Well... at the moment there are 69 bowl eligible teams and now we need to start rooting against teams so we don't end up without a bowl (like the 2007 Hawk team I think).
Long and short, if the Big 12 doesn't get two bcs games, ISU will NOT be going bowling.
Here is the scenario if the Big 12 gets only ONE BCS game. For the sake of an example, Kent State makes the BCS.
Remember 7-5 teams must be picked before 6-6 teams can be picked up for non affiliated games.
What is known:
We are currently at 69 bowl eligible teams for 70 slots.
Big 10 will not be able to fill all 8 of its bowl slots. 1 slot
ACC will not be able to fill all of its slots unless WF has an epic comeback. 1 (possibly two see below) slots
Big east has two more spots to fill.
Who to root against.
1) UConn and Pitt lose (This will leave the Big East with two open Bowl Slots)
2) ULL loses (Currently beating South Alabama) and currently 6-5 (we get picked before 6-6 ULL)
3) Georgia Tech loses (currently 6-6 and not eligible until 7-6 because of an extra game) This leaves two ACC bowls open at least (if two make the BCS then 3 open ACC bowls)
4) Missouri and Ole Miss lose (Ole Miss will definitely get picked before us at large, Mizzou, not sure)
5) Boise State Loses and Kent State wins out.
6) Rice loses so that the C-USA has an opening
IF that happens
ACC 6 teams (no at large) 2 openings
Big East 4 teams (no at large) 2 openings
Big 12 8 teams (1 at large)
Big 10 7 teams (no at large) 1 opening
ConUSA 4 Teams (no at large) 1 opening
MAC 5 teams (2 at large with 1 guaranteed picked over ISU)
MWC 4 teams (1 at large guaranteed to go above ISU)
Pac 12 8 teams (no at large)
SEC 8 teams (no at large) 2 openings
Sunbelt 2 teams (3 at large with 2 guaranteed to go above ISU)
WAC 1 team (3 at large guaranteed to go above ISU)
ND, Navy, BYU already guaranteed.
This means 7 teams have to be picked before 6-6 ISU
How it would shake out.
BCS teams: ND, 2 SEC, 2 Pac 12, 1 Big ten, 1 Big East, 1 Big 12, 1 ACC, 1 MAC (honestly doesn't matter if it is ACC, Boise or Kent State)
non-BCS bowl teams: Navy, BYU, 6 SEC, 6 Pac-12, 6 Big 10, 3 Big East, 5 ACC, 4 Con USA, 4 MWC, 4 MAC, 1 WAC, 2 Sun, Big 12 8. 63 bowl teams before at large. 7 teams have to be picked over 6-6 ISU.
ISU doesn't go to a bowl.
Unless the Big 12 has a secondary bowl tie after 8. OR, they could always have ISU get a bowl before 7-5 baylor or WVU to take advantage of the fact that a 7-5 team must be picked first at large.
