No need to add Purdue, Michigan or Ohio St to this discussion
This is where the 11 middle teams stand below 1)Purdue
6 left...
Nebraska(17-8, 7-7) H 7-0, R 0-7 / 3-5, 3-3, 4-0, 7-13 to 13-7
H vs 85 MN, 86 RU, 98 PSU, R @ 72 OSU, 100 IND, 111 UM
7 left...
Wisconsin(16-8, 8-5) H 5-1 R 3-4 / 6-5 4-3 1-0, 8-12 to 15-5
H vs 72 OSU, 82 MD, 14 ILL, 86 RU, R @ 65 Iowa, 100 IND, 2 PUR
Mich St(15-9, 7-6) H 6-1 R 1-5 / 3-7 2-2 6-0, 7-13 to 14-6
H vs 65 Iowa, 72 OSU, vs NW, R @ 98 PSU, 111 UM, @ PUR, 100 IND
Indiana(14-10, 6-7) H 4-2 R 2-5 / 1-8 3-1 5-1, 6-14 to 13-7
H vs 55 NW. 53 NEB, 21 Wisc, 23 MSU, R @ 98 PSU, 82 MD, 85 MN
Maryland(13-11, 5-8) H 3-3 R 2-5 / 2-6 2-2 2-3, 5-15 to 12-8
H vs 65 Iowa, 14 ILL, 55 NW, 100 IND, R @ 21 Wisc, 86 RU, 100 IND
***Ohio St 14-10, 4-9) Q1/2 1-9 & Mich(8-16, 3-10) Q1/2 5-12, 0% chance***
8 or 9 left... NW PSU MN and Iowa playing today,
Illinois(17-6, 8-4) H 5-1 R 3-3 / 3-5 4-0 5-1, 8-12 to 16-4
H 111 UM, 65 Iowa, 85 MN, 2 PUR, R 82 MD, 98 PSU, 21 Wisc, 65 Iowa
Northwest'n(16-7, 7-5) H 6-0 R 1-5 / 4-5 3-1 3-0, 7-13 to 15-5
H 98 PSU, 111 UM, 65 Iowa, 85 MN, R 86 RU, 100 IND, 82 MD, 23 MSU
Minnesota(15-7, 6-5) H 4-2 R 2-3 / 1-3 4-3 1-1, 6-14 to 15-5
H 86 RU, 72 OSU, 98 PSU, 100 IND, *R 65 Iowa, 2 PUR, 53 NEB, 14 ILL, 53 NW*
Penn St(12-11, 6-6) H 4-2 R 2-4 / 1-5 4-3 2-2, 6-14 to 14-6
H 23 MSU, 14 ILL, 100 IND, 82 MD, R 55 NW, 53 NEB, 65 Iowa, 85 MN
Iowa(13-10, 5-7) H 3-3 R 2-4 / 0-6 5-2 1-2, 5-15 to 13-7
H 85 MN, 21 Wisc, 98 PSU, 14 ILL, R 82 MD, 23 MSU, 14 ILL, 55 NW
Rutgers(13-1, 5-7) H 3-3 R 2-4 / 2-8 3-1 2-1, 5-15 to 13-7
H 55 NW, 82 MD, 111 UM, 72 OSU, R 85 MN, 2 PUR, 53 NEB, 21 Wisc
It would take a total collapse for 2)Illinois, 3)Wisconsin or 4)Mich St to miss with their remaining schedule. 5)Northwestern is comfortably in the 5th spot with their remaining schedule and Q1/2 record.
6)Nebraska easiest remaining schedule but can only hurt their resume. Nebraska needs 2 of 3 road(1-7), which means at least 5-2, 2 road wins, 1 home loss or 6-1 finish. All 7 games will be Q2 or Q3, Q1 3-5 is there unless 21 Wisc or 23 Mich St falls below 30.
7)Minnesota the hardest 5 road games left could easily lose all 5, wins @ Mich and @ PSU only, they will lose again at home, not looking good
8)Indiana has the hardest home schedule left, and a 2-5 road record, not looking good either.
9)Maryland & 10)Penn St their home courts are horrible, not sure if their is enough winnable games left for either.
11) Iowa has no Q1 wins but 5 opportunities at Q1s, and 1 Q2, I would think they need Q1 3-2 and no more Q3 losses(1-2) to have a chance but they haven't been consistent enough this year that all of this happens.
Our schedule sets up nicely to become the 6th team if we can get to 19. I don't trust Nebraska staying in unless they win 2 of 3 road games and they have looked horrible on the road. 2019-20 Rutgers was 2-9 road, lost 1 by 12, 8 single digit losses, 0-1 neutral. Nebraska has lost 5 of 7 by double digits, 1-0 neutral vs Q3 171 Oregón St.