Even with loss Saturday, Iowa could claim Legends title

Should Iowa lose this weekend to Michigan State, the Hawkeyes still have a chance to advance to the Big Ten title game next month in Indianapolis.

It's not an easy or likely scenario, however.

A Michigan State win this weekend means the Hawkeyes would need to win their final two games (at Purdue, at Nebraska) to finish 5-3 in Big Ten play. Iowa also would need Michigan State to lose its final two games (vs. Indiana, at Northwestern) to finish 5-3 and have Nebraska also finish 5-3.

Should that unlikely scenario play out, the Hawkeyes would claim the Legends Division title. Here's how:

• If three teams are tied atop a division, the first tiebreaker is round-robin among the three. Under the above scenario, all three teams are 1-1.
• The second tiebreaker is record in divisional play. All three teams would be 3-2 in Legends Division action under the above scenario.
• The third tiebreaker is where Iowa could win the division, under the above scenario. According to the Big Ten, "the records of the three teams will be compared against the next highest placed teams in their division in order of finish (4, 5, 6)." Going down the Legends leaderboard, Michigan would be in fourth place. All three teams would have beaten Michigan under the above scenario. Fifth place would have to be Northwestern, which would have beaten Michigan State and Nebraska under the above scenario. That would send Iowa to the league championship game. If Minnesota finishes ahead of Northwestern, this scenario never existed.

Should Michigan join the 5-3 party, Iowa still would claim the Legends Division bid to the Big Ten title game. But Michigan State must lose its final two games and Nebraska must finish 5-3. If neither happens, Iowa doesn't claim the division title.

Of course, the easiest way for Iowa to advance to the Big Ten title game is to win its last three games. No confusion, no scenarios.