B1G currently has 8 bowl eligible teams, 3 eliminated, and 3 on the bubble at 5-6. The three bubble teams are:
Nebraska - vs. Iowa on Friday
Illinois - vs. Northwestern on Saturday
Minnesota - vs. Wisconsin on Saturday.
If all three, or even two, of the bubble teams qualify for a bowl, that could be bad news for Rutgers, especially if we lose on Saturday.
Let's hypothesize that all three bubble teams win at home next weekend, making 11 bowl eligibles. Let's further assume Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State all go NY6. One of those three teams is placed in the Orange Bowl, which takes the Reliaquest out of play. That leaves the following pecking order:
4) Cheez-It Citrus in Orlando - let's say they take Iowa. Now we're down to one 7-5 team (w/o RU-MD) and a bunch of 6-6.
5) Music City in Nashville - I think they go brand name with Wisconsin.
6) Las Vegas Bowl - They too go brand name with Nebraska, who will fill the stadium.
Now it gets dicey. Five teams still on the board: RU, MD, Minn, Illinois, and Northwestern.
7) Pinstripe - Winner of RU/MD. Hopefully RU. If not...
8) Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix - Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe loser of RU/MD. But if not...
9) Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit - I think this bowl in B1G country takes a "traditional" B1G team.
And that's it. Under this scenario, two B1G teams will be relegated to pre-Christmas ESPN-owned bowls against G5 opposition.
It would be very helpful if at least two of the bubble teams (preferably Nebraska) lose next weekend. It would be even more helpful if we beat Maryland.
Nebraska - vs. Iowa on Friday
Illinois - vs. Northwestern on Saturday
Minnesota - vs. Wisconsin on Saturday.
If all three, or even two, of the bubble teams qualify for a bowl, that could be bad news for Rutgers, especially if we lose on Saturday.
Let's hypothesize that all three bubble teams win at home next weekend, making 11 bowl eligibles. Let's further assume Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State all go NY6. One of those three teams is placed in the Orange Bowl, which takes the Reliaquest out of play. That leaves the following pecking order:
4) Cheez-It Citrus in Orlando - let's say they take Iowa. Now we're down to one 7-5 team (w/o RU-MD) and a bunch of 6-6.
5) Music City in Nashville - I think they go brand name with Wisconsin.
6) Las Vegas Bowl - They too go brand name with Nebraska, who will fill the stadium.
Now it gets dicey. Five teams still on the board: RU, MD, Minn, Illinois, and Northwestern.
7) Pinstripe - Winner of RU/MD. Hopefully RU. If not...
8) Guaranteed Rate Bowl in Phoenix - Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe loser of RU/MD. But if not...
9) Quick Lane Bowl in Detroit - I think this bowl in B1G country takes a "traditional" B1G team.
And that's it. Under this scenario, two B1G teams will be relegated to pre-Christmas ESPN-owned bowls against G5 opposition.
It would be very helpful if at least two of the bubble teams (preferably Nebraska) lose next weekend. It would be even more helpful if we beat Maryland.
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