I'm a fan of the clinching scenarios and "playoff machine" simulators that come out the last few weeks of the NFL season. With two weekends to go, here are some clinching scenarios for Nebraska to win the Big Ten, assuming all scheduled games are played. Yes, it's possible for Nebraska to clinch this weekend.
NEBRASKA GOES 4-0 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Michigan loses 2 games vs. Maryland
OR
2. Nebraska wins 1 or more games vs. Michigan
NEBRASKA GOES 3-1 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 2 or more games vs. Michigan
OR
2. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 1 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 0 games vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 3 games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Indiana.
NEBRASKA GOES 2-2 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 1 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland
OR
2. Nebraska wins 2 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 2 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
NEBRASKA GOES 1-3 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
2. Nebraska wins 2 games vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 1 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 2 games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State AND Maryland loses 2 games vs. Indiana AND Iowa loses 1 game vs. Northwestern/Michigan State
NEBRASKA GOES 0-4 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
So it's possible to go 2-5 and still finish in first place. I wouldn't count on that happening.
Going at 2-2 or better in Bloomington with at least one win against the Hoosiers and winning the Michigan series should be enough to get the job done.
NEBRASKA GOES 4-0 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Michigan loses 2 games vs. Maryland
OR
2. Nebraska wins 1 or more games vs. Michigan
NEBRASKA GOES 3-1 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 2 or more games vs. Michigan
OR
2. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 1 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 0 games vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 3 games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Indiana.
NEBRASKA GOES 2-2 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 1 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland
OR
2. Nebraska wins 2 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 2 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
NEBRASKA GOES 1-3 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 2 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 1 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
2. Nebraska wins 2 games vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 1 or more games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
OR
3. Nebraska wins 1 game vs. Michigan AND Michigan loses 2 games vs. Maryland AND Indiana loses 3 games vs. Nebraska/Ohio State AND Maryland loses 2 games vs. Indiana AND Iowa loses 1 game vs. Northwestern/Michigan State
NEBRASKA GOES 0-4 VS. INDIANA/OHIO STATE
1. Nebraska wins 3 games vs. Michigan AND Indiana loses 3 or more games vs. Ohio State/Maryland AND Maryland loses 2 or more games vs. Michigan/Indiana
So it's possible to go 2-5 and still finish in first place. I wouldn't count on that happening.
Going at 2-2 or better in Bloomington with at least one win against the Hoosiers and winning the Michigan series should be enough to get the job done.
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