Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
You asked for them. Now you've got them.
I'm actually glad we waited this long before projecting the postseason in the Big Ten. After Saturday's insanity, the league's bowl picture changed significantly. Ohio State has suddenly emerged as the front-runner for the Rose Bowl after its big win at Penn State and Iowa's crushing loss to Northwestern. The Buckeyes seem to be peaking at the perfect time and are a win away from their fifth consecutive Big Ten title.
The Big Ten has had two BCS bowl entries in each of the last four seasons, but the streak is in jeopardy after Penn State's loss. It would be hard to see a two-loss Penn State team, a two-loss Iowa team or a three-loss Ohio State team getting a BCS at-large berth. Wisconsin is in great shape for the No. 4 bowl, but after that it gets messy. The Michigan State-Purdue game next week could be a bowl play-in game.
A few things to keep in mind: a 6-6 team can be selected ahead of a 7-5 team as long as the 7-5 team is guaranteed a Big Ten bowl tie-in. All bowls except the Insight and Little Caesar's Pizza cannot select a team with two fewer wins than the team above it in the standings.
Check out the full bowl schedule as well as ESPN.com's bowl projections.
Bowl eligible teams: Iowa (9-1), Ohio State (8-2), Penn State (8-2), Wisconsin (7-2), Northwestern (6-4)
Here's how I see things shaking out right now.
You asked for them. Now you've got them.
I'm actually glad we waited this long before projecting the postseason in the Big Ten. After Saturday's insanity, the league's bowl picture changed significantly. Ohio State has suddenly emerged as the front-runner for the Rose Bowl after its big win at Penn State and Iowa's crushing loss to Northwestern. The Buckeyes seem to be peaking at the perfect time and are a win away from their fifth consecutive Big Ten title.
The Big Ten has had two BCS bowl entries in each of the last four seasons, but the streak is in jeopardy after Penn State's loss. It would be hard to see a two-loss Penn State team, a two-loss Iowa team or a three-loss Ohio State team getting a BCS at-large berth. Wisconsin is in great shape for the No. 4 bowl, but after that it gets messy. The Michigan State-Purdue game next week could be a bowl play-in game.
A few things to keep in mind: a 6-6 team can be selected ahead of a 7-5 team as long as the 7-5 team is guaranteed a Big Ten bowl tie-in. All bowls except the Insight and Little Caesar's Pizza cannot select a team with two fewer wins than the team above it in the standings.
Check out the full bowl schedule as well as ESPN.com's bowl projections.
Bowl eligible teams: Iowa (9-1), Ohio State (8-2), Penn State (8-2), Wisconsin (7-2), Northwestern (6-4)
Here's how I see things shaking out right now.
- Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi: Ohio State vs. BCS
- Capital One Bowl: Iowa vs. SEC
- Outback Bowl: Penn State vs. SEC
- Champs Sports: Wisconsin vs. ACC
- Valero Alamo: Michigan State vs. Big 12
- Insight: Northwestern vs. Big 12
- Little Caesar's: Minnesota vs. MAC
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
BIG TEN SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 11/21
13:26 1st Qtr 16 Wisconsin 0 Northwestern 0 15:00 1st Qtr Purdue 0 Indiana 0 13:25 1st Qtr 14 Penn State 0 Michigan State 0 Final 10 Ohio State 21 Michigan 10 Final Minnesota 0 13 Iowa 12
