A Nebraska win over Iowa means a bowl game — but could the Huskers still go with a loss?

Or does it?

NU fans know firsthand that a 5-7 campaign doesn’t necessarily mean no more games. Nebraska in 2015 was one of three schools to play in a bowl with that record because of a shortage of six-win teams in a bloated postseason system and its high standing in Academic Progress Rate (APR), which tracks student-athlete retention and graduation progress. The Huskers used the second chance to beat UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl to end coach Mike Riley’s first year on a high note.

The odds of a similar repeat are longer than long — a Hail Mary looks like a safe bet by comparison — but not technically impossible.

First, a look at the landscape. Eighty-two bowl slots need to be filled and 67 already are. For Nebraska’s purposes, that number is 69 because James Madison (10-1) and Jacksonville State (8-3) — two programs transitioning from FCS to the FBS level — are observing an NCAA rule that doesn’t allow them qualify for a bowl unless there’s a dearth of six-win clubs.

That leaves 13 potential spots. The next key fact is NU’s APR standing, which is tied for 66th among 133 FBS schools. More to the point, there are nine teams ahead of the Huskers in APR with identical 5-6 records, meaning all could lose next weekend and still get priority over a 5-7 Nebraska outfit.

Another game, Wake Forest at Syracuse, is guaranteed to also put a team in over a sub-.500 Nebraska. Either the Orange win and move to six victories or Wake Forest improves to 5-7 and takes higher precedence with its No. 8 APR ranking.

Vacant bowl spots are now whittled to three before other specific game outcomes even come into play. There are 14 additional five-win teams playing for bowl eligibility along with three four-win teams — Michigan State, Ball State and Middle Tennessee State — who would each jump Nebraska in APR pecking order if they prevail.

Of those 17 theoretical bowl hopefuls, 10 are considered favorites according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. That includes double-digit darlings Northern Illinois (by 17.5 points over Kent State), Utah State (17.5 over New Mexico) and Louisiana (12.5 over UL-Monroe).

Nebraska would need to see an upset in one of those three, plus each of the other 14 pertinent contests to go exactly one way.

“I’d love nothing more than to go out there with them on Senior Day and go battle a great Iowa team, a ranked team, and play them at home and try to go get a sixth win and go to a bowl game and extend this for these guys,” NU coach Matt Rhule said late Saturday night. “And even if it doesn’t work out, I’m honored to take the field with those seniors.”

Barring a divine intervention of fate, there remains one clear workable path to the postseason — beating Iowa.