released to play in that game and the Tournament of Roses selects a replacement team.

In the past, the Tournament of Roses selected replacement teams like the University of Oklahoma (2003), University of Texas (2005, 2006), or Texas Christian University (2010) to play in the Rose Bowl Game. Now, however, in the CFP-system, the Tournament of Roses may only select a replacement team from its partner conferences (Big Ten and Pac-12).

Should a team from the Big Ten or Pac-12 be selected to play in the College Football Playoff, the Tournament of Roses will traditionally select the next-highest CFP-ranked team from that conference.

What makes the 2023 version of the Rose Bowl Game unique is that it will be played on January 2 rather than on New Year's Day. The Tournament of Roses has had a "Never on a Sunday" clause dating back to the early Rose Parades in the late 1800's. The 2023 game will mark the 15th occasion of a Rose Bowl Game on January 2. 

The 109th Rose Bowl Game will be the second traditional game in a row, following the thrilling 48-45 victory by Ohio State over Utah in the 2022 edition of The Granddaddy of Them All. The 110th Rose Bowl Game will be a CFP Semifinal, the fourth semifinal hosted by the Rose Bowl Game.