Rutgers is headed for a bowl game, but where? Here’s the breakdown after big win vs. Maryland

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Rutgers will be back in the postseason and has two games to improve where it ends up playing its bowl game.

A midseason, four-game losing streak shifted expectations some, but the Scarlet Knights can successful cross off a preseason goal after clinching their sixth win and achieving bowl eligibility in the process Saturday when Rutgers defeated Maryland, 31-17, at SECU Stadium.

With the win, Rutgers (6-4, 3-4 in Big Ten play) secured its 12th postseason appearance since 1978 and third bowl berth since coach Greg Schiano returned for his second stint ahead of the 2020 season. Last season, Rutgers rallied for a 31-24 win over Miami in the Pinstripe Bowl, giving the Scarlet Knights their first postseason victory — and winning record — since 2014. The postseason win gave Rutgers momentum for 2024, and Schiano’s team can now claim a new postseason streak.

So with that streak comes the next big question: Where might the Scarlet Knights end up? The short answer: A lot can change over the final two weeks of the regular season. Rutgers can play its way up or down the bowl tiers with wins or losses against Illinois and Michigan State.

It’s also important to remember, the conference’s four newcomers — No. 1 Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC — are not eligible for the seven games with Big Ten ties. The newcomers who achieve bowl eligibility and do not qualify for the College Football Playoff will be selected from the former Pac-12′s “legacy pool,” a list of six games for teams that played in the conference in 2023.

Another important question: How many Big Ten teams will reach the six-win mark? With one Big Ten game left to be played Saturday night (No. 1 Oregon vs. Wisconsin), there are nine teams that have clinched a bowl berth.

For what it’s worth, the Big Ten has seven games available for teams that do not qualify for the CFP with flexibility if more teams reach the six-win mark. For example, Action Network’s Brett McMurphy has projected a Big Ten team may end up in the Armed Forces Bowl depending on how many teams reach bowl-eligibility elsewhere. It’s an inexact science with two weeks to go, but here’s what you need to know at this point.

Big Ten bowls

These seven games are listed in order of ranking, meaning the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl will land the top-ranked Big Ten team that does not qualify for the CFP. The selection process then flows downward for the next six selections. It should be noted there are “variety clauses” to ensure new teams appear in each bowl in two to three years depending on the bowl.

Where things stand

At the conclusion of the Rutgers-Maryland game, the Big Ten has nine teams with at least six wins. Here’s a look at the updated schedule and standings. Eight other teams are still in the hunt for six wins over the final two weeks while Purdue is the only team that has been mathematically eliminated.

By scenario

With two wins: This is the best-case scenario and would mean dethroning Illinois for the Citrus Bowl and jumping a few teams that have head-to-head wins over Rutgers. A win over Illinois would thrust Rutgers into the conversation for not only the Citrus Bowl but also end up in any of the bowls not played on Dec. 26.

With a split: A 7-5 Rutgers team would like fall behind Wisconsin and potentially Nebraska. If the loss comes to Illinois and the win comes against Michigan State, the most-likely destinations would be Detroit or Phoenix.

With two losses: A 6-6 Rutgers team would be destined for the lowest tier, likely Detroit.