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Michigan State is on top of the mountain, but where does the rest of the conference measure up after a strong all-around season?

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Final Big Ten Football Rankings

1. Michigan State 12-1
2. Ohio State 11-1
3. Iowa 12-1
4. Michigan 9-3
5. Northwestern 10-2
6. Wisconsin 9-3
7. Penn State 7-5
8. Indiana 6-6
9. Nebraska 5-7
10. Minnesota 5-7
11. Illinois 5-7
12. Maryland 3-9
13. Rutgers 4-8
14. Purdue 2-10

Final Big Ten Bowl Projections

The only real question will be the College Football Playoff rankings when it comes to Iowa and Ohio State. The higher-ranked team will get the Rose Bowl, while the other will almost certainly get the Fiesta. Either way, it’s not the playoff.

Where will Michigan and Northwestern be put in the mix? The Wildcats have the better record, but the Wolverines won the head-to-head matchup. There are plenty of options for the other three bowl eligible teams – Wisconsin, Penn State and Indiana – with six spots open, but that’s when the APR kicks in. Minnesota and Nebraska are 5-7, but with open bowl slots, they’re both likely to get an exemption because of their solid Academic Progress Rate.

Michigan State

College Football Playoff, Goodyear Cotton Bowl vs. College Football Playoff

Iowa

Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual vs. Stanford

Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl vs. CFP Top 12

Michigan

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl vs. SEC

Northwestern

Outback Bowl vs. SEC No. 3

Wisconsin

National University Holiday Bowl vs. Pac-12

Penn State

TaxSlayer Bowl vs. SEC

Indiana

New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. ACC or Notre Dame

Nebraska

Foster Farms Bowl vs. Pac-12

Minnesota

Quick Lane Bowl vs. ACC or Notre Dame (but no ACC team projected available)