The path to a Big Ten championship game appearance is barely breathing after Saturday’s letdown in Evanston. Northwestern battered a shorthanded Wisconsin offense en route to a 17-7 win that put them in the drivers seat for a Big Ten West title.
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Following a lackluster offensive performance, the Badgers would need quite the miracle to land in Indianapolis for Big Ten championship week. Northwestern currently sits at 5-0, and holds the tiebreaker against the Badgers. Here is the convoluted way that Wisconsin (2-1) could end up facing the Buckeyes in December.
The first step is obvious and easy to control: Wisconsin has to beat Minnesota, Indiana, and Iowa in order to have a chance. If the Badgers do find a way to finish 5-1 in conference play, it would all come down to how Northwestern finishes their season.
Since the Wildcats hold the tiebreaker over the Badgers due to their head-to-head win on Saturday, Wisconsin needs NU to somehow, someway drop two of their final three games. Those three opponents should not give Badger fans any confidence. Northwestern has Michigan State, Minnesota, and Illinois left on the schedule, teams with a combined record of 5-9 on the year. Yes, Badger fans will be massive Gopher fans in two weeks time.
It’s a simple equation three straight Wisconsin wins and two Northwestern losses, but the Badgers would need a miracle from Big Ten bottom feeders to surpass the ‘Cats.