Current Bowl Possibilities

[Doctor Worm]

Yesterday was indeed the baddest of bad beats. The bowl possibilities are not as attractive as they were 24 hours ago. But hope lingers on.

Let's start with some OPTIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS for Saturday:

1) We beat Sparty. This not only improves our record, it gets them out of the way.

2) Minnesota captures Paul Bunyan's Axe; no bowl for Wisconsin.

3) Indiana holds on to its playoff spot. Unless they drop a nasty deuce into the Old Oaken Bucket, I think they will.

IF (big "if") those assumptions hold, then we have seven bowls:

• Orlando
• Tampa
• Charlotte
• Nashville
• NYC
• Phoenix
• Detroit

And only six teams to fill them:

• Illinois
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• Rutgers

We wind up in Phoenix at worst. I very much doubt the Pinstripe takes us two years in a row.

BUT if you are a PESSIMIST, which after yesterday is quite understandable, then MSU beats us to attain bowl eligibility, and lands in Detroit. Wisconsin beats Minnesota and pushes everything down a slot. Now there are eight teams vying for seven bowls. Maybe nine, if Indiana slides out of the playoffs. If that happens, I can easily see up in a pre-Christmas at-large bowl against a G5 opponent.

There is still much to play for.

 

[RUTrack94]

Book your tickets for Detroit. 8-4. 7-4. 6-6. No matter what that is where the B1G would send us.

 

[Doctor Worm]

Book your tickets for Detroit. 8-4. 7-4. 6-6. No matter what that is where the B1G would send us.

If MSU beats us. and if it comes down to the Detroit bowl choosing between RU or MSU, they will choose MSU.

 

[Knight Shift]

If MSU beats us. and if it comes down to the Detroit bowl choosing between RU or MSU, they will choose MSU.

Yeah, that seems like a no brainer for the bowl in Detroit to sell more tickets.

 

[bigmatt718]

If Minnesota beats Wisconsin, we are a lock for Phoenix IMO no matter what happens vs Sparty. If we win and Wisconsin wins, we go to Detroit. If Wisconsin wins and Sparty wins, we end up in some random Pre Christmas bowl vs a G5 team.

 

[Doctor Worm]

If Minnesota beats Wisconsin, we are a lock for Phoenix IMO no matter what happens vs Sparty. If we win and Wisconsin wins, we go to Detroit. If Wisconsin wins and Sparty wins, we end up in some random Pre Christmas bowl vs a G5 team.

Agree, provided that Indiana holds on to its playoff spot.

 

[King of S]

Book your tickets for Detroit. 8-4. 7-4. 6-6. No matter what that is where the B1G would send us.

No Pinstripe?

 

[Doctor Worm]

No Pinstripe?

I think it is highly unlikely that any B1G team would go to the same non-playoff bowl two years in a row.

 

[Plum Street]

we can’t go to pinstripe 2 years in a row . It’s the rule

The season goal and rallying cry in 2025 will be to get to the pinstripe.

 

[RCBeta79]

If Rutgers loses at MSU, we deserve to go to the Jersey Mike's Bowl at SHI stadium!

 

[Plum Street]

Those pre Christmas bowls are brutal .

If we wind up worse than Detroit , what a disaster

 

[RexMantlepiece]

Those pre Christmas bowls are brutal .

If we wind up worse than Detroit , what a disaster

So after we lost four in a row did you write the season off at that point? If so making any bowl is not a disaster.

 

[Plum Street]

So after we lost four in a row did you write the season off at that point? If so making any bowl is not a disaster.

No , I didn’t.

 

[rutgersal]

we can’t go to pinstripe 2 years in a row . It’s the rule

The season goal and rallying cry in 2025 will be to get to the pinstripe.

It’s a preference, not a rule. As much as possible, they try not to have the same team repeat

 

[SkiBoy]

It’s a preference, not a rule. As much as possible, they try not to have the same team repeat

From the current 6 Years Bowl Contract Cycle (ends after 2025-2026 season) - Official Big Ten Bowl Overview Document:

SELECTION PARAMETERS:

• “Variety Clauses” ensure fresh experiences and bowl destinations for students and fans, and specify the following:
  • Five different teams must appear in six games in the Citrus, ReliaQuest, Music City, and Guaranteed Rate Bowls § Two different teams must appear in three games in the Las Vegas Bowl
  • At least three different teams in four years from 2022 – 2025 in the Pinstripe Bowl, with the goal of four different teams
  • “No Repeat” clauses for Big Ten non-CFP bowl games prohibit consecutive appearances in the same non-CFP bowl game in consecutive seasons
  • Big Ten Conference Handbook (Contract Bowls). 18.7.B.2.: Conference teams invited to participate in a contract bowl are obligated to accept such invitation.

https://storage.googleapis.com/hawkeyesports-com/2023/10/8617e3a0-2023-24-big-ten-bowl-overview.pdf

 

[Plum Street]

It’s a preference, not a rule. As much as possible, they try not to have the same team repeat

The Pinstink would be better than any pre Christmas bowl

 

[bac2therac]

Yesterday was indeed the baddest of bad beats. The bowl possibilities are not as attractive as they were 24 hours ago. But hope lingers on.

Let's start with some OPTIMISTIC ASSUMPTIONS for Saturday:

1) We beat Sparty. This not only improves our record, it gets them out of the way.

2) Minnesota captures Paul Bunyan's Axe; no bowl for Wisconsin.

3) Indiana holds on to its playoff spot. Unless they drop a nasty deuce into the Old Oaken Bucket, I think they will.

IF (big "if") those assumptions hold, then we have seven bowls:

• Orlando
• Tampa
• Charlotte
• Nashville
• NYC
• Phoenix
• Detroit

And only six teams to fill them:

• Illinois
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Nebraska
• Rutgers

We wind up in Phoenix at worst. I very much doubt the Pinstripe takes us two years in a row.

BUT if you are a PESSIMIST, which after yesterday is quite understandable, then MSU beats us to attain bowl eligibility, and lands in Detroit. Wisconsin beats Minnesota and pushes everything down a slot. Now there are eight teams vying for seven bowls. Maybe nine, if Indiana slides out of the playoffs. If that happens, I can easily see up in a pre-Christmas at-large bowl against a G5 opponent.

There is still much to play for.

Detroit picks last....why wouldnt nyc or phoenix pick them

 

[bac2therac]

If Minnesota beats Wisconsin, we are a lock for Phoenix IMO no matter what happens vs Sparty. If we win and Wisconsin wins, we go to Detroit. If Wisconsin wins and Sparty wins, we end up in some random Pre Christmas bowl vs a G5 team.

um Phoenix would take 6-6 Michigan State over Rutgers

 

[bigmatt718]

Detroit picks last....why wouldnt nyc or phoenix pick them

Minnesota vs Wisconsin basically will tell us where we go for the bowl game. Root for the Gophers as we will be a lock for Phoenix even if we lose to MSU.

 

[bac2therac]

If MSU beats us. and if it comes down to the Detroit bowl choosing between RU or MSU, they will choose MSU.

msu would be off the table by then

 

[bigmatt718]

um Phoenix would take 6-6 Michigan State over Rutgers

Heard Detroit wants MSU if they win. Dont think these bowls dont make lobbying deals with one another.

 

[bac2therac]

Minnesota vs Wisconsin basically will tell us where we go for the bowl game. Root for the Gophers as we will be a lock for Phoenix even if we lose to MSU.

wrong....nyc can pick sparty or phoenix can pick sparty

 

[bac2therac]

Heard Detroit wants MSU if they win. Dont think these bowls make lobbying deals with one another.

we shall see since they are the lowest in the pecking order, not so sure phoenix is enamored of 6-6 rutgers and pinstripe likely would take msu over minny that would put ru/minny in contention for detroit

 

[mdk01]

Those pre Christmas bowls are brutal .

If we wind up worse than Detroit , what a disaster

RU fans weren't saying that in 2018 & 2019.

 

[SkiBoy]

we shall see since they are the lowest in the pecking order, not so sure phoenix is enamored of 6-6 rutgers and pinstripe likely would take msu over minny that would put ru/minny in contention for detroit

Minny played in Detroit last year so that's not happening this year.

 

[JayDogSmooth]

Obviously, I hope he win Saturday but if we lose, I’m hoping for Boca Raton

 

[Plum Street]

RU fans weren't saying that in 2018 & 2019.

Nope . Some were saying fire ash .
The real brilliant ones were saying in 2015 don’t even hire ash

 

[NickRU714]

we can’t go to pinstripe 2 years in a row . It’s the rule

The season goal and rallying cry in 2025 will be to get to the pinstripe.

With 4 games against OSU, PSU, Oregon and Iowa next year - that very well could be near the top of the preseason expectations.
6-6 and return to Pinstripe Bowl.

Don't think there will be any "Rutgers could be a darkhorse CFP team" articles.

 

[Plum Street]

With 4 games against OSU, PSU, Oregon and Iowa next year - that very well could be near the top of the preseason expectations.
6-6 and return to Pinstripe Bowl.

Don't think there will be any "Rutgers could be a darkhorse CFP team" articles.

The goal next year will once again make the pinstink
We willl be a darkhorse Pinstink bowl candidate