Getty Images
The Maryland Terrapins began their first season of Big 10 football hoping to make a difference in the conference race. While the Terrapins didn’t challenge for the Big 10 East Division title, they did manage to go 7-5 overall and therefore qualify for a bowl game in their debut campaign.
For coach Randy Edsall, that will likely mean a nice postseason destination and a chance to build some momentum for the 2015 season. The only question is which bowl the Terrapins ultimately head to.
As a conference, the Big 10 has automatic bowl tie-ins for 2014 to the Citrus Bowl, Outback Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Taxslayer Bowl, Music City Bowl, Heart of Dallas Bowl, Foster Farms Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl and the Detroit Bowl.
Where does that leave Maryland? None of the Big 10’s bowl eligible teams seem destined for college football’s inaugural national playoff, meaning most of the conference’s berths will be determined by how many conference teams are selected for at-large bowl games in the Cotton, Orange, Fiesta and Peach Bowls.
Coming into the weekend, Ohio State is the conference’s only potential threat to make the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes are currently rated No. 5 in the College Football Playoff rankings and could move up should Alabama or Florida State lose in their respective conference title games. However, even if that should occur, the Big 10 has a total of three teams that would be considered for a berth in the Cotton, Orange, Fiesta and Peach.
Michigan State is a virtual lock for one of the at-large berths after posting a 10-2 regular season record. Ohio State, which currently sits at 11-1, would be also be a lock for one of those games if they don’t qualify for the playoff. Wisconsin is the remaining wildcard. If the Badgers defeat Ohio State in the Big 10 title game this weekend, they would also be a lock for one of the at-large bowl games. Should Wisconsin lose, they’re almost guaranteed a spot in the Citrus Bowl.
From there, the Big 10’s bowl slots become less complicated than in the past. Minnesota and Nebraska will most likely fill two of the four slots between the Citrus, Outback, Taxslayer and Holiday Bowls. The Golden Gophers are considered a lock for one of the three Florida bowls while Nebraska, which has appeared in three straight Sunshine State bowl games, could be headed to San Diego and the Holiday Bowl. If that occurs, Maryland could end up in Jacksonville at the Taxslayer Bowl. If not, Maryland could be headed to San Diego instead.
Another team in the mix is Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished with an identical regular season record of 7-5 and could also wind up in Florida, although their likely destination seems to be the Music City Bowl if rumors are to be believed. Penn State, Rutgers and Illinois meanwhile are destined for the Pinstripe Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, Heart of Dallas Bowl or Detroit Bowl depending upon what happens in conference title games this weekend.
The most likely scenario sees Maryland filling in the slot directly behind Minnesota and Nebraska in the Big 10’s bowl pecking order. That likely means the Golden Gophers and Cornhuskers will appear in the Citrus Bowl, Outback Bowl or Holiday Bowl. For the Terrapins, that will probably lead to a berth in the Taxslayer Bowl and a contest against an SEC team.
Bowl projection: Taxslayer Bowl vs. Auburn.
Matt Johnson is a sports writer for www.rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like’” him on Facebook.
