The Big Ten conference regular season ended on Saturday with 10 teams winning at least six game to be bowl eligible. According to the latest bowl projections from College Football News, there will be enough bowl games to go around for all 10 teams, despite four teams (Ohio State, Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois) finishing with a 6-6 record.
Illinois finished 2-6 in the Big Ten losing their last six games. The Fighting Illini may play in a bowl game, but coach Ron Zook won't be coaching after being fired today. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning will take over on an interim basis.
At the top of the conference, Wisconsin and Michigan State will play for a berth in the Rose Bowl at next Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis. CFN has the loser missing out on the BCS and projects Wisconsin to win and meet Oregon in the Rose Bowl. That leaves the Spartans in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando to play against Arkansas.
Michigan is sitting sweet in third place with a 10-2 record, which keeps the Wolverines projected to land a BCS at-large bid in the Sugar Bowl against the Houston Cougars.
Here is how College Football News projects bowl games for the Big Ten:
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Dec. 27 in Detroit, MI, 4:30PM
Northern Illinois vs. Northwestern
Insight Bowl - Dec. 30 in Tempe, AZ, 10:00PM
Ohio State vs. Baylor
Meineke Car Care Bowl - Dec. 31 in Houston, TX, 12:00PM
Iowa vs. Texas
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl - Dec. 31 in San Francisco, CA, 3:30PM
UCLA vs. Illinois
Ticket City Bowl - Jan. 2 in Dallas,TX, 12:00PM
Purdue vs. Iowa State
Gator Bowl - Jan. 2 in Jacksonville, FL, 1:00PM
Nebraska vs. Florida
Outback Bowl - Jan. 2 in Tampa, FL, 1:00PM
Penn State vs. Georgia
Capital One Bowl - Jan. 2 in Orlando, FL, 1:00PM
Michigan State vs. Arkansas
Rose Bowl presented by VIZIO - Jan. 2 in Pasadena, CA, 5:00PM
Oregon vs. Wisconsin
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Jan. 3 in New Orleans, LA, 8:30PM
Houston vs. Michigan