The Big Ten has nine guaranteed bowl tie-ins, not counting a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. There's a chance that a lot of those spots will go unfilled this season -- or perhaps go to some 5-7 teams. That's real.
Right now, there are seven Big Ten teams who have clinched bowl eligibility. I am still projecting the league gets a playoff spot, and I'm still awarding that to Ohio State for now. And for the first time, I'm putting a second team in a New Year's Six Bowl, as Iowa's 8-0 start, No. 9 spot in the College Football Playoff selection committee's initial rankings and clear sailing ahead make the Hawkeyes look like a strong contender for a major bowl game.