In most years, the Big Ten champion is committed to playing in the Rose Bowl. Since the winner of this year's Big Ten Championship Game is likely destined for the College Football Playoff, Rose Bowl organizers will have a few different options available to them for a representative from the conference.
Scott Jenkins, the Rose Bowl management committee chairman, confirmed the committee technically isn't required to invite the highest-ranked Big Ten team after the conference champion.
"The strong presumption is that we're going to go with the highest-ranked team that's available to us," Jenkins said Wednesday, per ESPN.