How this bowl thing might work . . .

Could Iowa know where it's going shortly after the season finale at Minnesota?

Probably not.

The whole Big Ten bowl process will be tied to the BCS and whether or not it takes two Big Ten teams. Thus, the conference won't be able to release schools to bowls, officially, until the BCS makes its selections Dec. 5, after the conference championship games.

All signs point to the Big Ten getting two teams into BCS bowls. It's happened something like 75 percent of the time.

Because Iowa is leaning to the Cap One and Outback, I e-mailed Big Ten assistant commissioner Scott Chipman for how that works.

The Hawkeyes might find themselves in a group with Penn State and Michigan for a bowl game. Yes, both those teams could jump Iowa. Joe Paterno's final game and Michigan's first bowl since 2007 will make those schools attractive.

But, there are rules.

The Capital One and Outback Bowl have selection restrictions, basically  the "two win rule." The Gator and Insight Bowls do not.

Here's the order for this season only (The Gator and Insight Bowl rotate selections, so the order may change next year along with the selection restrictions. Also, this is how it works for just one BCS Big Ten. For two, same rules but everyone gets a bump):

ROSE BOWL: First selection

CAPITAL ONE BOWL: Second selection, may select any eligible team after Rose Bowl Game except a team that has two fewer wins or two more losses (in all games) than another eligible team.

OUTBACK BOWL: Third selection, may select any eligible team after Capital One Bowl except a team that has two fewer wins or two more losses (in all games) than another eligible team

GATOR BOWL: Fourth selection

INSIGHT BOWL: Fifth selection

TEXAS BOWL: Sixth selection

TICKETCITY BOWL (formerly the Dallas Football Classic): Seventh selection

LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL: Eighth selection