Rutgers football: Getting to know the Quick Lane Bowl

With the new and improved Big Ten comes a new and...uh...new bowl game. What was known as the bowl game to be played at the home of the Detroit Lions in the preseason now has a name: the Quick Lane Bowl. Free oil changes for participating teams! This bowl game replaces the now-defunct Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, taking over the same location and broadcast time. Like the Pinstripe Bowl, this game takes place in a northern city, but at least the stadium is domed. And Detroit!

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Location: Ford Field - Detroit, MI

Date & Time: Friday, December 26 - 4:30 PM

What's in the swag bag?*: Motor oil, washer fluid

Conference tie-ins: Big Ten (8th pick) vs. ACC (11th pick)

*probably

Possible Matchups

With Michigan's loss to the Terps, the Quick Lane Bowl becomes a very strong possibility for Rutgers' postseason destination. Penn State and the Northwestern/Illinois winner remain the biggest competitors for bowl games, and the Nittany Lions will likely lose to Michigan State to remain at 6-6 and the Wildcats should beat Illinois to get to six wins, leaving Rutgers, PSU, and NU all at 6-6 if the Knights lose at Maryland. In that case, the Pinstripe Bowl will likely take ttfp, leaving the Quick Lane Bowl to choose between Northwestern and RU.

If Rutgers beats Maryland this Saturday, then the Foster Farms Bowl in San Francisco remains in play.

B1G: Rutgers, Northwestern, Penn State, Maryland

ACC: Virginia/Virginia Tech winner, NC State, Pittsburgh*, Boston College

*needs one more win

Note: The Capital One (first choice) and Outback (second) Bowls can select any eligible team except a team that has two fewer wins or two more losses, in all games, than another eligible team. If a second conference team is selected for a BCS bowl, the two-win/loss requirement is not applicable for the Outback Bowl. The remaining picks are made in order without restrictions.