Minnesota’s 24-23 upset of second-ranked Penn State on Saturday may have dashed the Big Ten’s hopes for a berth in the Sugar Bowl.
But the conference still has a shot at two lucrative Bowl Championship Series slots after No. 10 Wisconsin pulled out a 28-21 victory over 17th-ranked Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium.
If the Nittany Lions (9-1, 5-1) sweep Michigan and Michigan State and the Badgers (8-2, 6-1) defeat Iowa, they would finish as conference co-champs. Penn State would draw the Rose Bowl berth because it has a better overall record and because Wisconsin made the more recent appearance in Pasadena.
But Wisconsin, with enormous traveling support and a possible Heisman Trophy winner, is among the teams coveted by the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. The Fiesta expects to invite the Big 12 champion if it doesn’t qualify for the Sugar Bowl.
Meanwhile, Michigan (7-2, 4-2) might slip into the BCS picture if it can win at Penn State next week and defeat Ohio State at home.