Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, November 7, 2011

Eight teams-four from each division-are bowl eligible, filling all of the Big Ten?s bowl slots. For now, I just don?t see the Big Ten getting a second BCS bowl slot, but there?s still lots of football left.

Penn State is the lone Leaders Division team that controls its destiny, but the Nittany Lions have a tough stretch run beginning this Saturday with a visit from Nebraska followed by trips to Ohio State and Wisconsin. That rugged run gives hope to Ohio State and Wisconsin, who each are two games behind Penn State in the Leaders.

Michigan State and Iowa each control their destiny in the Legends Division. And they meet this Saturday in Iowa City. Nebraska and Michigan cling to title hopes after getting beat last Saturday, but each needs help.

Purdue and Northwestern, each 4-5, continue to harbor bowl hopes, meaning one or both could be searching for a postseason slot somewhere. You have to like the Wildcats? chances, as their last three games are at home.

Minnesota and Indiana are eliminated from bowl consideration.

ROSE (vs. BCS)
Jan. 2, 2012
4:30 p.m., ET
Pasadena, Calif.
Michigan State vs. Stanford

CAPITAL ONE (vs. SEC)
Jan. 2, 2012
1 p.m., ET
Orlando
Wisconsin vs. Arkansas

OUTBACK (vs. SEC)
Jan. 2, 2012
1 p.m., ET
Tampa
Penn State vs. South Carolina

INSIGHT (vs. Big 12)
Dec. 30, 2011
10 p.m. ET
Tempe, Ariz.
Nebraska vs. Kansas State

TAXSLAYER GATOR BOWL (vs. SEC)
Jan. 2, 2012
1 p.m., ET
Jacksonville
Ohio State vs. Florida

MEINEKE CAR CARE of TEXAS (vs. Big 12)
Dec. 31, 2011
12 p.m. ET
Houston
Iowa vs. Baylor

TICKETCITY BOWL (vs. C-USA)
Jan 2., 2012
12 p.m., ET
Dallas
Michigan vs. SMU

LITTLE CAESARS (vs. MAC)
Dec. 27, 2011
4:30 p.m. ET
Detroit
Illinois vs. Northern Illinois

Here is the Big Ten Bowl Selection Order:

First Selection: Rose Bowl Game/BCS
Second Selection: Capital One Bowl
Third Selection: Outback Bowl
Fourth Selection: Insight Bowl
Fifth Selection: Gator Bowl
Sixth Selection: Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas
Seventh Selection: TicketCity Bowl
Eighth Selection: Little Caesars Pizza Bowl

Tom Dienhart is a senior writer for BTN.com. Find all of his work at www.btn.com/tomdienhart, follow Dienhart on twitter at @BTNTomDienhart, and click here to subscribe to his RSS feed.