Looks like we're down to only 3 Bowl options at this point. Obviously winning in Indianapolis means a trip to the Rose Bowl, but if we lose to Wisconsin, we're down to either the Capital One or the Outback.
Why? Big Ten rules prevent a bowl from selecting a team that is +/- 2 wins away from the next best choice. In other words, they could pass on an 8-win team for a 7-win team, but could not select a 6-win team because it's 2 or more games difference in record.
As a refresher, here's the final Big Ten standings. The conference has 5 teams eligible for bowls, minus Ohio State and Penn State (probation). Note that Nebraska and Wisconsin have two options each, based on winning/losing the CCG:
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Best case, we win the conference and head to the Rose Bowl. If we lose the CCG, however, we'll be still be 10-3. The Capital One bowl could in theory pass on us for Northwestern, meaning we fall to the Outback. But Michigan's non-con losses are haunting them now. They cannot go to a "better" bowl than Nebraska.
The Capital One is praying for a Nebraska win. If the Huskers lose, they can pass on Northwestern and pick Michigan - who draws large national crowds. If the Huskers lose, they'll want to avoid a repeat and probably be pigeon-holed into picking Northwestern.
Why? Big Ten rules prevent a bowl from selecting a team that is +/- 2 wins away from the next best choice. In other words, they could pass on an 8-win team for a 7-win team, but could not select a 6-win team because it's 2 or more games difference in record.
As a refresher, here's the final Big Ten standings. The conference has 5 teams eligible for bowls, minus Ohio State and Penn State (probation). Note that Nebraska and Wisconsin have two options each, based on winning/losing the CCG:
| Team | Record |
| Nebraska | 11-2 / 10-3* |
| Northwestern | 9-3 |
| Michigan | 8-4 |
| Wisconsin | 8-5 / 7-6* |
| Michigan State | 6-6 |
| Purdue | 6-6 |
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Best case, we win the conference and head to the Rose Bowl. If we lose the CCG, however, we'll be still be 10-3. The Capital One bowl could in theory pass on us for Northwestern, meaning we fall to the Outback. But Michigan's non-con losses are haunting them now. They cannot go to a "better" bowl than Nebraska.
The Capital One is praying for a Nebraska win. If the Huskers lose, they can pass on Northwestern and pick Michigan - who draws large national crowds. If the Huskers lose, they'll want to avoid a repeat and probably be pigeon-holed into picking Northwestern.
