Michigan State's loss at Nebraska had a big impact on the Big Ten bowl situation.

Last week, we had two teams -- the Spartans and the Iowa Hawkeyes -- in the New Year's Six, plus Ohio State in the College Football Playoff. Michigan State's loss, which could be the first of two for Mark Dantonio's team as a trip to Columbus awaits next week, has bumped the Spartans down to the Citrus Bowl in our latest projections.

That means Iowa is pointed toward the Rose Bowl, which would be a heck of a consolation prize if the Hawkeyes don't make the playoff. They have not been to Pasadena since 1991.

The problem of filling out the bottom of the bowl lineup still exists. Illinois is on the cusp with five wins, so we'll put the Illini in. Nebraska is still alive, but the Huskers need to win at Rutgers and beat Iowa at home in the finale to get to 6-6. Indiana's margin for error has disappeared; unless the Hoosiers upset Michigan this weekend, they'll have to close out the year with wins over Maryland and Purdue to get bowl eligible. Minnesota still needs two wins and has Iowa and Wisconsin left. Rutgers should beat Army and has a date with Maryland left, but Saturday's game against Nebraska looks tougher than it did a week ago.

Some 5-7 teams could still get into the postseason because of a lack of eligible teams. We'll project that Nebraska, with the highest academic progress rate of the potential 5-7 Big Ten teams, gets that break. What a way that would be for coach Mike Riley's first season to end, huh?

College Football Playoff: Ohio State

Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: Iowa

Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl: Michigan State

Outback Bowl: Michigan

National University Holiday Bowl: Wisconsin

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl: Penn State

New Era Pinstripe Bowl: Northwestern

Foster Farms Bowl: Illinois

Quick Lane Bowl: Nebraska

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Not filled